Gustavo Hamer’s free-kick was the difference as Derby County fell to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Sheffield United at Bramall Lane after producing a battling performance in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.
The Blades kept their unbeaten start to the season going as Paul Warne’s Rams remain in the hunt for points on the road after Hamer's goal shortly after half-time denied him and Derby a positive result on his 400th game in club management.
Despite late pressure from the Rams, the Blades' defence held firm.
Derby came into the game off the back of a 1-0 home win against Cardiff City last Saturday that kept their perfect home record in the Sky Bet Championship. However, the Rams are still searching for their first result on the road.
Early chances for both teams looked to set the tone. Forward Kayden Jackson ran in behind from the kick-off for Derby and nearly forced an early strike before Jesrurun Rak-Sakyi clattered the ball against the frame of Jacob Widell Zetterström’s goal at the other end of the pitch.
Some good work down the right flank from Callum O’Hare set up an oncoming Hamer at the far post for the hosts, but the delivery was too high for the Dutch midfielder to make substantially threatening contact with the ball.
After the initial fast-paced start, the game settled into a rhythm with both teams having bouts of possession, and the United looking to hold control, but neither side making a clear-cut opportunity.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was found in space to shoot at the back post in the 23rd minute and came close to putting Derby ahead. A neat move started with Callum Elder making a run on the left wing and eventually finding the forward in space, after being set up by Jerry Yates, but Mendez-Laing’s shot ricocheted off the post of the Blades’ net and behind for a goal kick.
Kieffer Moore’s headed chance looked dangerous from the hosts just a minute later, but the towering striker’s connection sent the ball off target, although the offside flag did go up against him.
Moore was involved again in the 24th minute as he aimed to send a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but Eiran Cashin positioned himself well to block the ball and curtail a promising chance at Derby’s goal.
Zetterström was called into action two minutes later as Hamer fired a stinging shot towards the bottom corner that the Rams’ Swedish shot-stopper got down to in athletic fashion to deny the hosts the lead.
After a battling display from the Rams, the first half ended with the game still deadlocked at 0-0.
United took the lead through a Hamer free-kick in the 53rd minute. The Dutchman struck a curling effort that nestled inside the right-hand post out of Zetterström’s reach.
Alfie Gilchrist forced Zetterström to save in the 65th minute as he arrowed an effort towards the roof of the net from inside the area.
Warne made his first change of the afternoon as Marcus Harness was introduced from the bench to replace former Sheffield United midfielder Ben Osborn.
Cashin kept the scoreline at 1-0 as he blocked Anel Ahmedhodžić’s shot off the line after a goalmouth scramble had the Bosnian defender in a position to strike.
Nat Phillips and Dajaune Brown came onto the field, with Mendez-Laing and Ryan Nyambe making way, and moments later Kenzo Goudmijn and the injured Elder were replaced by Joe Ward and Corey Blackett-Taylor as the Rams looked for an equaliser.
But the game became frayed, and despite pushing at the hosts, the Rams couldn't draw the game level and were beaten on the road.
Derby County Starting XI: Zetterström, Nyambe (Phillips 77), Nelson, Cashin, Elder (Blackett-Taylor 81), Osborn (Harness 67), Goudmijn (Ward 81), Adams, Jackson, Yates, Mendez-Laing (C) (Brown 77).
On The Bench: Vickers, Forsyth, Bradley, Collins.
Sheffield United: Cooper, Gilchrist (Seriki 67), Souttar, Ahmedhodžić, Burrows, Souza (C), Hamer (McCallum 90+5), O’Hare (Brewster 77), Rak-Sakyi (Brooks 67), Peck, Moore (Norrington-Davies 90+5).
On The Bench: Davies, Shackleton, Campbell, Norrington-Davies, Marsh.
Referee: Andy Madley
Assistant Referees: Constantine Hatzidakis, Richard West
Fourth Official: Scott Simpson
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The Rams return to Pride Park Stadium on Saturday 28th September for the visit of Norwich City in the Sky Bet Championship (12:30pm kick-off).
