Fourth-placed Derby County closed to within a point of the Championship's automatic promotion places by defeating third-placed Queens Park Rangers on Monday night.

The one and only goal came in the 20th minute when Robert Green's punch could only reach John Eustace, who looped a header into the far corner past Gary O'Neil on the line.

QPR saw plenty of the ball after the break but couldn't do enough to break Derby down, missing out on the chance to move back into second place.

Below, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action.

Match statistics

Derby
Shots: 9
On target: 2
Possession: 43%
Corners: 10
Fouls: 17

QPR
Shots: 10
On target: 3
Possession: 57%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 14

Was the result fair?

It was a bitty game and not a great spectacle but Derby did deserve the points. They were the better side in the first half and deservedly led before seeing out the result resiliently after the break.

Derby's performance

The Rams hadn't beaten a top-six side before tonight but went about it in the right manner. QPR like to have the ball and play patiently but Derby didn't let them, hounding down the ball when they didn't have it. They didn't create loads of chances themselves but did enough to deserve victory. The performance of his defence is what will please Steve McClaren most. QPR have so much talent but they couldn't get the better of Derby's dogged centre-back duo of Richard Keogh and Jake Buxton.

QPR's performance

A disappointing display from Harry Redknapp's side, who managed to earn just one point from the key games against Burnley and Derby. Tonight they looked short of ideas up front and let in one goal that would cost them. They were angry when O'Neil was challenged by Chris Martin on the line for the goal, but it was a fair jump by a player who was bigger and stronger than O'Neil. Joey Barton had one of those games where you noticed his tackles a lot more than anything else.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Richard Keogh: It could have gone to either Keogh or Buxton but we're giving it to captain Keogh for his dominant performance in the air.

Biggest gaffe

There wasn't a standout gaffe but as it led to the only goal, we're singling out Green for his halfhearted punch that Eustace headed into the net.

Referee performance

It was a fiery contest but Michael Naylor handled it quite well. He could have pointed to the spot when Clint Hill hauled over Jake Buxton, but there are challenges like that at plenty of set pieces and it would have been surprising if he had awarded a penalty.

What next?

Derby: Next up for the Rams is a match against the Owls of Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

QPR: Rangers, meanwhile, host Reading, one of the sides that they were relegated from the Premier League with last season.