Real Valladolid
Derby County signed off their pre-season games programme with another valuable workout against Spanish side Real Valladolid at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.
The Rams played out a 2-1 win against the La Liga side, who were promoted to the top-tier last season.
Two goals in quick succession in the second half from David Ozoh and Kane Wilson cancelled out Raul Moro’s first half strike for the visitors.
The game saw more crucial match minutes for Derby ahead of their Sky Bet Championship beginning against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park on Friday 9th August (8pm kick-off).
The opening exchanges saw both sides trying to get a feel for the game, with Valladolid holding possession of the ball and Derby staying firm to deny any clear opportunities.
Valladolid made the first threat of the game in the 10th minute when goalkeeper Josh Vickers was forced into a diving save to deny Selim Amallah’s header at the near post.
The Rams had their feet on the ball approaching the twelfth minute and got their first chance of the game when Kenzo Goudmijn’s low shot from the edge of the box twisted wide.
Tom Barkhuizen fashioned a similar chance two minutes later as the winger won the ball high up the field, but he couldn’t keep the ball under the crossbar.
Ozoh’s driving run looked to unlock the Spanish team’s defence in the 26th minute; the midfielder opened up the field and found Ben Osborn whose cross into the box found Kayden Jackson - but the Rams attacker was muscled off the ball before he could get a shot away.
Moro gave Valladolid the lead after 36 minutes when the attacker’s deflected shot went low and beyond the grasp of Vickers.
The second period began with four changes for the Rams as Barkhuizen, Eiran Cashin, Callum Elder and Ryan Nyambe made way for Dajaune Brown, Sonny Bradley, Craig Forsyth and Wilson.
Goudmijn started the second half for Derby with a near miss as his shot from the edge of the box went just beyond the crossbar.
Ozoh got the Rams level in the 59th minute after a well-worked short corner and pass into the box by Osborn found the midfielder in space six yards out, where he poked the ball beyond Valladolid goalkeeper Andre Ferreira.
Wilson then completed a quick double from another set piece as Forsyth’s shot was parried after a knock-on from Bradley. The parry found Wilson in space at the back post to fire home.
The Derby right-back was on point again, this time looking to be the provider, in the 64th minute as he delivered an inviting low cross toward the feet of Brown, but the Rams attacker was denied by his defender.
The Rams saw the game out well to see pre-season conclude with a positive result on home turf.
Derby County: Vickers (GK), Nyambe (Wilson 46), Nelson, Cashin (Bradley 46), Elder (Forsyth 46), Ozoh (Washington 74), Goudmijn (Yates 65), Osborn (Thompson 65), Barkhuizen (Brown 46), Jackson (Fornah 65), Mendez-Laing (Collins 65).
Not Used: Luthra (GK), Adams.
5,206.
Derby will begin their 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship campaign with an away trip to Blackburn Rovers on Friday 9th August (8pm kick-off).
