Late goal sees Rams bow out of Carabao Cup Second Round

Another late defeat. But this time, one there is no shame in suffering, if you discount the nature of the fatal blow. Derby are out of the Carabao Cup following defeat to Premier League Burnley at Turf Moor.

Scott Parker’s XI was completely different to the one that beat Sunderland at the weekend. While John Eustace made eight changes, including a first start for Rhian Brewster, as he looked to get more minute in the legs.

Compared to April’s 0-0 draw at Pride Park, it was a game that showed the changes in this Rams side: they have more technical ability and improved confidence on the ball but are built on a defensive foundation more prone to costly lapses.

The Clarets got off to a flying start when Aaron Ramsey finished a quick break from deep inside the Burnley half by curling a shot round Dion Sanderson and past Josh Vickers. Just as happened against Bristol City, The Rams had switched off from a throw in, much to John Eustace’s disappointment.

He told RamsTV post-match: “From a throw in, we didn’t do our jobs properly, again.

“That happened at the weekend, and today, we need to be better.”

Now a goal down, Derby slowly grew into the game, eating away at Burnley’s possession share and creating on the turnover. After an optimistic long-range strike from Joe Ward, there was little goalmouth action in the opening half hour. The standout moment for the visitors in that time was perhaps a superb solo run from Bobby Clark, who then found himself up a cul-de-sac, with no team-mates up in support.

But as Eustace’s side started to dominate possession, link up play between The Rams’ wing backs and attacking midfielders was a hallmark of some nice play between the lines, as occurred for the equaliser. Dion Sanderson fed Rhian Brewster, who took a lovely touch to turn and spray the ball out to Callum Elder on the left. The Australian whipped a low ball into the box first-time, which Clark finished by shooting across Max Weiß, having burst ahead of his marker.

With ten minutes of the half to play, Clark was off the mark. The training work on possession-based football had paid off.

But just moments later, the defensive frailties that have plagued Derby in these opening weeks showed themselves once more. Step forward Josh Vickers, who tipped Zian Fleming’s header away from point-blank range.

France Under-21 International Loum Tchaouna made a lively start to the second half for the hosts. In pressing higher, Derby allowed him more space in behind, and he certainly enjoyed it.

But whether crossing the ball, or cutting inside to shoot, the £12 million man couldn’t seem to find the target. Though he did rattle the post with a first-time effort following a free kick.

In a spell that was largely Burnley’s, former Forest skipper Joe Worrall flicked the ball over his head, and over the bar. How he’d have loved a sweet strike against The Rams.

Following the withdrawal of Clark and Brewster, Derby lost much of their creative spark, failing to register another shot from open play until stoppage time. Scott Parker’s side offered little too in what became a scrappy affair before opening up in the final ten minutes.

Substitute Jaydon Banel forced Vickers into two saves in the final ten minutes, with the second an impressive stop with his feet from a tight angle. Sandwiched in between was Matt Clarke’s header over the bar following Craig Forsyth’s free kick – a delivery just begging for a finish akin to Nat Phillips’ header at Hull last season.

As the game entered three minutes of stoppage time, the game looked destined for penalties.

But when Ashley Barnes dropped into space, and Mike Trésor slipped through defender Oliver Sonne, the Peruvian made no mistake. Having occupied Forsyth, before stepping into space vacated by Clarke, the defender could simply side-foot it into the bottom-right to earn the Premier League side a third-round ticket.

Eustace blamed a “lack of concentration”, but whatever the cause, Derby County’s Carabao Cup campaign is over.

Analysis: Promising signs despite a horrid end

On the most basic level, this may feel like the same old story: Derby are competitive for the majority of the game before letting things slip late on. But there are a couple of big differences.

Most obviously, Eustace’s men went toe-to-toe with a side who have spent more in transfer fees on a single winger than The Rams have on their entire squad this summer.

Moreover, there were some clear indications of the possession-based football that Eustace and co. have been working on. They played more passes in the opposition half than they have in a game so far this season, and their highest pass accuracy percentage. Crucially though, Derby put together some relatively fluid attacks, with line-breaking passes.

With Carlton Morris absent, they did lack a focal point, but The Rams’ attacking midfielders built on their substitute appearances last time out. As well as finding the net, Bobby Clark completed the most dribbles and had the joint-most touches in the opposition box of any Derby player (tied with Matt Clarke whose four came from set-pieces).

Rhian Brewster had a quieter game but again showed some strong touches in the middle of the park, playing a crucial role in the build up to the goal. He perhaps stands to benefit most from having Morris to play off.

Callum Elder had another decent night, creating the joint-most chances (two, tied with Ben Osborn) and assisting the goal in just 45 minutes before coming off with a tight groin in a precautionary substitution.

One of the most eye-catching statistics is the number of passes into the final third by Derby’s defenders. Jake Rooney topped the rankings with eight, while Dion Sanderson had five, despite being anchored in the middle of the backline to sweep up, topping Derby’s clearance charts. Another impressive for the Birmingham loanee.

But al that counts for little, something which John Eustace seems all too aware of, bemoaning the ‘basics’ not being good enough, when speaking to BBC Radio Derby.

In talk of needing results, not just performances, despite the injuries and fitness woes, the seems to have been a shift in the general theme of Eustace’s media. It is still true that it’s a long season, and things take time, but he is now more publicly demanding higher standards.

There was an undertone of this in his press conference following the draw to Bristol City too, in talk of Carlton Morris’ form not being ‘heartening’ but ‘expected’ and players thriving on pressure.

In many ways, Derby set a standard for themselves in their play at Turf Moor. At Portman Road against Championship favourites Ipswich, they must maintain them for the full 90 minutes.