Derby County took on Fulham in the first leg of their Championship playoff semi-final aiming to make use of their home advantage before the second leg in London next week.
Gary Rowett's side produced a fine display of defensive pragmatism to frustrate the visitors and the Rams grabbed a crucial opener inside the first half, when Cameron Jerome rose highest in the box to head home from Craig Forsyth's cross.
Fulham were improved in the second half and applied growing pressure, but they were unable to find a leveller despite seeing Kevin McDonald rattle a bending shot off back off the crossbar, as Slavisa Jokanovic's side went on to lose out 1-0 in the opening leg of the tie.
Relive all of the action with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Evening everyone and thanks for joining us as we bring you live coverage of the Championship's opening playoff clash between Derby County and Fulham at Pride Park.
FULHAM STARTING XI: Bettinelli; Fredericks, Odoi, Ream, Targett, McDonald, Johansen, Cairney, Ayite, Mitrovic, Sessegnon
FULHAM SUBSTITUTES: Button, Kalas, Christie, Norwood, Kebano, Piazon, Kamara
DERBY COUNTY STARTING XI: Carson; Keogh, Davies, Forsyth; Wisdom, Huddlestone, Johnson, Weimann; Vydra, Lawrence; Jerome
DERBY COUNTY SUBSTITUTES: Roos, Pearce, Hanson, Ledley, Palmer, Anya, Nugent
So the crucial piece of team news for County fans is that Gary Rowett has brought the Championship's leading scorer, Matej Vydra, straight back into his starting XI. The forward is line up in a forward three that also includes both Cameron Jerome and Tom Lawrence.
Tonight hosts are, however, without the experience of injured defender Marcus Olsson who sustained anterior cruiciate ligament damage when facing Barnsley on the final day of the season.
For the visitors, Fulham have made just a single change from their final-day defeat to Birmingham City. Floyd Ayite returns from injury and he will be taking the place of Lucas Piazon, who drops to the bench.
Central to the visitors' hopes of picking up a positive result at Pride Park will be the creative trio of Tom Cairney, Kevin MacDonald and Stefan Johansen in midfield, who will be looking to supply the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ayite in the final third of the pitch.
Coming into the playoffs this evening Fulham could still be carrying the heartache of missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season in what were arguably quite shocking circumstances, leaving Cardiff City to head straight up alongside champions Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Fulham required a victory against struggling Birmingham City to seal second place, but somehow managed to capitulate to an astounding 3-1 defeat against Garry Monk's charges.
Slavisa Jokanovic's men will now have to put the defeat behind them quickly as they roll into what will prove to be two of their biggest games this term.
This campaign has really been one full of surprise for the Whites. Prior to December, the club had never really looked like threatening, but a marvellous run of 23 games without defeat since losing to Sunderland in December saw Fulham to within touching distance of automatic promotion.
This tie marks back-to-back appearances in the playoffs for Fulham, who lost out to Reading at the semi-final stages last season.
Losing on the final day might well scar this side for a while, but it is worth noting that Fulham still have the best form in the league over the last 15 games, where they have won 11, drawn three and lost one. Jokanovic's men have collected 36 points over that period and are unbeaten in 12 out of 15 away contests this term.
Unfortunately for the club, the playoffs have generally not been too kind to Fulham. The club have been unable to gain promotion in all three of their previous play-off appearances in the English Football League.
Central to progression into the final could be forward Aleksandar Mitrovic. The frontman has scored more league goals than any other Championship player since making his debut in February, scoring 12 times since arriving at Craven Cottage.
Fulham will be hoping desperately that Ryan Sessegnon's can soon return to goal-scoring form. The winger's last goal arrived in the club's 3-0 victory against Millwall back in April. The youngster has 15 league goals this term and is being continually monitored by a handful of Europe's elite clubs.
Despite falling at the last hurdle on the closing day of the Championship season, Fulham have arguably been one of the best sides to watch alongside Wolves. Fulham have completed more passes and have also had the best passing accuracy at 82.9% than any other side in the league this term.
Jokanovic will likely not be taking too much notice of past statistics, although history shows that teams finishing third have won promotion through the play-offs on 10 occasions, which represents more than any other position in the playoff hunt.
Looking at Derby, the Rams held off some late-season wobbles in order to seal a place in the playoffs. Gary Rowett's men thrashed Barnsley 4-1 on the final day to claim a place in the top six.
Derby are now aiming to make it back into the Premier League after a decade of being in the Championship.
County are now competing in the second-tier playoffs for the seventh time. The club has won promotion just once from those previous six seasons featuring in the play-offs.
Late defeats to both Burton and Middlesbrough had appeared to derail County's bid for a playoff spot, but Rowett's men recovered just in time to pick up three points against both Cardiff City and Barnsley to ensure a place in the top six.
This Derby side have stunned and frustrated Rams fans in equal share over a season that has threatened some real highs and lows for the club. At one point County were as high as second place in the standings, but having secured just 17 points from their final 15 games, Derby might be counting themselves slightly fortunate to have slipped into the promotion mix.
Coming up against Fulham, Derby have lost just two of their last 12 home fixtures against the London club in all competitions.
Key frontman Vydra came off the bench to score against Barnsley on the final day and the league's top scorer should be crucial if the hosts want to take an advantage back to Craven Cottage. The frontman should have some fresh legs after starting on the bench last time out. Vydra has also tended to favour himself against Fulham, having scored twice and created three assists in eight games against the Cottagers.
County know that reaching the playoffs will all but be forgotten should they not capitalise on the opportunity of reaching the final. As things stand, the team to finish sixth in the Championship has won promotion courtesy of the play-offs just once in the previous 12 campaigns. That last promotion saw Blackpool go up in the 2009-10 season.
This young man could be crucial over the course of two legs for Fulham. Sessegnon was recently named Championship Player of the Season:
© Offside
Over the course of 62 competitive games between Derby and Fulham, the Rams have just about shaded things. Derby have won 22 of those fixtures but this is the first time that the pair have met in the playoffs.
One thing we should be guaranteed as part of this affair is goals. There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Derby's last seven home games and the same amount have also been scored in Fulham's last three Championship fixtures.
PREDICTION! Not long until kickoff now and it's time for a prediction. Fulham faltered when it mattered most on the final day, but this Fulham side are capable of special things going forward and with Olsson missing at the back the visitors might just fancy themselves to take a lead back to London for the second leg. Derby are likely going to have to shift into a back four now and that could cause a few logistical problems while they settle down. I'm backing Fulham to grab a slender from the first meeting tonight.
Pride Park is fully rocking already as we await the start of the contest. It should be a rain-free evening in Derby as these sides prepare to battle it out for a potential place in the Premier League next term.
Estimates suggest that a place in the top flight for Championship clubs could be worth as much as £178m. That's a lot of pressure on these players this evening. The teams are now in the tunnel and we will be underway very shortly.
KICKOFF! Here we go then, Fulham get us moving at Pride Park, kicking from left to right in black and white. What drama do we have in store here?
Some early controversy then as Fulham sweep the ball forward through Johansen and the midfielder is soon claiming for a handball off centre-back Davies just as the ball pops up awkwardly off the deck inside the County box. Nothing doing from the referee, though.
Fulham are moving the ball about confidently in the early moments. Mitrovic drops deep to smuggle the ball into the path of winger Sessegnon, but the youngster drives high and wide of Carson's goal with his weaker right foot.
County have had to drop deep inside the first 10 minutes, the visitors are applying some impressive attacking pressure already. Derby attempt to punch something long for Lawrence, but he is adroitly moved aside by Forsyth.
Rowett is already barking orders furiously at his men, who have just started to settle down despite Fulham's early pressure. The hosts have taken very few chances out of possession and are looking compact at the back.
The away side have had a whopping 73% share of the ball in the opening minutes, although Derby's shape has been just as impressive. Mitrovic again shows great awareness as he comes deep, dropping his shoulder to win a cheap foul off Davies.
CLOSE! County win the ball back from the set piece and set themselves away on the counter. Lawrence's original pass is intercepted but the ball is soon threaded through for the run of Cameron. The forward looks to have the beating of on-rushing stopper Bettinelli, who gets a vital touch on the ball to take it away from the Derby striker.
Strange decision-making here from Odoi, who tears out of defence to shove Lawrence off the ball when the forward is heading away from goal. The resulting free kick is turned in by the youngster before being punched away by Bettinelli.
County are starting to heat up now as the ball is switched from flank to flank, leaving Vydra to be tackled at the crucial moment by Ream just inside the away box.
Fredericks is given space to roam for the first time this evening and the Fulham full-back looks to make full use of the room, before Davies is able to rush out from the back and make a perfect sliding challenge to thwart the defender's run.
An equal start then for both sides, who have each offered glimmers of promise inside the opening 20 minutes. Neither team has created anything clear-cut just yet, but this has been a tight affair full of tactical intrigue.
County bide their time in midfield and spring just as Johnson wins the ball back on the right flank. The counter sees the midfielder charge into space on the right, only to be challenged by Targett before he can switch the ball into Vydra.
Rowett might just be the happier of the two coaches so far. Derby have looked menacing on the break and the hosts have dealt efficiently with Mitrovic and Sessegnon in the final third.
CLOSE! Ayite does brilliantly to keep possession alive before turning the ball out for Targett on the left flank. The full-back drills a cross into the middle and the ball passes straight through the bodies and luckily into the arms of Carson. Any sort of touch and Fulham would have been ahead.
CLOSE! Ream finds himself the wrong side of Lawrence, allowing the County man to skip past him and into space inside the area. The forward aims to pick out a ball into the middle, but cannot find the required quality to stretch either Odoi or a retreating Fredericks.
Things just haven't quite gelled for Fulham in the final third of the pitch. The visitors are passing inventively up until the County box, where their forward play seems to be breaking down amid the congestion created by Derby. It's been a tight affair thus far.
Mitrovic has done this a few times already, dropping deep to set Fulham on their way. This time the forward rolls Davies although Ayite is unable to provide the delivery with men waiting inside the area.
GOAL! DERBY COUNTY 1-0 FULHAM (CAMERON JEROME)
This is some goal of immense quality from the hosts. Huddlestone turns the ball out from the middle to the left where full-back Forsyth breaks into space. The defender whips a delightful ball into the centre of the box, where Jerome rises highest with power to send a bullet header beyond a helpless Bettinelli.
Fulham aim to repsond as Cairney dances through bodies on the edge of the box, although his shot is blocked on its way to goal before it can threaten Carson.
SHOT! Fulham need more of this. Mitrovic takes possession centrally on the edge of the box, before turning adroitly to lash a shot at Carson. The power causes the keeper to spill the ball, but the stopper is quick to respond and can gather it to safety without too much trouble.
Sessegnon has cut an isolated figure out wide and Rowett will be delighted with how his first-half pragmatism has paid off. County have taken very few chances but have the lead after some clinical play down the flank.
Ayite is full of trickery on the edge of the box although Forsyth does well to watch the ball and intercept. Derby have been impenetrable at the back so far.
Balls into Mitrovic seem like the only option for Fulham thus far and both Ayite and Sessegnon have not managed to get close enough to the striker. Derby have been able to mop up fairly easily in this first half. The hosts are in the driving seat heading into half time.
HALF TIME: DERBY COUNTY 1-0 FULHAM
The referee calls time on an intriguing first half at Pride Park, where Derby have managed to move into a position of strength courtesy of some cute tactics from Rowett. The hosts have been both solid and compact, marking Fulham's forwards out of the game.
The home side have had the required quality when it has mattered most, both Forsyth and Jerome combining with clinical efficiency to create and head home the game's only goal so far. Fulham have it all to do going into the second half if they want at least parity to take back to London next week.
Jokanovic will be having stern words with his charges at the break, they just haven't played with enough energy or drive in the first half. For all of their possession, the visitors have done very little with the ball. Having said that, we have seen this Fulham side come to life destructively in second halves of games this season.
Sessegnon and Ayite certainly need to get closer to Mitrovic after the interval. The forward has produced some notable hold-up play, but the support cast has been lacking when Fulham are trying to establish attacks through the striker.
SECOND HALF! The hosts get the second period going at Pride Park...
A poor back-pass early on almost sees Bettinelli fire straight into Jerome. Luckily the ball breaks kindly away from the strike and the visitors clear. Not the best of starts.
SHOT! Sessegnon comes into space on the edge of the box where he is fed the ball from the left wing. Unfortunately the youngster has to take a snapshot on his right, leaving his effort to fly over the bar.
Fulham have bagged 49 second half goals this season and need something special to get back into the game here. Things just haven't paid off so far for the away side.
OFF THE BAR! Think again... McDonald picks up the ball in space on the edge of the box, where he bends a wonderful effort beyond Carson that rattles back off the crossbar. Almost parity for the visitors out of nothing.
CHANCE! Johansen pings the ball from deep in behind the defence for the run of Ayite. The forward peels off the shoulder of Davies but sends his first-time volley over the crossbar. It's a brilliant chance for the leveller, but the Fulham man fumbles his lines at the crucial moment.
Fulham are just starting to show a little more energy in the final third. McDonald scrambles his way through the defence, but his cut back is hoofed away by Keogh.
Mitrovic, not for the first time this evening, does well with his back to goal, as he turns and attempts to get the shot away. Davies follows him for every millimetre and is able to get an important block in on the effort.
Plenty of Fulham pressure but still no final ball. Derby are setup for the counter now as the game wears on and they are almost clean through when Bettinelli is caught well outside of his box, although the keeper shows brilliantly skill to bring the ball under control and clear.
County are making Fulham work doubly hard in the final third. The hosts have nine men back inside the final third and the visitors just cannot find a way through. Fulham are gradually tightening their grip on the game, though, despite being a goal down.
Johansen makes a smart run this time inside the County box and he aims to produce a back-heel into space for Ayite, only for Johnson to make a crucial tackle with his side looking desperate.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Derby decided to pull two changes with just over 20 minutes to go. Ikechi Anya takes the place of Vydra, while David Nugent replaced Jerome.
CHANCE! Fulham go slightly more route one and Targett is able to knock the ball down for Mitrovic, who cannot get his shot away on the turn with his back to goal. Again County stand firm to protect the lead.
These changes suggest that Rowett is shaping up to profit from the counter with fresh legs going forward. Fulham will need to be careful not to throw too many bodies forward and be punished on the break. There is another leg left to play, remember.
CLOSE! Exactly what Derby are after. Lawrence moves away at pace down the right, where he flashes a ball into the middle that just evades an on-rushing Anya by a matter of inches.
Take a bow Odoi, this is wonderful defending from the Fulham centre-back. Another promising cross looks destined for Nugent in the centre, leaving the away defender to produce a vital header to deny the home side at the near post.
SUBSTITUTION: Fulham make a double change themselves now. Ayite and Sessegnon are switched for Piazon and Neeskens Kebano.
YELLOW CARD! Weimann picks up the first card of the night as he flies into Johansen in a troubling area for County...
Can Fulham have a crucial goal in the last phase of the game? The visitors have scored 22 goals in the final 15 minutes of league contests this term.
Still Fulham push for the equaliser but the home side look fairly comfortable. Cairney goes for a smart cut-back into Piazon, leaving Forsyth to concede the corner.
If anything it is looking like Derby might grab the second here. Fulham are forcing the issue a little too much and could be done on the break at any moment.
County charge forward after Fulham concede possession and it takes a brilliant recovering tackle from Odoi to put off Lawrence.
CLOSE! County afford Cairney far too much room on the edge of the area and the midfielder bends a deft effort towards goal that looks to have Carson beaten. The youngster's effort flies just wide of the post, leaving Carson a relieved man spread out on the deck.
Is there to be a late twist in proceedings here? Derby are sitting rather deep now as we head into the final few minutes. Rowett's men have been magnificent at the back up until now.
We are going to have four minutes of additional time here. It is so close to being job done for Derby.
FULL TIME: DERBY COUNTY 1-0 FULHAM
County will be delighted with that showing. The Rams hold a crucial one-goal lead heading down to London next week, where they know that they'll be coming up against a Fulham side who will likely not play as stutteringly as they have here. That's going to be all from me tonight, but make sure you join us again for the rest of our live Championship playoff coverage.
