Derby County’s unbeaten start to the 2022/23 season on home turf came to an end on Saturday afternoon with a 3-2 defeat against Plymouth Argyle in Sky Bet League One.
Liam Rosenior’s side went into the game eying a fourth successive league victory at Pride Park Stadium and they looked on track to pick up all three points after taking a two goal lead in the first half.
Striker James Collins’ composed finish after 26 minutes, his first goal for the club, put Derby in front and a second came before half-time through winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s fine individual effort.
Former Derby forward Morgan Whittaker pulled a goal back before the hour mark as a deflected strike fell invitingly into his path inside the penalty area, before Sam Cosgrove came off the bench to level for Plymouth with just over ten minutes remaining.
Cosgrove went on to net the winner in the final minute to seal a dramatic turnaround as Derby tasted defeat on home territory for the first time this season.
The two sides took to the field before another excellent atmosphere at Pride Park Stadium, which was enhanced by a large 2,283 following of Plymouth supporters packed into the South East Corner.
Argyle registered the first attempt on goal after three minutes with some fast play down the left-hand side. The move resulted in Matt Butcher blasting a shot goalwards from inside the box with his left-foot and it was one that Rams goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith kept out with a smart reaction stop.
Attacking towards the North Stand in the opening 45 minutes, Derby’s first chance came just before the ten-minute mark as Mendez-Laing’s excellent run saw him tee up former Argyle midfielder Conor Hourihane to cross into the box from the left-side, but David McGoldrick couldn’t direct his header on target.
Ex-Ram Whittaker blasted an effort wide with ten minutes played in what was a fast start at both ends and the Academy graduate, who was sold to Swansea City in January 2021, was clearly fired up to make his mark against his former employers and several old team-mates.
Mendez-Laing’s pace was once more a useful outlet and allowed Derby to get up the pitch quickly, after having to endure a spell of pressure from the visitors, with 20 minutes played. The wideman drifted inside from the right and into a good shooting position. With two goals to his name on home turf already the summer signing was clearly in confident mood, however his effort graced the side-netting and went wide.
Derby made the breakthrough with their first effort on target just after the midway point of the half as Collins netted his first goal in Rams colours since his arrival from Cardiff City in July. McGoldrick did superbly to win possession on halfway and drive forward with Argyle having men committed forward as they prepared to start an attack. He delivered a delightful ball across to Collins and the number nine kept his cool to dink the ball over the advancing Michael Cooper and into the back of the net.
A wonderful block from Jason Knight, getting back on the line to get in the way of Joe Edwards’ goalbound strike from Whittaker’s low ball across the face of goal, preserved Derby’s lead as Plymouth pushed to get themselves back level - and it proved to be pivotal as Rosenior’s side added a second goal with 38 minutes played.
Mendez-Laing was the goalscorer as he rounded off a typically mazy run with a thunderous finish. Latching onto skipper Max Bird’s pass on the edge of the box, the wideman saw off the attentions of several Argyle defenders to burst into the area and thrash a left-foot strike into the back of the net.
Wildsmith pushed Adam Randell’s long-range effort behind for a corner straight from the kick-off to preserve the two-goal cushion going into the break and the Rams left to field to a standing ovation at the interval.
Collins clipped an effort wide after the break as Rosenior’s side continued to threaten further goals, but it was Plymouth who halved the deficit just before the hour. Hardie’s shot from the edge of the box was deflected into the path of Whittaker and he me made no mistake as he fired the ball past Wildsmith from 12 yards out.
Rosenior responded by making a double change with Louie Sibley and Liam Thompson replacing David McGoldrick and Tom Barkhuizen in order to swing the pendulum of the contest back in his side’s favour and particularly with the visitors’ tails up.
Derby had to hang in there as Argyle saw plenty of the ball and pushed them back and another substitution followed with 20 minutes remaining as Collins was replaced by Deadline Day signing William Osula up top to provide a different attacking option.
Plymouth’s pressure eventually saw them draw back level with 78 minutes on the clock. Niall Ennis got away down the left-hand side and he sent in a low delivery across the box, which was tapped home by Cosgrove only moments after coming off the bench to the delight of the travelling faithful.
Both sides showed intent to claim the win in the final ten minutes and Derby worked an opening down the left for Craig Forsyth to cross but a visiting defender got back to clear as he prepared to pick out substitute Lewis Dobbin inside the six-yard box.
Just when it looked like the game was going to end in a draw, Cosgrove caught the Rams napping at the back and kept his cool to drive the ball beyond the reach of Wildsmith to seal all three points for the visitors in dramatic fashion.
The front two of Collins and McGoldrick was a menace for the visitors during their 60 minutes on the field as a pair and they displayed plenty of promising signs to show they’ll be able to link up well over the course of the campaign.
Collins’ goal was incredibly well received by players, staff and fans alike. The frontman, despite not getting off the mark until today, has been a very effective addition to the Derby frontline and offers far more than just goals to the side.
Winger Mendez-Laing, especially in the first half, was influential going forward while when called upon Wildsmith was steady and assured between the posts when called upon, although he had no chance with either of the Plymouth goals.
Derby will be able to enjoy a full week on the training ground over the next seven days as they take in their first blank midweek for a month in the lead-up to next Saturday’s League One clash at Morecambe (3pm kick-off).
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Forsyth, Hourihane, Cashin, Barkhuizen (Sibley 60), Bird (C), Collins (Osula 70), McGoldrick (Thompson 60), Mendez-Laing (Dobbin 80), Stearman, Knight.
Substitutes Not Used: Loach (GK), Roberts, Rooney.
Plymouth Argyle: Cooper (GK), Scarr, Butcher, Edwards (C), Hardie (Ennis 68), Mayor, Mumba (Azaz 61), Whittaker (Cosgrove 76), Randell (Houghton 61), Lonwijk, Galloway (Gillesphey 76).
Substitutes Not Used: Burton (GK), Wilson.
Attendance: 27,173 (2,283 Away Supporters)
