Paul Warne’s Derby County had another worthwhile run-out in their penultimate pre-season fixture ahead of the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season at Barnsley on Wednesday night.
The Rams got more valuable match minutes into their legs ahead of the new season, with a final pre-season friendly against Real Valladolid still to play at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 3rd August (3pm kick-off).
The lively game finished 4-3 to the hosts, with former Derby midfielder Conor Hourihane opening the scoring for Barnsley in the 14th minute. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing equalised with a neat finish into the bottom corner in the 32nd minute and doubled the Rams’ tally in the second period.
The game became open after the 70th minute with Barnsley drawing level through Adam Phillips before Derby took the lead through James Collins. This was cancelled out once more by Kyran Lofthouse for the visitors before Aiden Marsh put Barnsley in front moments before the final whistle.
Key Moments
Barnsley striker Sam Cosgrove had the first clear-cut chance of the game in the 12th minute when he looked to steer the ball into the back of the net from a cross to the far post, but the striker could only send the ball wide under pressure from Eiran Cashin.
Former Derby man Hourihane gave the home side the lead for the hosts two minutes later as his low-driven shot found the bottom corner, beyond the reach of goalkeeper Josh Vickers.
Jerry Yates looked lively for Derby as he flashed a ball across the face of the goal after Cashin found the striker running in behind on the wing. However, Yates couldn’t find a team-mate in the box to finish the move.
Mendez-Laing flashed a dangerous-looking in-swinging corner into the box in the 22nd minute, but Barnsley shot-stopper Jackson Smith was able to punch the ball behind before an onrushing Rams attacker could capitalise.
Mendez-Laing’s pressure won him the ball high up the pitch in the 26th minute. But the winger was usurped by Barnsley’s Mael de Gevigney before he could pass to a team-mate who would surely have a chance at an open net.
The home side looked to gain another goal in the 27th minute as an inviting cross came into the path of Cosgrove, but Sonny Bradley was alert to the danger and cleared Derby’s lines at the near post.
The Rams drew level after half an hour when Mendez-Laing finished off a rebound on the edge of the area. Some promising wing play from Kane Wilson and Kayden Jackson found Yates, who forced a reaction save from Smith before Mendez-Laing finished well into the bottom corner.
Vickers was called into action early in the second period when Barnsley substitute Fabio Jalo lost his marker and fired a stinging shot towards the bottom corner - the Derby goalkeeper was equal to it and parried the ball wide with a strong hand.
Mendez-Laing netted a second for Derby in the 58th minute, with Yates the provider, playing the Rams’ winger in behind to slot the ball underneath Barnsley’s substitute goalkeeper Ben Killip.
It was the goalscorer’s final act of the game as Warne made a raft of changes, bringing eight players onto the pitch, with Tom Barkhuizen and Dajaune Brown replacing Mendez-Laing and Yates.
Jon Russell looked for the host's reply as he got on the end of a cross ten minutes after Derby’s goal, but similarly to Cosgrove’s chance in the first period, the ball deflected off his body and wide of the post.
Barnsley levelled the game once again in the 71st minute, as Phillips finished off a scrappy goal from inside a packed six-yard box.
But the scoreline didn’t remain level for long, Barkhuizen beat the onrushing Tykes goalkeeper to the ball on the wing and crossed for striker Collins, who nodded the ball into an open goal from around 12 yards out to make it 3-2 to the Rams.
The Tykes were able to net another though as Lofthouse met the ball at the back post and steered it over Vickers and into the far corner to level the scoreline at 3-3.
Substitute Brown slid a shot wide for Derby after good play by Barkhuizen moments after Lofthouse's goal, before Marsh then added the final goal just before the final whistle with a glancing header into the far corner beyond Vickers.
The Team
Derby County: Vickers (GK), Wilson (Blackett-Taylor 59), Elder (Nyambe 59), Cashin, Bradley (Forsyth 59), Adams, Ozoh (Thompson 59), Goudmijn (Osborn 59), Mendez-Laing (Barkhuizen 59), Jackson (Collins 59), Yates (Brown 59).
On The Bench: Luthra (GK).
What’s Next?
Derby will play their final match of the pre-season programme against Real Valladolid on Saturday 3rd August (3pm kick-off) before beginning the Sky Bet Championship season against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Friday 9th August (8pm kick-off).