Derby County beat Rotherham United 1-0 thanks to late Jeff Hendrick strike

A LATE goal from Jeff Hendrick ensured Derby County got their 2014-15 Championship campaign off to a winning start against newly-promoted Rotherham United. Just as it looked like being a frustrating afternoon for the Rams at the iPro Stadium, Hendrick struck eight minutes from time to secured a 1-0 victory for last season's beaten play-off finalists. It was not a vintage display from Steve McClaren's men but they did well to finally break the Millers' stubborn resistance in the end, though not without a last-gasp scare. Inside the first 30 seconds, a slip from Joe Skarz allowed Johnny Russell to advance into the area but he was crowded out as he shaped to shoot. In the second minute, Chris Martin glanced a near-post header across the face of goal from Craig Bryson's right-wing corner. Jeff Hendrick's 20-yarder was deflected narrowly wide, with keeper Adam Collin wrong-footed, while Craig Forsyth's cross from the left just evaded the head of Russell in the middle. Rotherham gradually settled into the game and Kieran Agard's shot on the turn had to be well blocked by debutant Cyrus Christie in the 18th minute. Derby were having more defending to do and former Rams midfielder Paul Green drilled a low effort wide from 25 yards. The home side went close in the 24th minute, when Martin and Bryson combined to find Simon Dawkins, whose curling shot from the edge of the box was deflected inches wide. Two minutes later, Russell's header from a Christie cross was kept out by Collin, diving to his left. Alex Revell could not keep his header down at the other end after being picked out by another former Ram, Ben Pringle. But the visitors almost took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark. Pringle's near-post corner was glanced past Lee Grant by the head of Kari Arnason but the ball was bundled off the line by Will Hughes.

Derby could not find a way through - Christie's cross flashed past Martin and Russell five minutes into the second half. Steve McClaren handed a debut to on-loan Real Madrid midfielder Omar Mascarell after 53 minutes, taking off Will Hughes, who had earlier taken a knock. The Rams had a let-off in the 62nd minute, when Matt Derbyshire glanced a free header wide from eight yards from Pringle's ball in. Derby were being restricted to half-chances - another Christie cross was headed goalwards by Bryson but Rotherham scrambled the ball to safety. And when Bryson found Dawkins in a good position, the ball would not drop for him and the chance was gone. McClaren threw on Leon Best for his debut - and the Rams broke the deadlock a few minutes later. Christie dispossessed Pringle and surged forward down the right. After linking up with substitute Jamie Ward, the full-back played a low ball into the area and Hendrick swept a first-time right-foot shot expertly into the far corner from 15 yards. Rotherham were so nearly level in the third minute of added time. Pringle crossed from the left and Green's downward header was superbly kept out by Grant, one-handed low down to his right. And moments later, the ball broke kindly for Agard, whose shot beat the keeper but not Forsyth, who brilliantly cleared off the line. DERBY COUNTY: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Hughes (Mascarell, 53), Hendrick, Bryson, Dawkins (Best, 79), Russell (Ward, 64), Martin. Other subs: Roos (gk), Whitbread, Eustace, Sammon. ROTHERHAM UNITED: Collin, Broadfoot, Morgan, Arnason, Skarz, Agard, Frecklington, Green, Pringle, Revell (Bowery, 58), Derbyshire (Swift, 70). Other subs: Loach (gk), Brindley, Wood, Hall, Tidser. REFEREE: A D'Urso (Essex). ATTENDANCE: 30,105 (2,600 away fans).