Half-Time Report: Derby County hold two-goal lead over Charlton Athletic

Strikes from Johnny Russell and Patrick Bamford have handed Derby County the lead at the break in their Championship clash with Charlton Athletic.

The Addicks had the best chance of the opening few minutes when the ball fell to Johnnie Jackson and Lee Grant was forced into action to parry the midfielder's goal-bound effort away.

Derby took the lead in the 18th minute. Bamford created space in the penalty area and passed the ball back to Russell, who found the back of the net with a low effort.

The home side began to up the ante as Russell and Jeff Hendrick missed chances from distance, while minutes later Ben Hamer kept Charlton in the contest as he managed to turn over another effort from George Thorne.

Derby did doubled their lead just before the break when Bamford capitalised on an error in the Charlton defence, as he raced onto a weak back-header from Jackson and slotted the ball past Hamer.