The Paul Warne era at Derby County got off to the perfect start as the Rams were able to beat Cambridge United 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.
A James Collins double, one in each half, was enough to hand Derby a well deserved three points and their first road victory of the season at the Abbey Stadium.
The Rams started incredibly well and nearly took the lead with just seconds on the clock.
Lewis Dobbin raced in behind and looked to round Dimi Mitov in the U’s goal but the keeper got a vital touch to take it away from the young forward. The ball then fell to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing who fired just wide from a tight angle.
Derby were looking for the channels a lot early doors and Mendez-Laing was having a lot of joy down the right-hand side. He nearly provided the opener after a quarter of an hour too, fizzing a zipping cross across the floor of the area but nobody was there to poke home.
The best chance of the opening 45 for the home side came on the half-hour mark. A corner wasn’t dealt with by the Rams and the ball fell to Jack Lankester on the edge of the box who fired inches wide of Joe Wildsmith’s post.
Conor Hourihane had two opportunities in quick succession soon after. First, a looping effort from a cross that fell just wide of the post before a low drilled strike that was initially spilled by Mitov was gratefully claimed at the second attempt.
The long and elusive wait for an away goal came right before the break and sent the traveling away fans into raptures.
A mistake from Zeno Ibsen Rossi allowed Collins to break through one-on-one and the striker finished expertly into the bottom left corner.
The second-half started in very similar fashion as the Rams got out of the blocks extremely quickly.
Hourihane nearly doubled the lead after excellent work from Tom Barkhuizen. He stood a ball up to the Irishman who was coming in at the back post but the midfielder could only volley into the side netting.
William Osula was brought on as a substitute and nearly made an instant impact. After chasing a ball into the channel, he was able to work his way into the box brilliantly before forcing Mitov into a fine save.
As we entered the final 10 the heavens opened and the Rams could easily have folded under the pressure and conditions but they did the exact opposite.
The pressing was relentless and Collins was able to double both his and the side's tally for the afternoon. Max Bird fed Derby's number nine with a lovely pass down the left and the striker finished superbly low and hard at the near post before wheeling off to celebrate in front of the travelling Rams faithful.
Derby saw the game out in a comfortable, professional manner and the Warne era was off to a flyer.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Rams as they head to Mansfield Town on Tuesday night for the second game of their Papa John’s Trophy group (7PM kick-off).
Cambridge United: Mitov (GK), Williams, Digby (C), Jones, Ironside, Smith, Dunk (76’ Brophy), Lankester (68’ Knibbs), Rossi, Tracey (76’ Okenabirhie), May
Substitutes not used: Mannion (GK), Taylor, O'Neil, Okedina
Derby County: Wildsmith (GK), Hourihane, Chester, Cashin, Barkhuizen (77’ Forsyth), Bird, Collins (83' Sibley), Mendez-Laing, Dobbin (60’ Osula), Davies (C), Knight
Substitutes not used: Loach (GK), Stearman, Roberts, Thompson
