Derby County secured back-to-back home victories in Sky Bet League One after beating Barnsley 2-1 at Pride Park Stadium.
An own goal from Barnsley defender Conor McCarthy got the Rams off to a perfect start within the opening ten minutes, whilst they doubled their lead just after the half hour mark.
It was Nathaniel Mendez-Laing who opened his Derby account with a lovely finish from the edge of the box in a dominant first-half display from the Rams.
However, Rosenior’s side did have to weather a storm from visitors Barnsley in the second half as they found their way back into the game courtesy of a deflected Josh Benson effort just after the hour mark.
But, the Rams did well to see the game out and earn their second victory of the season, both of which have come at Pride Park Stadium.
Major Moments
It didn’t take Derby long to break the deadlock against Barnsley at Pride Park Stadium, and the early goal was welcomed considering the first half dominance against Charlton Athletic seven days previous which did not yield a goal.
So when Conor Hourihane’s cross into the centre hit the back of the net in front of the South Stand, and Richard Stearman wheeled off in celebration, everyone was ready to toast the defender’s first goal for the club.
That was until replays clearly showed the ball went in off the head of Barnsley’s Conor McCarthy, but it didn’t matter as the Rams were ahead. Good try though, Richard.
Derby were only really threatened once throughout the first half, but Joe Wildsmith was on hand to deny Barnsley forward James Norwood from close range.
The Rams looked threatening every time they came forward, however. And they were rewarded with the game’s second goal with 10 minutes of the first half remaining. It was a lovely goal, too.
Haydon Roberts played a ball down the line which set Tom Barkhuizen free. He drove forward and picked out Nathaniel Mendez-Laing who had held his position on the edge of the box. The winger had time to take a touch and pick his spot, which he did, to score his first competitive goal for the club and double Derby’s lead going into the half time interval.
But Barnsley came out riled up in the second half and almost found a way back into the game four minutes into the second half. A set piece routine found Jack Aitchison at the back post but the midfielder stabbed over the crossbar from close range.
Derby did almost make it three on the hour mark from a lovely sweeping move. After some neat one-touch football, the ball found Hourihane who crossed for James Collins but the striker put his close range effort wide.
But the Rams would rue that missed effort minutes later as Barnsley managed to pull a goal back as Josh Benson’s deflected effort found a way past Wildsmith in the Derby goal.
And despite pressure from the visitors in the final minutes of the game, where Derby held on for points, they did eventually see out the game and record their second victory of the season.
Who Impressed?
When making your first league start of the campaign, you always want to get off to a bright start, and that’s exactly what Louie Sibley did.
Fresh from impressive substitute appearances in the league against Oxford United and Charlton Athletic, and after playing an hour during the midweek win against Mansfield Town in the Carabao Cup, the midfielder was keen to make the most of the opportunity given to him by interim manager Liam Rosenior.
He started brightly and almost opened his account for the campaign on four minutes as he capitalised on a wayward back pass, but Barnsley goalkeeper Bradley Collins just managed to recover to save from close range.
That only increased Sibley’s confidence, and he took a pot-shot moments later that was deflected for a corner which eventually led to the opening goal of the game as an own goal from Conor McCarthy put the Rams ahead.
He continued to show neat touches throughout the half as the Rams dominated in the opening 45 minutes at Pride Park Stadium.
Another Academy graduate Eiran Cashin again flourished in front of the Pride Park Stadium crowd. Alongside the experienced Richard Stearman, who replaced the injured Curtis Davies, the defender did not put a foot wrong and looked assured and composed at the back.
He made some key interceptions, especially in the first half, whilst he also offered a calming presence at the back throughout the blisteringly hot afternoon.
But if you’re looking for promising combinations in the Derby County squad, look no further than Tom Barkhuizen and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. On Tuesday night, it was the former which provided the assist for the latter, whilst against Barnsley, it was roles reversed.
Barkhuizen broke nicely down the left-hand side before delivering to an unmarked Mendez-Laing on the edge of the box. The winger still had a lot to do, but he calmly took a touch before firing into the bottom corner to open his competitive account for the football club.
In a contrast to the first half performance, Barnsley came out a different side in the second half and took the game to the Rams, which meant the defence had to stand firm for spells. Cashin, once again, showed experience beyond his years on an impressive afternoon for the defender.
The Rams managed to stave off a wave of Barnsley pressure late in the game and secure all three points at Pride Park Stadium.
Derby County: Wildsmith, Hourihane, Cashin, Barkhuizen (Forsyth 88’), Bird (C), Collins, Mendez-Laing (Dobbin 75’), Roberts, Sibley (Smith 58’), Stearman, Knight.
Substitutes: Loach, McGoldrick, Thompson, Rooney.
Barnsley: Collins, Williams, Styles, Kitching, Andersen (C), Norwood (Cole 63’), Benson, Thomas, McCarthy (Cundy 84’), Aitchison (Marsh 72’), Connell (Oduor 84’).
Substitutes: Walton, Hondermarck, Wolfe.
Attendance: 26,123