Bent focused ahead of Charlton reunion

Darren Bent wants to help Derby County maintain their strong form when former employers Charlton Athletic visit the iPro Stadium on Tuesday.

After proving the match-winner for Derby County at the weekend, Darren Bent is eager to build momentum against former club Charlton Athletic on Tuesday.

Bent’s late penalty in Saturday’s 3-2 success over Sheffield Wednesday helped Derby move two points clear at the Championship summit, but Charlton make a midweek trip to the iPro Stadium boasting back-to-back 3-0 wins.

“It’s strange how that has worked out, things can be funny like that sometimes,” the striker explained, ahead of a run of fixtures against former clubs Charlton, Fulham and Brighton and Hove Albion.

“I’m just enjoying playing whoever it is against. It’s down to us now to show everybody just how good we are.

Derby stay two points clear, Middlesbrough bounce back

Derby County remain two points clear at the top of the Championship after they beat Charlton Athletic 2-0 on Tuesday.

First-half goals from Jeff Hendrick and Jesse Lingard gave Derby County a 2-0 win over Charlton Athletic on Tuesday, which kept them two points clear at the top of the Championship.

Steve McClaren’s side returned to the summit by beating Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday as Bournemouth and Middlesbrough suffered defeats and a fourth successive home win three days later ensured they remain top.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Hendrick opened the scoring after only nine minutes and on-loan Manchester United man Lingard opened his account for Derby in his first start eight minutes later as Charlton’s two-game winning run came to an end.

Middlesbrough are in second spot after they responded to a 1-0 home defeat to Leeds United by beating Bolton Wanderers by the same scoreline courtesy of Albert Adomah’s first-half strike.