Derby 1-1 Southampton: Agyemang off the mark as improved Rams draw again

Patience has been the name of the game for John Eustace and Derby County over the first two months of the season. More will be required, but there are indicators that it might be starting to pay off.

“You can see there's gradual signs of us getting to where we want to be,” Eustace said, speaking after his side’s 1-1 draw with Southampton.

Indeed, their performance against a side that the Rams head coach thinks “will no doubt be in the running for promotion” was a marked improvement on that of the midweek draw with Charlton.

Derby made three changes from that game. With Ben Brereton Díaz ineligible to face his parent club, Andi Weimann was back in the starting XI, while Craig Forsyth replaced Callum Elder, and David Ozoh was preferred to Ebou Adams.

Will Still’s Southampton, meanwhile, made two changes following their first league win since the opening day, a midweek victory over bottom of the league Sheffield United.

In a game for the goalkeepers, Southampton started well. Having just fired wide eight yards out, Ryan Manning would force Jacob Widell Zetterström into a full-stretch save from a free kick.

Moments later, The Saints led. Adam Armstrong took his role as skipper literally as he pranced by four defenders to slot the ball across goal into the bottom-left corner.

But going behind seemed to galvanise the hosts who had a chance to respond instantly. Weimann was first denied by Alex McCarthy before Carlton Morris fired the rebound wide.

Pressure continued to mount, with Max Johnston’s cross finding Morris before hitting the shin of Weimann and being clutched gratefully by McCarthy, just the right side of the goal-line.

A reaction save from Zetterström then denied Scottish target man Ross Stewart, who went off injured moments later. Though The Saints were now in a sustained spell of possession, the balance of the side was harmed.

With Armstrong now up front and substitute Tom Fellows on the wing, Still’s “quite short team” struggled to compete with Derby’s “direct, physical style”.

Johnston’s quickly-taken throw in was the catalyst for the equaliser. The ball was hurled to the feet of Weimann, who crossed it to the back post: which Eustace described as “the area we could hurt them [in].”

On the edge of the six-yard box was Patrick Agyemang, who timed his jump to perfection to head the ball into the top-left corner for his first Derby goal.

“USA! USA! USA!” was the chant from the Pride Park faithful. Another export from the too-often-dismissed footballing nation is making an impact in England’s second tier.

The USMNT’s starting striker had opportunities to add a second goal after the break. First, his low-drilled, long-range effort worked McCarthy. Then, The Rams’ number seven was played in by Morris. But, bearing down on goal, he could only shoot wide.

Momentum stayed with Derby as Morris headed wide from Forsyth’s cross, but the 68^th-minute withdrawal of a “tired” Ozoh saw Derby cede control in the midfield. Though Ebou Adams did make a vital block with his face.

The hosts’ best chance to find a winner came when Morris flicked the ball on for Rhian Brewster, who was returning from an injury. The number ten dinked it over the top for fellow substitute Kayden Jackson, but he was denied by a strong hand from McCarthy.

Southampton then looked to apply late pressure, but The Rams and The Saints would ultimately go marching into the international break with a point apiece.

Analysis: Ozoh good

One of the biggest areas of improvement in the Derby side against Southampton was in the way they progressed the ball.  A key factor in this was David Ozoh.

The 20-year-old brings confidence beyond his years in possession, an air of calmness that The Rams’ midfield has been crying out for alongside an accomplished ball-winner, be that Ebou Adams, or as it was on this occasion, Lewis Travis.

Ozoh completed all 37 of his passes (he was the only player to play at least 45 minutes and have 100 per cent pass accuracy) as well as 80 per cent of his duels and two successful dribbles. This ability to dictate play in the middle of the park allowed Derby to keep their shape and press more effectively, while relieving Carlton Morris of some defensive responsibilities, thus keeping him where he is most effective: up front.

Injuries have been the big concern with regards to Derby’s number 18, given that he only featured in 10 Championship games last season. In John Eustace’s words: “It's about not rushing him and putting him [in] at the right times”.

I asked him about the impact Ozoh made.

He said: “Yeah, I think you could see, certainly, I did [see] a different dimension to us.

“Again, when he played earlier in the season, he hadn't had the pre-season with us and hadn't played any games.

“He's catching up on fitness, you know, and he's a really important young player who's going to play a big part for us this season.”

The themes were similar regarding Agyemang, who Eustace “was delighted with” despite “not being his usual menace” after starting his third game in eight days.

And a word must go to Jacob Widell Zetterström, too. After a shaky start to the season, the Swede looked assured in net, and made a number of crucial saves to keep The Rams in the game. With his distribution better too, the number one looked more like the confident shot-stopper Paul Clements was working with at the end of last season.

Now comes another international break, before a three-week period in which Derby play four of the bottom six.

While Will Still’s patience may be being tested by a period he considers “pointless”. For Eustace and Derby, it is more valuable time on the training ground ahead of an important run of games, where they will look to turn draws into wins.

Derby (4-2-3-1): Zetterström (GK); Johnston, Sanderson, Clarke, Forsyth; Ozoh (Adams 68’), Travis (C); Clark (Brewster 68’), Morris (Salvesen 85’), Weimann (Ward 79’); Agyemang (Jackson 79’).

Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK); Nyambe, Batth; Wheeldon.

Southampton (4-2-3-1): McCarthy (GK); Edwards, Wood, Quarshie, Manning; Jander, Charles (Downes 79’); Fraser (Azaz 79’), Scienza (Downs 60’), Armstrong (C); Stewart (Fellows 30’).

Unused Substitutes: Bazunu (GK); Roerslev, Jelert, Harwood-Bellis; Archer.