Two goals from two Chelsea loanees saw Derby County seal their second win from three competitive games under Frank Lampard as they sealed their place in the second round of the Carabao Cup.
Fikayo Tomori scored his first professional goal 10 minutes before the interval, before Mason Mount put the seal of approval on a rather comfortable night at Boundary Park with a sweet strike in the second half.
Notably, the meeting saw Lampard, the Derby boss, hand first starts to new signings Florian Jozefzoon, fresh from his substitute appearance against Leeds United, Jack Marriott, George Evans and Scott Malone.
Jayden Bogle, who has just turned 18-years-old, also became the latest graduate from the Rams’ Academy as he replaced Andre Wisdom in the right full back position.
As has largely been the case under Lampard, Derby bossed the possession statistics at Boundary Park – they had 61 per cent over the first half – and after Johan Branger registered their first shot of the game – a speculative effort that beyond Scott Carson’s far post – the Rams started to pose a threat of their own.
Marriott and Jozefzoon had numerous chances to score in the first half – the former the best of them as he, and then Bradley Johnson, forced a fine save from Daniel Iversen in the Oldham goal.
With all the ball, territory and chances to their name, it seemed only a matter of time before Lampard’s side would break the deadlock, but for their little possession, the Latics still carried a threat.
And but for Scott Carson they would have been ahead shortly before the half hour mark, as the 32-year-old got a vital hand to the ball as Jonathan Benteke, the brother of Crystal Palace’s Christian, attempted to round him.
That save did prove to be important as the Rams, finally, made their pressure count and opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break. From the right, Harry Wilson delivered a fine set piece into the box that was just begging to be converted. It was, and it was Tomori with it as he guided the ball into the bottom corner.
Either side of half-time whistle, that lead should have been doubled. Both chances were identical too as Mount and then Harry Wilson spurned golden opportunities with efforts that whistled past the far post
Far cagier in the second 45 minutes, Carson was called into action again shortly before the 70-minute mark. The save was superb too, as he threw his body across his goal to turn behind a firm strike from Johan Branger that was flying towards the bottom corner.
Like his first fine save, this intervention proved to be valuable again as Mount doubled the visitors lead with a fine strike from the edge of the box – his second goal in just three games since joining the club on loan from Chelsea.
It could have got better for the Rams beyond that. A fine save from Iversen prevented another own goal
Jose Baxter, formerly of Everton and Sheffield United, did hit the crossbar for Oldham in the final 10 minutes, but in the end this was a comfortable win for Derby who progress through to the second round for the fourth year running.
Oldham Athletic: Iverson, Edmundson, Gardner (C), Coke (Missilou, 77), O’Grady, Benteke (Baxter, 57), Graham, Branger-Engone, Hunt, Nepomuceno, Hamer
Substitutes not used: De La Paz, Stott, Maouche, Sheridan
Derby County: Carson, Tomori, Keogh (C), Wilson (Bennett, 67), Mount, Jozefzoon, Marriott (Waghorn, 82), Johnson (Bird, 76), Evans, Bogle, Malone
Substitutes not used: Roos, Forsyth, Lawrence, Pearce
Jayden Bogle – the Rams’ latest Academy graduate was steady and did little wrong at right back, whilst offering strong attacking support to Jozefzoon throughout. A promising start from the teenager.
Scott Malone – Signed from the Premier League, Malone brought experience to the left full-back position as well as pace and energy.
George Evans – Arguably Derby’s Man of the Match. The former Reading man was tidy in possession and kept the ball moving. It is no wonder that Lampard worked hard to bring the former Manchester City player to Pride Park.
Jack Marriott – Lead the line for 82 minutes, the 23-year-old could, maybe even should, have got on the scoresheet. A real live-wire, his pace and hunger was evident throughout.
Undoubtedly Carson’s save. At 0-0, Derby had bossed possession and the chances, but could have found themselves behind when Jonathan Benteke attempted to round him.
The Rams’ number one got a vital fingertip to the ball that prevented the striker from scoring and shortly after the opportunity was gone, the visitors went up the other end and took the lead.
Derby’s focus now returns to the Sky Bet Championship and a trip to the Capital to take on Millwall at The Den, where they will be looking to claim a third win from Lampard’s first four competitive games in charge of the club.
Lampard and his players will find out who they have got in the second round of the Carabao Cup on Thursday 16th August.
