Derby 1-0 Stevenage: Sibley scores late winner as Rams battle to a win![Copy icon](/ls-web-assets/svgs/common/link-38b6c0e79d99f1789ecdee667813501e.svg)
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![Louie Sibley won it for Derby (Barrington Coombs/PA)](https://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/f4f6f5db0de8e34b3f5458c21497f880Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzA4Mjc0OTU1/2.75327546.jpg?rect=511,48,1975,1111&ext=.jpg&operations=fit(707:)&w=707&quality=100)
Louie Sibley’s last-minute winner gave Derby a 1-0 home victory over stubborn Stevenage to boost their automatic promotion hopes in League One.
With top scorer James Collins out with a knee injury, Derby lacked a presence up front but Sibley finally found a way through in the last minute of normal time.
The victory moved Derby three points clear of third-placed Bolton.
It was Stevenage who came closest to scoring in a goalless first half.
Joe Wildsmith missed a corner and Sonny Bradley had to clear off the line in the 31st minute and Wildsmith rescued Derby soon after when the hosts failed to deal with a long throw and the goalkeeper stopped Jordan Roberts’ shot on the turn.
Derby did not register a shot on goal in the first half and they continued to struggle until Kane Wilson surged forward in the 68th minute and played Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in but he fired wide.
Max Bird was denied by a superb Taye Ashby-Hammond save in the 77th minute but Derby struck late on.
Mendez-Laing cut in from the right and set up Sibley who finished first time from 12 yards.