Jack Bryan is a football writer and life long Derby County supporter.
After a brilliant first half performance on a very warm afternoon at Pride Park, Derby had to hold on to beat Barnsley, another side who will be aiming to finish towards the top of the table.
Derby took the lead on eight minutes when Conor Hourihane put in a good free kick, and the ball found the back of the net after a the second mix-up of the game between Barnsley goalkeeper Brad Collins and defender Connor McCarthy. It initially looked like Richard Stearman, in for captain Curtis Davies who picked up an injury in training on Friday, had scored his first Derby goal from two yards out, but it was deemed a McCarthy own goal.
Derby continued to impress going forward, and got a second when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing rifled in a beauty from the edge of the area after a brilliant assist from Tom Barkhuizen. The Derby front three worked very hard throughout the first half, and reaped the rewards, whilst Conor Hourihane put in many good balls.
In contrast, Barnsley struggled to create chances in the first half, only really getting them when the Rams played themselves into danger whilst passing around the back. Barnsley probably should have scored one of their gifted opportunities, the best was a James Norwood shot which was acrobatically saved by Joe Wildsmith.
Barnsley came out for the second half looking much better, and had the next big chance. From a move that began with a free kick conceded by Eiran Cashin, who was booked for a foul on former Ram Luke Thomas, Jake Aitchison somehow volleyed over from four yards.
Having earned his start based on previous performances, Louie Sibley had a decent game but was substituted around the hour mark, being replaced by Korey Smith. The reverse of this change occurred around the same time in the Rams first two league games, but today the change was less effective, negatively altering the balance of the midfield.
Next, a good move from Derby in which Jason Knight drove into midfield from right back, and a low cross from Conor Hourihane was met by James Collins. The striker had to stretch to reach it, but really should have put the ball in the back of the net. Inches away from his first goal in black and white yet again.
Soon after, Derby had another free kick, but another stupendous Hourihane delivery was missed by everyone.
In the 64th minute, Barnsley halved the deficit, having played much better since the break. Josh Benson’s shot from the edge of the box took a deflection off a Derby player and beyond Joe Wildsmith. This clearly gave Barnsley a boost, who then stepped it up another gear, outplaying a nervy, leggy Rams side who were second to every ball and getting overrun in midfield.
Goal scorer Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was replaced by Lewis Dobbin with a quarter of an hour to play, the former Sheffield Wednesday man, having been more successfully suppressed by Barnsley in the second half. The visitors kept asking questions of Derby, Eiran Cashin often left to stop their attacks, but he excelled under pressure and was victorious in the air on countless occasions.
Derby were simply holding on in the final ten, Craig Forsyth coming on for Tom Barkhuizen as the Rams switched to a back five for the last couple of minutes of normal time, plus seven added on.
The Tykes had a big chance to equalise in the third minute of added time, Mads Andersen heading wide. A let off for the hosts.
The Rams made life more difficult than it needed to be, losing their way in the second half for the third straight game. This could in part be down to fitness, having had a shorter pre-season than most teams, or perhaps the heat, but Derby clearly have an issue with continuing their good performance into the second half. We discussed this on the latest podcast, in which we also mentioned momentum, and the importance of continuing good home form, which of course stretches back to last season.
That being said, there are many positives to take from the first half, not least Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s goal, the attacking play in the first half, and way Eiran Cashin defended. But also the resilience shown by Derby to dig deep and grind out a result from a game which Liam Rosenior admits ‘wasn’t perfect’, as any team that is aiming for the play-offs, which Rosenior has said they are, needs to do.
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