They say that you should start a new year as you mean to go on, but like someone who overdoes their first post-Christmas gym session, Derby were ‘gassed out’ come full time at Hillsborough.
Goals from Barry Bannan, Josh Windass, Djeidi Gassama and Anthony Musaba saw the Rams suffer a setback in pursuit of their ultimate goal for 2025: Championship survival.
Sheffield Wednesday started well, while a Derby side that featured just two changes to the XI that started the previous two matches looked sluggish: the backline consistently beaten for pace.
Having gone round Craig Forsyth to force a save early on, Gassama then robbed Sonny Bradley on the right flank before finding Shea Charles, who cut the ball back for Wednesday skipper Barry Bannan to finish easily at the back post.
Just two minutes later, the Rams had a chance to equalise, James Beadle spilling the corner to Kane Wilson, who headed over the bar from very close range.
Wilson was denied from another corner in the 19th minute, his effort parried by the young shot-stopper, who then made an even better one-handed save to stop Nat Phillips’ header across goal which had looked destined to make the net bulge.
As has been the case so often in recent weeks, Wilson was dragging Derby up the pitch. Their only bright spark in the opening 25 minutes, he helped the Rams start to gain a foothold in the game.
Yet another corner brought another chance for the Rams as Curtis Nelson headed over the bar in the 29th minute. Wilson then fired over the bar too after good link-up play with Kayden Jackson.
As the first half entered stoppage time, Jerry Yates squandered a chance more golden than the shirts Derby were sporting. Kenzo Goudmijn whipped a cross in from the right only for Yates to hit the post from three yards.
Despite Warne’s side finishing the first 45 on top, half-time brought three changes: Liam Thompson, Callum Elder and Dajaune Brown replacing Marcus Harness, Sonny Bradley and Kayden Jackson.
While Brown put in a solid display up top, Elder and Thompson didn’t hit their usual heights, perhaps unsurprisingly given recent woes, and the game would again sway Wednesday’s way.
Jacob Widell Zetterström’s busy second half began with beating away Shea Charles’ strike from 20 yards.
After Brown was denied by Beadle, Zetterström had to be alert to deny Ike Ugbo on the counter with a near-post reflex save.
But the Swede was caught out by a goal of the season contender just after the hour mark. With Derby having the ball in their final third, Zetterström was well off his line, and couldn’t dash back quick enough to prevent Josh Windass’ 60-yard effort from looping over him.
And before anyone watching could fully process the remarkable goal they had just seen; the Owls had a third.
After a throw deep in their own half, the hosts worked the ball to Gassama on the half-way line, who drove forward and shot across goal into the bottom right corner.
Derby gave the travelling flock hope in the 68th minute, when Yates turned in a low cross from substitute Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
But Anthony Musaba’s put the game beyond doubt with 16 minutes to play. The Dutchman’s initial effort was saved by Zetterström, but bounced under the ‘keeper, allowing him to prod it in.
In stoppage time, Ebou Adams netted a consolation for Derby, firing a side-footed volley into the top left corner. But as sweet as his strike was, for Wednesday, their victory will be sweeter.
Analysis: A bad start to a crucial month
With the new year comes a new transfer window, and this one could well define who stays in the Championship. Of course, this is only day one, so a flurry of signings straight away would be unrealistic, but it has again reinforced the need for Derby to add a finisher, and more generally strength in depth.
Despite the Rams playing their third game in six days, Paul Warne only made two changes to the previously unchanged side that started against Leeds, and admitted that he’d had to play players that he’d ideally wanted to rest. By contrast, Danny Röhl has named 17 different players in his starting line ups over Wednesday’s last three games.
Undeniably, this is a problem for Derby, who have a very solid starting XI and, when everyone is fit, and at least another five Championship quality substitutes. There is little argument that their prior few performances were impressive, but this game showed that squad depth is lacking. Paul Warne would appear to agree.
Even among those who started at Hillsborough, there were some obvious problems, not least the lack of pace in the back three, which was likely exacerbated by the number of games played of late. Perhaps in reverting to the back three/five Warne was trying to ease the workload on tired defenders, but Wednesday had them beaten for pace repeatedly and they didn’t appear as comfortable in the shape compared to the 4-3-3 that saw them impress in beating West Brom and despite defeat to Leeds.
And though Paul Warne may be right in saying that Sheffield Wednesday haven’t been “two wins worthy” against Derby this season, they made a big mistake that cost them in the reverse fixture too in how much space Barry Bannan was allowed. Could starting Ebou Adams as the deepest midfielder have helped? Potentially. It again highlights the need for someone who is consistently available to dictate the play in the middle while having the defensive capabilities to help Adams, and free up Goudmijn to be at his creative best.
Ultimately, Paul Warne’s side must dust themselves down, as there are only another two days before matchday comes around again. Whatever the extent to which the problems were tactical, depth-related or simply in line with the division-wide trend of teams struggling away from home, they must dust themselves down before they head to Ashton Gate.
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