Jerry Yates’ first Derby County goal and a hardy performance on the road saw the Rams take a point against Millwall in a 1-1 draw in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.
The Rams were buoyed after their result before the recent international break, a 2-0 win over Queens Park Rangers a fortnight ago that solidified Derby’s impressive home form but were looking to get off the mark on the road in the league.
Yates’ goal in the second period broke the deadlock in a hard-fought match in South Bermondsey, with just over ten minutes left, but the hosts responded five minutes later through substitute Mihailo Ivanović to earn a point.
Derby started brightly, creating two chances early on. Corey Blackett-Taylor ran in behind the Lions’ defence and looked to create an opening down the left flank, but the winger’s shot was aimed too high and beyond the frame of Lukas Jensen’s goal.
Kayden Jackson looked to be in a similar position moments later and aimed to play Yates in on goal, but some alert defending saw the ball clear from danger.
George Honeyman had the hosts’ first opportunity of the game in the 14th minute when Japhet Tanganga played a direct pass forward that fell to the Millwall attacker’s feet in the box. Some good defensive work by Curtis Nelson and Craig Forsyth closed Honeyman down and Jacob Widell Zetterström was able to save the resulting shot.
Kenzo Goudmijn swung an enticing cross into the penalty area in the 18th minute. Yates looked to latch onto it but some stern jostling from defender Jake Cooper denied the striker.
Macauley Langstaff went close for the Lions in the 22nd minute as he was slotted in behind but struck the post as Zetterström and Nelson closed down the angle.
Derby’s first substitution of the game was a forced one, as right-back Ryan Nyambe departed the field of play with a knee injury and was replaced by Kane Wilson in the 34th minute.
Wilson had an immediate impact as a neat one-two between the wing-back and Kenzo Goudmijn created an opening on the right flank that forced a foul and yellow card for Joe Bryan.
The resulting free-kick saw a frantic period of play with the Rams having three headers that came close to opening the deadlock, as Goudmijn returned the ball into a crammed penalty area where Nelson and Cashin looked to head in but were thwarted by a stubborn Lions defence.
The game went into half-time goalless.
Blackett-Taylor looked to have a penalty shout for Derby moments into the second period, as he was brought down in the penalty box but was judged to have been in an offside position when he received the ball.
Langstaff forced an excellent stop from Zetterström in the 50th minute. The striker went one-on-one but couldn’t convert as the Swedish shot-stopper made himself big and met the ball with his outstretched leg.
Derby looked to shuffle the pack after an hour as Ben Osborn and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing entered the fray with Goudmijn and Blackett-Taylor making way.
Control of the game looked to be in the balance, but the introduction of Nat Phillips and James Collins looked to add an extra threat for Derby.
Derby took the lead in the 79th minute as Yates claimed his first goal for the Rams since joining from Swansea City on a season-long loan in the season after the ball ricocheted around a packed penalty area and was directed in with a header.
However, Millwall substitute Ivanović got the hosts level in the 85th minute as he held his cool to finish beyond the onrushing goalkeeper.
Despite both sides pushing for a winner, the spoils were shared and Derby earned their first point on the road this term.
Millwall: Jensen (GK), Cooper (C), Tanganga, Bryan, Langstaff (Ivanović 73), Leonard, Watmore (Azeez 65), Saville, De Norre, Esse, Honeyman.
Unused Substitutes: Roberts (GK), McNamara, Wallace, Wintle, Kerry, Massey, Harding.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Nyambe (Wilson 34), Nelson, Cashin (C), Forsyth, Goudmijn (Osborn 61), Adams, Jackson (Phillips 78), Harness (Collins 78), Blackett-Taylor (Mendez-Laing 61), Yates.
Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Bradley, Elder, Brown.
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Assistant Referees: Marc Perry, Mak Scholes
Fourth Official: Carl Brook
The Rams look ahead to another busy week in the Sky Bet Championship. An away clash against Oxford United on Tuesday night (7:45pm kick-off) will be followed by a return to Pride Park Stadium next Saturday for the visit of Hull City (3pm kick-off).
