Derby County 2-1 Sheffield United: Quick start helps Rams prevent Blades going top

A goal after 19 seconds helped Derby County deny Sheffield United the chance to go top of the Championship, as the Blades' four-match winning run ended with defeat at Pride Park.

Rams striker Jack Marriott's clever, flicked finish won the game for Frank Lampard's hosts with 13 minutes to play.

Derby had led inside the first minute when Craig Bryson completed a good team move, but Chris Basham tucked United level before half-time.

The hosts pressed for a winner, before Marriott's second goal in two starts sent them up to fifth.

The win was Derby's first since their Carabao Cup victory on penalties at Manchester United in September and their sixth of the league season, moving them four points behind the second-placed Blades.

The visitors would have gone top with a draw, after defeats for promotion-chasing Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion earlier on Saturday.

And Chris Wilder's men played some well-worked football in the first half, culminating with Basham's equaliser, after John Fleck had beaten four Derby players before squaring the ball to the centre-half at the far post.

But Martyn Waghorn should have headed Derby back in front moments later and then they had the better of the second half, before Marriott darted in at the near post and diverted home to end United's five-match unbeaten streak.