If Derby are fighting for their Championship lives, on that showing, John Eustace needs to be blue-lighted in.
That is of course hyperbolic. But as urgent as it makes the scenario sound, The Rams’ play was the opposite in a drab goalless draw at home to Oxford.
Interim boss Matt Hamshaw stuck with the system that saw The Rams end their losing run at Norwich but replaced Ben Osborn and Liam Thompson with Callum Elder and Kayden Jackson as wing backs
Gary Rowett’s side saw two changes from last week’s defeat at Burnley, and were characteristically organised as they ensured their hosts couldn’t build on Saturday’s late Yates show and get their first win of 2025.
In a ponderous first half, Derby’s play was controlled, limiting Oxford despite regularly conceding possession sloppily. But a lack of tempo and impetus meant that they failed to convert their control into chances.
Much of The Rams’ attacking play came from Lars-Jørgen Salvesen holding the ball up and looking for runs in behind from 10’s Kenzo Goudmijn and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, with the former dragging a half-volley wide after 14 minutes.
But the first chance to test a goalkeeper came after 25: Siriki Dembélé unleashing an effort in the half space from 25 yards which Jacob Widell Zetterström pushed over the bar.
On the half hour mark, David Ozoh won the ball and surged down the inside right before seeing his shot blocked for a corner, from which Nat Phillips had two bites of the cherry and fired over the bar.
Derby’s best piece of play came in the penultimate minute of the first 45, Goudmijn beating two defenders as he drifted in from the left and seeing his shot from the edge of the box blocked.
Skipper Mendez-Laing’s follow-up effort from 20 yards was struck too cleanly, if anything, and held easily by Jamie Cumming in the U’s net.
The Rams upped the tempo after the break, but this intensity quickly faded, with the game’s passive nature by now clearly reflected in the stands.
Derby came closest to scoring on the hour mark, as the ball was crossed to Salvesen, who leapt to hit a volley from a tight angle, which Cumming held.
Four minutes later, Sondre Langås displayed his passing abilities as he made his Pride Park bow, playing a killer through ball down the left for Elder, whose cross was headed over the bar by substitute Marcus Harness.
Jerry Yates curled an effort well off target and Harness saw a shot blocked too as Derby looked for a winner in the final ten minutes.
But Oxford came closest as Greg Leigh drilled a clearance back into the box, but Mark Harris failed to add the finishing touch.
Analysis: A solid foundation?
As underwhelming as the attacking play on display from both sides was, a first clean sheet in just shy of two months is significant. This in no small part down to Sondre Langås putting in another player of the match display on his home debut, commanding the back three. He will be crucial. But even if Derby can avoid conceding in games, there will still be a huge problem to solve; singular points won’t keep them up – and goals are severely lacking.
Matt Hamshaw was right when he admitted to Rams TV: “Moving forward, we have to play much better than that.”
“I never thought we sustained anything.”
“Both teams probably lacked that little bit of energy and efficiency to play forward quicker.”
This will be one of the main issues for a new Head Coach, who we expect to be former Rams midfielder John Eustace, to solve.
As will how deep Lars-Jørgen Salvesen had to drop. The game plan appeared to be to use him as a pivot, looking for the 10s to be runners beyond, as opposed to getting him into the box. That would be fine if the two behind him posed a goal threat. But neither Mendez-Laing nor Goudmijn compared to the Norwegian.
Equally, the defensive line was too deep at times, allowing Adams and/or Ozoh to step up a little would have helped. It was something Warne rightly identified helped the Palace youngster, and the entire team, earlier in the season - and was evident on the few occasions the 19-year-old did so.
Playing the centre backs on their preferred sides would have helped in the build-up too.
Ultimately though, this may well be irrelevant. Eustace will likely set up in his preferred 4-2-3-1, and if this can provide a striker with more service, and Langås can continue his fine form, that could go a long way to keeping Derby up.
Derby (5-2-2-1): Zetterström (GK); Jackson (Barkhuizen 90’), Phillips (Nyambe 76’), Clarke, Langås, Elder; Adams, Ozoh (Armstrong 76’); Mendez-Laing (C) (Harness 59’), Goudmijn (Yates 59’); Salvesen.
Substitutes not used: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Osborn, Thompson.
Oxford (4-2-3-1): Cumming (GK); Kioso, Helik, Brown, Leigh; Vaulks, Brannagan (C); Płacheta (Rodrigues 65’), Matos (Mills 65’), Dembélé (Goodrham 80’), Harris (Phillips 89’).
Substitutes not used: Ingram (GK), Long, ter Avest, El Mizouni, Romeny.
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