A GOAL just before half-time has left Derby County trailing Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at half-time in their FA Cup fourth round tie at Pride Park Stadium.
Colin Kazim-Richards broke the deadlock in the 44th minute after a first half of few chances.
Derby boss Nigel Clough named an unchanged starting line-up following last weekend's 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.
The only change on the bench saw Conor Doyle replace Theo Robinson, who has been suffering from tonsillitis.
Blackburn boss Michael Appleton made one enforced change to his side following the midweek 1-1 draw against Brighton & Hove Albion - Josh King replacing the cup-tied Todd Kane.
The visitors went close to opening the scoring in the seventh minute.
Paul Coutts looked to be harshly penalised for handball and Morten Gamst Pedersen's teasing free kick from the left was glanced inches wide by the head of defender Scott Dann.
Blackburn lost King to an injury three minutes later, resulting in the early introduction of Ruben Rochina.
For all Derby's crisp passing, they failed to test former Rams trainee goalkeeper Jake Kean in the opening exchanges.
Blackburn, meanwhile, continued to threaten from set pieces, Pedersen forcing Adam Legzdins into a save from a 25-yard free kick in the 26th minute.
The best the Rams could manage were a couple of efforts from Will Hughes, which were both blocked.
It looked like the sides would go into the break level until the 44th minute, when Kazim-Richards robbed Richard Keogh following a pass over the top and raced clear.
The Turkish international still had plenty to do but his fierce drive from the angle beat Legzdins, despite the keeper getting a touch on the ball.
Derby had their first shot on target in first-half stoppage time but John Brayford's volley was comfortably held by Kean.
