Another defeat and blanks fired again as Rams can’t find way
BACUNA’S WINNER MEANS PRESSURE BUILDS AHEAD OF TRIP TO FACE FOREST
DERBY County’s deeply-worrying early-season results continued when they lost for a fifth time in six Championship matches.
Juninho Bacuna’s goal for Huddersfield Town eight minutes after the break was enough to consign the Rams to a 1-0 defeat at the John Smith’s Stadium.
And the Rams have now failed to score in four of their League outings, highlighting the problems they have in the final third.
There was a sense that this was a big week with two away games in four days, and the pressure builds ahead of a trip to the City Ground on Friday to face rivals Nottingham Forest
Phillip Cocu made three changes to the side that lost at home to Watford on Friday. In came Tom Lawrence, Kamil Jozwiak and Andre Wisdom. Out went Duane Holmes, Wayne Rooney and George Evans.
It was Lawrence’s first start of the season and at a ground where he scored twice in a 2-1 victory over Huddersfield in the opening fixture of last season – Cocu’s first as Rams boss.
Jozwiak was back in the squad after sitting out the previous game following his international commitments with Poland.
Rooney missed the first of three matches as he self-isolates after unknowingly encountering an individual last week who later tested positive for coronavirus. The Rams skipper has been tested for Covid-19 himself, with the results returning as negative, but he has to isolate.
Evans and Morgan Whittaker were not in the 18, Louie Sibley was out again but is working his way back from a hamstring injury.
Lawrence and Jozwiak started up front in something of 5-3-2 formation with Jason Knight looking to support the front two from a central midfield position.
Derby were almost caught out when Pipa was allowed to drive into the area and curl a shot wide but there was a better chance for Nathan Byrne at the other end. Derby’s right wing-back worked his way in the box but took a fraction too long to get his shot off and his effort was blocked.
The Rams were eager in their work in the opening half an hour. They closed down and looked to move the ball quickly when in possession.
There was good movement and sharpness from Jozwiak and Lawrence, forwards in an unconventional sense, and this presented the
Huddersfield defenders with the puzzle of who to pick up.
Jozwiak curled a shot a yard beyond the far post of Ben Hamer, who was on loan at Derby last season, and the Rams forced set pieces but most were wasted because of poor delivery.
Pipa kept finding pockets of space on Huddersfield’s right and is not afraid to shoot. He stung the palms of David Marshall with one drive and sent another whistling over but Derby could be pleased with their performance in the first half.
Wisdom sent an effort straight at Hamer after powering his way into the area and there was a feeling at the break that the game was there for them if they could find that final pass, cross, finish.
Fraizer Campbell was inches away from connecting with a low cross for the home side early in the second half and it was a warning for Derby, who fell behind after 53 minutes.
Harry Toffolo raided down the left and pulled an accurate and inviting ball back for Bacuna to finish clinically low and wide of Marshall from 12 yards.
Derby needed to respond. They sent on Martyn Waghorn for his first taste of action this season, he has been out with a calf problem, and Duane Holmes was also introduced.
Holmes forced a smart save from Hamer, who dived low to his left to claw the ball behind and the next Rams change saw new signing Colin Kazim-Richards come on for his debut.
Marshall touched over a header from Naby Sarr before the Rams went agonisingly close to a late equaliser, Matt Clarke’s header thudding against Hamer’s righthand post.