Two goals in as many minutes saw Derby fall to a 2-1 defeat at Cardiff, leaving them in the bottom three.
Five changes from the midweek Sunderland defeat, including a first start for Lars-Jørgen Salvesen and the return of Ryan Nyambe from a three-month injury layoff, helped The Rams dominate much of the game, but they couldn’t earn their first points of 2025.
While Derby have now lost their last seven games, Cardiff have extended their unbeaten run to eight, climbing to 18th in the Championship.
The Rams had the first attempt on goal, Swansea loanee Jerry Yates seeing a header pushed wide by Jak Alnwick inside two minutes.
Bluebirds skipper Joe Ralls forced Jacob Widell Zetterström into his first save of the afternoon when he looped a left-footed effort towards the top corner from 25 yards.
Derby thought they had taken the lead in the 11th minute, when Ben Osborn’s free kick was headed back across goal by Craig Forsyth and side-footed into the net by Jerry Yates. But the goal wouldn’t stand: Forsyth had been in an offside position as the dead ball was struck.
Back playing in his usual midfield role, Ebou Adams made a great last-ditch tackle to deny Chris Willock before Kenzo Goudmijn’s 18-yard effort was saved at the other end.
In control, Derby continued to look most likely to score, creating the vast majority of openings by switching the ball out wide before crossing into the box, where Yates combined well with his new strike partner, who saw his half-volley saved in the 25th minute.
With just two minutes left of the first half, Goudmijn’s free kick was headed across goal by Salvesen to Corey Blackett-Taylor. But the winger, who was operating as a right wing back in Derby’s 3-4-1-2, scuffed his shot, which should otherwise have resulted in a goal.
Ten minutes into the second period, Zetterström had to make amends for a sloppy pass as he denied Callum Robinson from close range
Derby suffered yet another injury when Blackett-Taylor was forced off with what looked like a hamstring injury in the 58th minute. And things only got worse for The Rams after the hour mark.
Ralls’ cross was pushed away by Zetterström onto a plate for Robinson who the Swedish goalkeeper couldn’t deny from close range this time.
Within two minutes, Cardiff caught Derby on the break and found substitute Anwar El Ghazi free on the left-hand side of the box to fire low across goal and double the Welsh club’s lead.
El Ghazi then saw an attempt saved by Zetterström, before Cian Ashford blazed the ball over the bar from six yards.
Derby pulled one back in the 71st minute, Adams driving forward through the middle and finding Yates, whose cross was headed in by Salvesen at the back post for his first Derby goal.
The Norwegian found another good position at the back post a minute later but went down and saw his penalty claim waved away.
Salvesen wasted a golden chance when he headed Mendez-Laing’s free kick straight at Alnwick with nine minutes to play. Before Cardiff went up the other end and were denied by two good saves from Zetterström, who spared Craig Forsyth’s blushes after he gifted El Ghazi the ball before denying Yousef Salech.
Analysis: Analysis: New and returning players provide boost, but it’s not enough
Just 30 days ago, Derby were sat in 14th at the halfway point of the Championship season after a positive display saw them dispatch of play-off hopefuls West Brom. That position feels like dreamland now: such is the impact of going a month without a point. With The Rams having lost their following six league games, and been dumped out of the FA Cup too, they are now two points from safety.
Such a dramatic slump must be stopped, and Derby will hope Lars-Jørgen Salvesen can aid that. As against Sunderland, he was a focal point with a great presence up top, allowing Jerry Yates to run off him and drop into space. Finishing was again lacklustre from Derby, but it must be remembered that Salvesen is still working towards full fitness, having not played a game for six weeks before joining Derby due to the Eliteserien season concluding at the beginning of December.
Further boosts came for the injury-ravaged Rams in the shape of Ryan Nyambe, who looked the assured, consistent defender Derby fans have grown to love on the right of the back three. However, that Nyambe and the other members of the back three all played 90 minutes highlighted once more the need for central defenders to be recruited before the transfer deadline on February 3.
Another positive was David Ozoh’s first minutes since the reverse fixture versus Cardiff back in September.
But Derby cannot hang their hopes solely on these players, who have all played little football of late. Ultimately, despite a good performance for the first hour the same trends are emerging game after game. Derby cannot be consistent for ninety minutes and are switching off at key moments. There is a very real risk that this could cost The Rams their Championship status.
Cardiff (4-2-3-1): Alnwick (GK); Rinomhota, Goutas, Daland, NG; Chambers, Ralls (C); Robertson (Salech 67’), Willock (El Ghazi 56’), Ashford (Fish 84’): Robinson (Meite 84’).
Substitutes not used: Horvath (GK), Giles, Siopis, R. Colwill, Pearce.
Derby (3-4-1-2): Zetterström (GK); Nyambe, Forsyth, Cashin, Blackett-Taylor (Mendez-Laing 58’), Adams, Osborn (C) (Barkhuizen 86’), Elder (Harness 77’); Goudmijn (Ozoh 86’); Yates (Jackson 86’), Salvesen.
Substitutes not used: Vickers (GK), Thompson, Rooney, Turley.
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