AMSTERDAM – Zak Whitbread made a triumphant return to the Derby County starting lineup, helping the hosts solidify their promotion playoff bid with a 4-0 blanking of English Championship guests Blackpool.
Working his first start since injuring his hamstring prior to in late October, the Rams center back (pictured above) topped the hosts with five clearances, three pass interceptions and two tackles. Whitbread also completed 59 of 68 passes, including 11 long ball link-ups into the attacking half, without making a single ball-handling turnover. The result put fifth-place Derby four points clear in the promotion playoff race with three games to play.
Around the league, Tim Ream and Bolton rallied late for a 1-1 home share against Charlton.
Operating on the left side of a three-man backline, Ream notched a team-best three tackles and two shot blocks in the area while connecting on 60 of 67 passes to help Wanderers control 60% of possession. Though winless in three at home, Bolton mathematically moved to the brink of ensuring survival.
Daniel Williams returned from injury to play the final half hour in Reading's 1-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.
The US midfielder completed 15 of 16 passes and had an 84th minute bid for an equalizer blocked at the six-yard box. Now winless in five, the 18th-place Royals will head into Saturday's FA Cup semifinal still worrying over their Championship safety.
Also, Jonathan Spector watched on from the home dugout as Birmingham City clawed back twice after the break for a 2-2 draw with Blackburn.
