Derby managed to come out on top in a 3-2 win over Doncaster to move up to seventh in the table.
Commons double makes Doncaster fightback in vain
Derby managed to come out on top in a 3-2 win over Doncaster at the Keepmoat Stadium to move up to seventh in the table.
The Rams looked to be well on their way to victory as goals from Luke Moore and Kris Commons had them two goals to the good by the hour mark.
But Rovers fought back well and were level just eight minutes later as Dean Shiels scored twice in two minutes to restore parity.
However Derby were not finished, and Commons responded with his second goal four minutes after Shiels' equaliser to regain the lead and hold on for an important win.
Havoc
Derby's attacking midfield trio of Commons, Alberto Bueno and Tomasz Cywka caused havoc and Luke Moore opened the scoring for the visitors in the 19th minute.
Derby dominated a poor Doncaster side in the first half with former Rovers midfielder Paul Green controlling the game for the visitors.
Rams manager Clough might have been edgy to see his side fail to turn their dominance into more goals but when Commons capitalised on an error from Rovers debutant Joseph Mills to strike just before the hour mark the points appeared to be safe.
But leading scorer Billy Sharp drove Doncaster forward and the former Scunthorpe man had a hand in both goals as a quick-fire double from Dean Shiels brought the hosts level.
The Rams were not to be denied however, and the incisive link-up displayed all evening by Bueno and Commons opened Doncaster up for the latter's second neat finish, this time a winner.
Doncaster had the evening's first shot on goal in the second minute when Sharp controlled a long ball before firing a stinging drive at Frank Fielding.
Derby responded through Bueno who released Cywka in the box and a ball across goal was spilled by Neil Sullivan before the home defence hacked clear.
A measured Derby passing move in the 14th minute ended with Moore side-footing straight at Sullivan who was well placed.
He made no mistake five minutes later when he put the Rams in front.
A loose pass from Simon Gillett was collected by Dean Moxey and the Derby left-back moved unchallenged down the flank before delivering an inviting ball that Moore calmly stroked home.
Clough's side continued to cut Doncaster to ribbons with their passing and a last ditch block from Mustapha Dumbuya stopped Bueno making it 2-0 following another slick interchange between Commons and Cywka.
In the 27th minute Bueno found space down the Doncaster left amid strong suspicions of offside. His cross found Commons and Sullivan saved from point blank range when he should have been left with no chance.
Martin Woods replaced the injured Gillett for Doncaster seven minutes before the break while Moore, Cywka and Green all could have increased Derby's lead.
Revival
Sharp was at the forefront of a Doncaster revival after the break but County claimed a deserved second goal in the 58th minute.
Mills, the younger brother of former Yeovil captain Matt, gifted possession inside his own penalty area allowing Commons to shoot into the top corner.
Shefki Kuqi replaced Moore for Derby after 64 minutes but four minutes later the hard work the former Aston Villa man had been involved with lay in tatters.
Sharp instigated Doncaster's first goal, releasing strike partner James Coppinger inside the area. He cut the ball back to leave Shiels with a simple finish.
No sooner had Derby restarted, Sharp muscled down the left flank and Shiels gained possession on the corner of the box to steer a 68th minute equaliser in off the post.
But parity lasted only three minutes when Doncaster's back line allowed Bueno room on the edge of the area to thread the ball through to Commons who applied the finish.
Fielding misjudged a long ball in the Derby area with two minutes remaining, but with the England under-21 goalkeeper prone, none of the Doncaster players in attendance could find the decisive touch.
