Depleted Derby start season with late defeat

Can somebody speed up the tarmac delivery? The Championship Road was always expected to be bumpy, with parts of The Rams’ vehicle still in need of restoration, but the first of 46 journeys was far from comfortable for the traveling fans.

In a rematch of last season’s final day clash; John Eustace’s side were more familiar than he would have hoped for. Carlton Morris and Danny Batth were the only starting debutants.

Stoke started three players looking to instant impact in their new colours. Two of which combined brilliantly with Million Manhoef to form a front three which already looked in sync.

Throughout the opening 20 minutes, Manhoef, Manchester City loanee Divin Mubama and Welsh winger Sorba Thomas had Derby severely on the back foot. Electric pace out wide isolated their visitor’s full backs, with Mubama’s centre forward play occupying Batth and Clarke, while linking things together.

But for all the threat they posed, The Potters had few chances, with The Rams centre backs aerially dominant, bar Bae Junho’s early header from a delightful Manhoef ball. Thomas’ acrobatic effort was held by Jacob Widell Zetterström, while fellow debutant Aaron Cresswell’s teasing delivery was missed by everyone.

Derby’s first real foray forward came from pre-season star Corey Blackett-Taylor driving forward down the left and floating in a cross which was awkward for Viktor Johansson to turn behind.

Their only other notable attack of the half saw more good work down the left, before Ebou Adams’ through ball from which Kayden Jackson could only try and win what would have been a very soft penalty.

Mark Robins’ side, meanwhile, had a couple more chances, albeit still not clear cut. Bosun Lawal headed wide at the back post from a corner, before Mubama closed out the first half with a long-range low drive that was simple for Zetterström.

The Rams’ start to the second half was stronger, registering their first shot two minutes in. And they then took the lead on the hour mark.

Liam Thompson dinked the ball out wide to Blackett-Taylor, who drove straight at Junior Tchamadeu and drilled a cross in towards the front post where Morris reacted quickest to find the top-left corner with his left foot and open his Derby account. A brilliant instinctive finish.

Stoke should have been level just four minutes later. Manhoef played a neat reverse ball into Thomas, who rounded the on-rushing Zetterström, but could only find the side-netting.

But the hosts would not have to wait long to draw level, Lewis Baker the scorer with a 20-yard curling effort across goal after some good combination play with Ben Wilmot and Thomas. There was little Zetterström could do to stop the strike, which nestled in the bottom-right corner.

Having joined David Ozoh in coming off the bench to make his second debut, Andi Weimann won The Rams a free kick with five minutes to play, which he would bend narrowly wide.

Tchamadeu’s strike from distance forced Zetterström into a sensational save, but as the game entered eight minutes of stoppage time it remained all-square. And it was then the double-salvo came.

Derby conceded moments after switching to a 5-4-1, Mubama outjumping Batth to reach Seko’s cross and net a Divin(e) header. A near perfect finish, the quality of which was matched by Jamie Donley’s cut-back inside the box, which allowed Thomas to drill in a third.

Analysis: Consider expectations tempered

There is a reason that inside the first 10 seconds of his pre-match press conference, John Eustace said: “It’s a 46-game season, so it’s important everyone realises that.” As I’m sure I don’t need to tell you, that is likely because this side’s development is still in its infancy, and a number of players are injured and many of the new additions are “not up to speed” in terms of fitness.

The display in Staffordshire was not pretty: Derby’s 61 per cent pass completion rate was the lowest of any Championship team so far on matchday one. A lack of pace at the back was an issue, with Stoke exploiting the space between full back and centre back.

This had been somewhat mitigated in pre-season games, but rotations from the central midfielders, who had often dropped into pockets to help out defensively and plug gaps, were lacking and therefore so were the line-breaking passes from deep which had allowed The Rams to dictate play.

Derby’s defensive structure was particularly poor when they switched to the 5-4-1 in stoppage time, with Dion Sanderson thrown in at the deep end. Though they had ridden their luck with Stoke’s poor finishing, the back four had held fairly strong. A formation change, with the benefit of hindsight, is obviously going to be viewed as the wrong decision.

Low possession, pass accuracy and high number of long balls, of which less than one in three were accurate, are all signs of a lack of control in midfield. David Ozoh should help with this once fully fit, having looked comfortable off the bench, as could another new addition.

The main plus point was up front, where we know new additions have been needed. Carlton Morris took his goal excellently and won the most duels of any player in the match – he looked every bit the physical frontman required.

If the other new additions can have a similar impact, and with key players such as Kane Wilson and Sondre Langås to return too, we could be looking at a strong Derby side.

But the opening day was certainly an off day, and for now, patience will be required.

Stoke (4-3-3): Johansson (GK); Tchamadeu, Lawal (Phillips), Wilmot (C), Cresswell; Pearson (Seko 84’), Baker, Junho; Manhoef (Donley 74’), Mubama, Thomas.

Unused Substitutes: Bonham (GK); Gibson, Bocat, Mears; Fawunmi, Bozenik.

Derby (4-2-3-1): Zetterström (GK); Nyambe, Clarke, Batth, Forsyth; Thompson, Goudmijn (Ozoh 68’); Jackson (Sanderson 90+4’), Adams (C), Blackett-Taylor (Weimann 80’); Morris.

Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK); Rooney, Elder: Osborn, Clark; Brown.