On a very wet evening on the south coast, Derby put in a disciplined performance to earn a potentially crucial point against league leaders Portsmouth.
John Mousinho’s side have lost just four league games this season and were looking to increase their lead on Derby at the top of the table, whilst the chasing pack were also hoping for a favour.
Following the Rams’ 1-0 win over Blackpool on Good Friday, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing retained the armband as Paul Warne made one change, James Collins starting up front ahead of an ill Conor Washington. The Rams were under no illusions, aware that they would be in for a tough game, in difficult conditions.
The slippy nature of the playing surface was evident early on, when Joe Wildsmith came and claimed the ball. But the Derby stopper slipped as he did so, ending up with the ball in his hands outside of his box, resulting in a Portsmouth free kick. Abu Kamara looked to curl the ball into the top left corner from the right, but Wildsmith tipped it over the bar.
The hosts continued their bright start, pinning Derby back, forcing them to concede a couple of corners, one of which resulted in Marlon Pack’s effort being blocked by Curtis Nelson, as Portsmouth registered five attempts on goal in the first eleven minutes.
Ebou Adams fired a header from the edge of the box straight at Will Norris moments before play was paused for the Gambian to break his fast, but Derby’s first good chance fell the way of Curtis Nelson. James Collins did well to find shield the ball and feed it to the centre back as the Rams worked the ball back into the box in the second phase of play before Nelson miskicked it wide.
Two minutes later, the Rams were in front after a brilliant counter. Corey Blackett-Taylor charged through the middle of the pitch into the box and laid the ball right to Joe Ward. He drilled a low right-footed shot across goal and into the bottom left corner for his first Derby goal.
Their lead would last less than four minutes, though. After patient play down the right, Rafferty worked the ball inside to Colby Bishop. He fed the ball out to Kamara who cut inside Nelson fabulously having already shaken off Sibley and placed his shot in the bottom right corner. A brilliant goal, but it does look as though Kamara was offside.
Derby would restore their advantage in the 35th minute, Ward scoring his second goal in twelve minutes after waiting all season for his first in a Derby shirt. London buses come to mind.
James Collins did well to win the ball in the middle of the park and square it to Ward in space in the inside right channel on the edge of the box. Just as he did for his first goal, he hit it hard and low, and the ball deflected off Connor Ogilvie into the bottom left-corner.
There was a rather bizarre stoppage in play towards the end of the first half. A fox entered the pitch halting Derby’s move down the left flank, eventually becoming a literal fox in the box. I haven't seen a fox cover ground that well since N'Golo Kanté in Leicester's Premier League title-winning season!
And in stoppage time, a let off for the visitors, as Christian Saydee volleyed over an open goal after Wildsmith flapped at a deep cross. A breathless first half ended with Derby in front.
The second half was much lower key, Portsmouth dominating the ball, but failing to do much with it, often forced wide by a stubborn Derby defence.
Just three minutes after the break, Corey Blackett-Taylor made a great run from inside his own half, beating multiple players down the left before drifting inside and shooting off target.
The Rams’ number 27 impressed again when he used his pace to keep the ball in and cut back from the byline, but no one was there. Portsmouth then went straight up the other end, with Saydee in a similar situation on the right, but rather than cut it back, he shot from a tight angle and Wildsmith saved with his feet.
As the game ticked past the 75-minute mark, Saydee’s misjudged effort was still Portsmouth’s only shot of the second half, but Owen Moxon would soon change that scoring his first Portsmouth goal in spectacular fashion.
Having replaced Lee Evans on the hour mark, the former Carlisle midfielder unleashed a rocket into the top left corner from 25 yards for his first Portsmouth goal.
The Rams did have a couple more shots as they looked for a winner, but both sides looked as though they would settle for a draw.
Analysis: A solid defensive structure and players coming into form at the right time.
Coming into the game, many Derby fans would have happily taken a point, so despite questions over whether Abu Kamara was offside for Portsmouth’s first goal, or over a handball in the lead up to Moxon’s, we can’t be too disappointed.
Paul Warne “would have [taken it]”, too, he told BBC Radio Derby. He and his team knew that they would be in for a tough test at Fratton Park, and their game plan reflected that. There were large spells of the first half, namely the first twenty minutes and the spell before Derby’s second goal, where they simply had to absorb pressure. Whilst they dropped too deep for Portsmouth second goal, allowing Moxon to shoot from range, their plan to sit in, with everyone including the front two dropping back, before breaking at pace saw them take the lead twice and frustrate the league leaders for much second half.
The usual suspects were on song in a great team performance: Cashin and Nelson at the back, Adams ran his socks off as always, but crucially, Derby seem to have players coming into form at the right time.
As was true against Blackpool, Corey Blackett-Taylor had his best game in a Derby shirt, highlighted by his assist, or more so the run that preceded it. Joe Ward has at last found the net, as well as being the most accurate passer of anyone who played at least 45 minutes in a Player of the Match performance, after a good month of March which of course began with a brilliant display at home to Port Vale. Louie Sibley also impressed that day and put a good shift in considering he was playing out of position against tasked with containing one of the best wingers in the league.
James Collins’ work rate made a noticeable difference up front as he made his first start since injury, creating the most chances of anyone in the match with four, including Ward’s second goal. And Korey Smith’s work rate alongside Adams has been hugely important over the Easter weekend too.
Portsmouth are next in action on Saturday as they host Shrewsbury, whilst Derby have a weekend off, their trip to Wycombe moved to 10th April due to the Bristol Street Motors Trophy Final. This result means that whatever happens when Bolton visit Bristol Rovers on Saturday, the Rams will head to Adams Park in second place.
Derby (4-4-2): Wildsmith (GK), Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Sibley, Ward (Thompson 70’), Smith (Hourihane 90+2’), Adams, Blackett-Taylor (Washington 85’), Mendez-Laing (C), Collins (Waghorn 90+2’).
Substitutes not used: Vickers (GK), Fornah, Robinson.
Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Norris (GK), Rafferty, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie, Pack (C), Evans (Moxon 59’), Kamara (Whyte 90+1’), Saydee (Yengi 70’), Lane (Anjorin 70’), Bishop.
Substitutes not used: Macey (GK), Swanson, Sparkes.
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