Morris’ late equaliser gets Derby off the mark

Full-time scenes at Pride Park (Photo: Jack Bryan)

Three games, three chances, three goals. If there has been one positive for Derby to take from the season’s opening weeks, it has certainly been Carlton Morris.

That’s right. The Rams’ number nine has been in the goals again. This time bundling the ball home in the 86th minute to rescue a point at home to Bristol City.

Despite a 3-5 defeat last time out, John Eustace made just the one change to his side as Kayden Jackson dropped to the bench in favour of Andi Weimann, facing his former club.

Derby started the game with real intent: both Callum Elder and Weimann saw shots blocked in the opening ten minutes, the latter’s seemingly striking the upper-arm of Rob Dickie.

But though most of the game was being played in the Bristol City half, The Rams struggled to break into their box, a trend which would continue for both sides. This was perhaps best summed up by a lovely bit of rotational play as David Ozoh dropped into the backline before the ball was swept out to Ebou Adams on the right, who drove forward and saw a cross blocked.

Gerhard Struber’s Robins had battened down the hatches.

But following a break in play for Ebou Adams to receive treatment, they began to spread their wings, registering a first shot through skipper and former Ram Jason Knight, whose effort from Scott Twine’s corner trickled wide.

Pressure continued to mount on Derby until Scott Twine broke the deadlock. It was far too easy for Mark Sykes to gallop inside from the right flank and find his side’s number 10 on the edge of the box. Twine then had time and space to take a touch, open up his body, and curl the ball into the bottom right corner.

As Eustace admitted post-match: “We switched off which allowed them to get out.”

It continued to be all Bristol City as the half came to a close, but an unchanged Rams side would come out and dominate the ball after the break.

Though the visitors would test Jacob Widell Zetterström on the break through substitute Sinclair Armstrong and the ever-tricky Anis Mehmeti who dragged a shot wide.

Following his introduction just before the hour mark, Joe Ward looked to be positive with a number of deliveries, while debutant Rhian Brewster showed brilliance in flashes.

As the second half progressed, the visitors’ backline seemed to sink deeper and deeper. Meanwhile the atmosphere was building inside Pride Park, albeit in large part due to the home faithful’s grievances with the decisions of the referee.

But it was only when Derby switched to a 4-2-3-1 following the introduction of Jackson and Kenzo Goudmijn that they started to get a grip on the game – and a chance felt inevitable.

When Joe Ward somehow got his head on Callum Elder’s back-post cross, only to be denied by Radek Vítek, it looked as though that chance had gone. But the Manchester United loanee palmed the ball straight to Morris, who would bundle it well over the line before Ron Atkinson booted it away.

David Webb’s watch seemed to take an age to buzz. Like someone releasing the valve on a pressure cooker for the first time, there were a few seconds of baffled anticipation before an almighty release of tension. For all the talk of injuries, the late collapses - this time might Derby have the point they’d been probing for?

Not yet. Twine would go for a second goal from a dangerous free kick. But Zetterström would make one final, fantastic save.

Analysis: A strong finish

Anyone who turned up expecting a game as action packed as The Rams' prior fixture may well want their money back. But Derby County won't care.

It was far from the best of performances in the large part. Eustace's side will surely not be able to come away with something having failed to work the keeper for 86 minutes. The same goes for their 55 per cent pass accuracy in the opposition half.

But it was a resolute defensive display that kept Derby in the game. Matt Clarke looked closer to the player that was so vital in Championship survival last season, while Dion Sanderson was 'better' as John Eustace echoed.

The stats back this up. 75 per cent of duels won (the highest of any Derby defender) with a 94 percent pass accuracy and 100 per cent dribble completion represents a fairly well-rounded display that is required from a wide centre back.

Carlton Morris is someone I am worried about running out of descriptors for at this rate, so here are John Eustace's thoughts from the post-match press conference.

He said: "We’ve got a great player and a top professional in the group."

Asked whether he had hoped for the 29-year-old to start well, Eustace explained: "It’s what I expect, its why we bought him.

"That’s why he’s here [and] we give him his wages.

"He’s a Premier League performer, he’s very hungry to do well."

"As soon as I met him, the week after the season finished, I could see there was a desire in his eyes. He’s a top player."

The prospect of Morris leading the line ahead of a dynamic attacking midfield trio is tantalising. Derby had a much better balance in a 4-2-3-1, with the right qualities in the right areas. Jackson's pace on the left to stretch the game, given the more defensive full back behind him, Clark on the right, a creator in the half-space allowing Ward to overlap, and Brewster, a technically gifted number ten willing to drop into pockets to get on the ball or support his frontman.

Brewster is a player who "thrives on pressure" and "can’t wait to prove some people wrong" according to Eustace. Considering he had only played 45 minutes of B team football earlier in the week, he was excellent.

A much-needed point on the board. But, despite all of the substitutes who helped turn the game around, there is likely only one player on Derby fans' minds.

Derby (3-4-1-2): Zetterström (GK); Sanderson, Batth, (Jackson 70’) Clarke; Nyambe (Ward 59’), Ozoh (Goudmijn 70’), Thompson (Clark 59’); Elder; Adams (C); Weimann (Brewster 60’), Morris.

Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK); Goudmijn, Clark, Ward; Brewster, Jackson.

Bristol City (3-4-2-1): Vítek (GK); Vyner, Dickie, Atkinson; Sykes, Knight (C), Randell (Bird 73’), McCrorie; Sykes; Twine (Hirakawa 90’), Mehmeti; Riis (Armstrong 54’).

Unused Substitutes: Lumley (GK); Roberts, Tanner; Cornick; Mayulu, Bell.