Football
PA Sport 9y

Darren Bent's brace delivers win for Derby over Blackburn

Derby moved back into the automatic promotion places in the Championship as Darren Bent scored twice to sink Blackburn in a 2-0 victory.

It was not a convincing performance from the Rams as they struggled to break down a resolute Blackburn defence, but Bent's second-half brace proved the difference.

He broke the deadlock in the 68th minute as Ryan Shotton's long throw was flicked to the back post and the former England hitman hooked the ball past Jason Steele.

Substitute Chris Brown forced Lee Grant into a superb save as Blackburn tried to hit back but it was Bent who sealed victory with another scrappy strike in stoppage time, slamming in the loose ball after Mason Bennett's cross had eluded Chris Martin.

Rotherham claimed only their second win in 15 league matches with a 4-2 victory against Bolton.

The Millers got off to the perfect start as Conor Newton's pinpoint cross from the right picked out an unmarked Ben Pringle and he slammed a volley into the top corner.

Conor Sammon, making his second appearance for the Millers, doubled the advantage when he tucked in the rebound after Matt Derbyshire's shot was pushed into his path by goalkeeper Andy Lonergan.

Paul Green's glancing header from Derbyshire's inswinging cross made it 3-0 just before the break and then Derbyshire got the goal his performance deserved in the 57th minute as he raced from midfield and lashed a drive into the top corner.

Bolton pulled a goal back when Matt Mills' flick-on was collected by Liam Trotter and he slotted past the goalkeeper, and it was 4-2 shortly afterwards when makeshift striker Mills headed home a loose ball in the box, but the home side held on.

Millwall avoided a sixth straight Championship defeat as they battled for a point in a goalless draw at home to Reading despite playing the whole of the second half with 10 men, Sid Nelson having been sent off on the stroke of half-time for a rash challenge on Michael Hector.

Sheffield Wednesday's clash with Birmingham also finished goalless.

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