Derby County cruised to a 3-1 victory against League Two side Grimsby Town to kick off their involvement in the 2022/23 Papa Johns Trophy.
Competing in Northern Section - Group F, Derby picked up all three points in their opening group fixture at Pride Park Stadium in impressive fashion.
Winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing gave Derby an early lead from close range and Academy graduates Louie Sibley and Max Bird, the latter in spectacular fashion, went on to add further goals just before the break in what was a dominant first half showing.
The Rams maintained control throughout despite not being able to add to their tally and Grimsby denied the Rams a fourth clean sheet in five matches by pulling a goal back late on through Brendan Kiernan.
Derby were quick out of the blocks and they opened the scoring with the first opportunity of the game after just six minutes, albeit it came in fortuitous circumstances.
Dobbin and Mendez-Laing linked up well to line up a shooting chance for the latter inside the box, but it looked like the chance had passed after a Mariners defender got back to win the ball with a sliding challenge. However, Grimsby defender Andy Smith deflected the ball onto his own post and Mendez-Laing was on hand to tap the ball into the unguarded net from a yard out for his second goal of the season.
While the goal carried an element of fortune, it was something the Rams earned for their early attacking intent and build-up play to create the opportunity.
Rosenior’s side enjoyed most of the ball in the opening 20 minutes, although Grimsby came close to levelling just before the halfway mark of the first half as Kiernan dragged an effort wide of the far post from the right-hand side of the penalty area. It was a warning sign that the Rams couldn’t switch off for a second.
Down the other end, more good Rams interplay saw striker James Collins go close to opening his account following his arrival from Cardiff City in July with 22 minutes played. Dobbin did well down the left to find space and deliver an excellent cross which Collins volleyed goalwards at the far post, after peeling off to find space, but Grimsby goalkeeper Max Crocombe thwarted him with his legs.
Derby continued to enjoy real control as the half ticked away, although goalkeeper Scott Loach was called into action to make a fine stop on his Rams debut. Grimsby worked the ball down the right and Jordan Cropper crossed low to Stephen Wearne to hit a first-time effort from 12 yards which Loach pushed away to safety.
A crucial second goal arrived three minutes before the break to give Derby breathing space. Kwaku Oduroh sent Mendez-Laing away down the right and he used his pace to good effect to drive up the field in the blink of an eye. The wideman then had the composure to pick out Sibley’s run in the box and the attacking midfielder took a touch before lashing the ball into the back of the net.
It got even better for the Rams in the final minute of normal time at the end of the half as a third goal arrived in truly spectacular fashion. A free-kick into the box by Sibley wasn’t cleared by the visiting defence and Bird, from 18 yards out, thundered a left-foot piledriver into the top corner beyond the reach of Crocombe for his first goal of the campaign and only the third of his career.
Derby started the second half on the hunt for more goals, but Grimsby were also motivated to keep the scoreline down after being hit with the blow of leaking two goals in quick succession in the final moments of the first period.
Rosenior made a triple change on the hour mark by introducing Davd McGoldrick, Jason Knight and Tom Barkhuizen off the bench in place of Sibley, Dobbin and Mendez-Laing in order to spread the match minutes across his squad.
Barkhuizen spurned a chance to add to Derby’s tally shortly after his arrival. Jake Rooney won the ball to get the Rams on the attack and after advancing into the area the wideman dragged his effort wide when he would have expected to have hit the target.
Youngster Darren Robinson, who has been training with the first team despite being just a second-year scholar, came off the bench for the final 20 minutes to continue to gain senior experience. The Scholar of the Year for the 2021/22 campaign made his debut towards the end of last season and the Northern Ireland youth international has impressed since linking up with the Academy last summer.
Derby weren’t able to add to their tally in the closing stages, although their clinical finishing in the first half proved to be more than enough to ensure a winning start to their involvement in the competition this term.
Grimsby pulled a goal back in the closing minutes to deny the Rams a clean sheet. Kiernan latched onto a ball in behind the backline and drove a low effort from an angle beyond Loach.
The victory also saw the Rams continue their winning form on home turf this season with five wins from five recorded in all competitions so far.
It was an evening where everyone in the Rams side impressed in such a confident and measured performance in front of the home faithful.
Mendez-Laing was lively and direct as ever during his hour on the field and claiming a goal and assist, after missing the side’s last two matches due to personal reasons, was the perfect return to the fold for the winger.
Rooney was once again impressive in the heart of the defence, while he also showed a willingness to get on the ball and move the Rams forward from the back and he is quickly becoming a popular figure amongst supporters.
Derby’s next Papa Johns Trophy fixture will see them host Manchester City’s Under-21 side at Pride Park Stadium on Tuesday 20th September (7pm kick-off), while they will return to League One action on home turf against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Derby County: Loach (GK), Forsyth, Bird (C) (Robinson 71), Collins, Mendez-Laing (Barkhuizen 60), Roberts, Thompson (Cybulski 83), Sibley (McGoldrick 60), Dobbin (Knight 59), Oduroh, Rooney.
Substitutes Not Used: Wildsmith (GK), Cashin.
Grimsby Town: Crocombe (GK), Pearson (C), Maguire-Drew, Wearne (Morris 46), Clifton (Green 63), Amos (Braithwaite 79), Pepple (Orsi-Dadomo 63), Smith, Kiernan, Khouri, Cropper.
Substitutes Not Used: Battersby (GK), Efete, Glennon.
Attendance: 5,348 (233 away supporters).
