A GOAL from Derby’s Krystian Bielik dashed Cherries’ hopes of making ground on the top two in the Championship.

Wayne Rooney’s side took the lead when Bielik bundled in from a corner after 32 minutes, a goal which proved the difference to sink the Dorset club at Pride Park.

The loss meant Cherries have picked up just one point from their past three league outings.

Arnaut Danjuma was back in Cherries’ squad for the first time since November as Jason Tindall made two changes to his starting XI.

The Dutchman, who had recovered from a hamstring problem, replaced Joshua King, with Lloyd Kelly also coming back in for Diego Rico.

Jack Wilshere was back on the bench on his return to the club and Dan Gosling was also among the substitutes after recovering from injury.

With Nnamdi Ofoborh also back in the squad, there were no places for the likes of Rodrigo Riquelme, Philip Billing and Jack Simpson – the Spaniard was believed to be out through injury.

But it was Rooney’s Rams, who had only recorded four league wins all season ahead of kick-off, that forced the first chance after just three minutes.

Bielik’s cross from the left looped over Kelly and found the head of winger Kamil Jozwiak – the Pole’s effort was swatted away by Cherries stopper Asmir Begovic at his near post.

The visitors then spurned a superb chance at the other end to break the deadlock. A sweeping ball from deep found the marauding run of Jack Stacey.

The wingback’s drilled cross seemed perfect for the run of Dominic Solanke – but the striker failed to find the decisive touch.

Bielik himself was then in the wars, he received medical attention after clashing with Jefferson Lerma when competing for a ball in the air. He was however okay to continue.

In an opening half hour of little action – Derby almost found a breakthrough. Lee Buchanan ran on to a ball from deep to go one-on-one with Begovic, the big Bosnian raced off his line to deny him and block the ball to safety.

But the Rams found the opening goal after 32 minutes. An inswinging corner found Bielik in in the box and after tussling with Kelly, the former Arsenal man bundled home to make it 1-0 to the hosts.

Tindall opted for a double change at the break, with Chris Mepham making his first appearance since suffering a calf injury in December. He replaced Cameron Carter-Vickers. King came on for Adam Smith as the visitors switched to a back four.

Mepham’s precise pass from deep found the run of Solanke on 55 minutes but from an acute angle, he could only smash into the side netting.

Begovic was then worked twice in as many minutes by Derby’s Nathan Byrne but both efforts were comfortable for the keeper.

Derby came within inches of notching a second from a set-piece. Byrne’s corner was met by Matt Clarke, with his header cleared off the line by Lewis Cook.

Tindall then brought on Sam Surridge in place of Danjuma. Wilshere came on in place of David Brooks with 12 minutes remaining, as Cherries looked to make something happen.

They almost got their leveller from a corner. Lewis Cook’s delivery was met by Steve Cook, who headed into the path of Kelly.

The former Bristol City man was denied by a sublime reflex save by keeper Kelle Roos as Cherries were left to ponder defeat.

Cherries: Begovic, Carter-Vickers (Mepham, h-t), S Cook, Kelly, Stacey, Lerma, L Cook, Smith (King, h-t), Brooks (Wilshere, 78), Solanke, Danjuma (Surridge, 63).

Unused subs: Rico, Gosling, Ofoborh, Anthony, Dennis (g/k).

Booked: L Cook.

Derby: Roos, Wisdom, Shinnie, Bielik, Jozwiak (McDonaldm 83), Byrne, Kazim-Richards, Clarke, Evans, Buchanan, Knight (Mitchell-Lawson, 90+1).

Unused subs: Forsyth, Bird, Waghorn, Sibley, Whittaker, Gordon, Forster (g/k).

Booked: None.

Referee: Oliver Langford.