Lawrence’s double gets Cocu off to a winning start
For Derby, yesterday was a tale of two Manchester United old boys who often wear the No10 shirt and share a penchant for the spectacular. While County make an audacious attempt to bring in Wayne Rooney as a player-coach, Tom Lawrence, who began his career at Old Trafford, scored a three-minute brace worthy of United’s record goalscorer.
He gave Derby a winning start under new manager Phillip Cocu. Yet while they rebounded from the disappointments of play-off final defeat and Frank Lampard’s departure for Chelsea, it meant a change of division did not bring a change in fortunes for Huddersfield.
Manager Jan Siewert, beaten for the 13th time in his 16-game reign, lamented: “We made it too easy for Lawrence to score. They took advantage of our mistakes.”
If the former Bournemouth captain Tommy Elphick was signed to provide a cool head at the back, the centre-back instead cost his new team a goal with his chest. The debutant tried to find Kamil Grabara but got his angles wrong.
The goalkeeper had to come out of his box and, under pressure from Martyn Waghorn, could only head the ball to Lawrence. He directed a delightful lob over the Liverpool loanee and into the empty net.
Lawrence’s second goal was similarly sublime. He executed a deft turn on the edge of the box and picked out the corner of the net with precision.
“They were world-class goals,” said Cocu who, with a century of Holland caps, is qualified to judge. It was an early sign Lawrence will help compensate for the loss of Mason Mount and Harry Wilson. “He is an extraordinary player,” Cocu said. “He scored six goals last season and we spoke on getting that number up.”
Lawrence was in sparkling form, skipping away from defenders and finding space with ease. But Huddersfield winger Adama Diakhaby posed a similar threat at the other end. Cocu gave a debut to Kieran Dowell and he, too, made an awkward start. When Diakhaby fooled Dowell with a sharp turn, the Everton loanee responded by nudging him over. Karlan Grant converted the resulting penalty.
Thereafter, Aaron Mooy arrowed a shot narrowly wide and substitute Elias Kachunga spurned a great chance to level. “We didn’t deserve to lose,” Siewert said. But, once again, Huddersfield did so. Huddersfield Town
(4-3-3): Grabara; Hadergjonaj, Elphick, Schindler, Kongolo; Bacuna (Mbenza 62), Hogg, Mooy; Diakhaby (Kachunga 67), Grant (Quaner 89), Pritchard. Subs Schofield (g), Bockhorn, Stankovic, O’brien. Derby County (4-2-3-1): Roos; Bogle, Keogh, Clarke, Malone; Huddlestone, Evans; Jozefzoon (Bennett 74), Dowell (Knight 88), Lawrence; Waghorn. Subs Mitchell (g), Shinnie, Marriott, Lowe, Davies. Referee Geoff Eltringham (Co Durham).