Tom Ince popped up with an injury-time winner as Derby County recorded a third straight win under Gary Rowett by beating his former club, Birmingham City, 2-1 in the West Midlands.

The 25-year-old wideman latched on to Scott Carson’s long punt upfield and lifted the ball over the advancing Tomasz Kuszczak to snatch all three points at St Andrew’s.

That came after Kuszczak’s unfortunate own goal had edged the Rams in front, before Birmingham deservedly levelled in the second half through Che Adams, but the resilient Rams held firm to claim a priceless three points that keeps their play-off hopes alive.



With drama at the end at a sun-soaked St Andrew’s, the Rams could not have asked for a better start either.



They came into this game off the back of a fine 4-2 victory over Fulham, in which Butterfield played a huge part in, as he changed the tide on that evening with an impressive showing off the substitutes bench.



That was enough to earn a first start under Rowett and within three minutes, he played a key role in repaying that faith after his shot from the edge of the area cannoned off the post, but fortuitously nestled in the back of the net thanks to a rebound off the backside of Kuszczak.



The 26-year-old midfielder is still searching for his first goal of the season, but despite the celebrations, he won’t be able to claim this one!

After that, the Blues, seeking an early equaliser, were the better team for the remainder of the first half as Derby were forced to sit back and soak up heavy spells of pressure from Gianfranco Zola’s side, who were intent on peppering the visitors’ 18-yard area.



Richard Keogh, the Rams’ captain, and Alex Pearce were particularly impressive during this period. The centre back pairing duo got their heads and bodies in front of everything Birmingham threw at them, whilst Carson was also alert to extinguish any danger from the series of crosses that came into his six-yard box.



The Blues thought their pressure had told and that they had got back on level terms midway through the first half, after an inswinging corner was turned into the net, but David Coote, the referee, chalked the effort off, with it looking like Carson was fouled in the process.



Zola’s men were, naturally, incensed but they continued to ask more of the questions as the contest ticked towards the interval.

Adams, a product of the Ilkeston FC youth set-up, dragged a shot wide, as did Craig Gardner, after being urged to shoot by the vocal Birmingham supporters, whilst Carson had to be alert to turn behind Lukas Jutkiewicz’s drive from the left after he had battled away the attentions of Pearce.



That aside, David Nugent, the midweek hat-trick hero, had a big chance to double Derby’s advantage, volleying Johnny Russell’s awkward chip from the right towards goal, but Kuszczak was alert and palmed the effort away.



Derby, though, survived, entering the interval with a slim advantage, but the question largely was whether they could keep it?



The second 45 minutes started in the same vein as the first, minus the goal – the visitors started brightly, registering an early effort through Russell, before Birmingham quickly got back on top as Keogh, crucially, threw his body in the way of a drive from David Davis, before Gardner dragged the rebound wide.



Rowett’s men had seemingly weathered the storm as the match entered a lull, but from a corner, the visitors were undone.

Gardner swung in the delivery and after Ryan Shotton fought to meet it, the defender flicked the ball into the path of Adams at the back post, where he could make no mistake as he smacked the ball into the corner.



Thereafter, the game swayed one way then the other with both teams struggling to take any real incentive, but with the contest seemingly petering out for a draw that wouldn’t help either team, there was one final twist.



It started with a free kick on the edge of the Derby area. Gardner, with the ball at his feet, blazed a wasteful cross high over the crossbar, but rather than wasting time, Carson acted quickly, placing the ball down for a goal kick, which he launched up the field to Ince – the only man forward.



The ball had to be perfect and it was. With Birmingham lacking in numbers, Ince latched on the ‘keeper’s huge kick, beating the trailing Blues defenders for pace, before keeping his cool to lift the ball over the advancing Kuszczak.

It was an incredible end and more importantly, it is a moment that keeps Derby’s play-off hopes firmly alive heading into the crucial Easter period.



Birmingham City: Kuszczak, Nsue, Grounds, Robinson (C), Shotton, Tesche (Frei, 65), Gardner, Adams, Jutkiewicz (Donaldson, 80), Davis (Gleeson, 90), Bielik



Substitutes not used: Legzdins, Kieftenbeld, Dacres-Cogley, Keita



Derby County: Carson, Baird, Keogh (C), Pearce, Olsson; Bryson (Bent, 78), Johnson; Ince, Butterfield (Hughes, 64), Russell (Anya, 70); Nugent



Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Christie, Camara, Vydra



Attendance: 19,381 (2,746 away supporters)

