Half-Time Report: Johnny Russell strike puts Derby County ahead

Johnny Russell scored just before half time to give Derby County a 1-0 lead over Norwich City at the break in their Championship match this afternoon.

The visitors had a chance to take the lead less than five minutes into the tie when Bradley Johnson tried to head the ball into an empty net following a mix-up between Lee Grant and his defenders, but Johnson's finish was just wide.

Derby soon started to dominate the possession as they looked to create an opening themselves, but they struggled to get behind the Norwich defence early on.

Alex Tettey thought that he had broken the deadlock with just over half an hour gone when he curled the ball past Grant from the edge of the box, but Cameron Jerome was offside, and the officials ruled that he was obstructing the Derby keeper's view.

Derby immediately tied to take advantage by pressing down the other end, but Craig Bryson scuffed his finish from a tight angle, and it took a deflection to give John Ruddy an easy save.

The hosts continued to push as half time approached though, and were rewarded just before the interval when Chris Martin beat the defender to set up Russell to a low strike into the far corner.