Powell Left Satisfied With Walsall Workout

Chris Powell labelled Derby County’s pre-season friendly victory at Walsall as a satisfactory workout.

Derby ran out 2-0 winners at the Sky Bet League 1 side thanks to goals from Darren Bent and Tom Ince.

Bent opened the scoring in the first half before Ince went from provider to goalscorer, slotting home superbly from Jeff Hendrick’s pass in the second half.

After returning from their week-long pre-season tour of Portugal earlier this week, Nigel Pearson’s side showed a number of positive signs.

Powell, Derby’s assistant manager, was pleased to see the Rams step up their performance level following their 4-0 defeat against Portuguese champions Benfica last Saturday in their first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2016/17 season.

He told Rams Player HD afterwards: “It was a very beneficial workout for us.

“Walsall gave us a tough game. It’s always difficult going to a team a league or two below you because they want to impress and do well.

“Actually, that’s what we needed. In the game against Benfica we saw one or two areas that we needed to work on and we did that in training.

“The players look fitter and stronger and with two weeks to go until the start of the season that is refreshing.”

Minutes were spread across the squad during the game, with just Lee Grant and Alex Pearce playing the 90 minutes.

Returning international quartet Richard Keogh, Jeff Hendrick, Cyrus Christie and Chris Baird, as well as Jason Shackell he missed the Benfica game as a precaution, all got game-time under their belts.

“We saw one outfield player, Alex Pearce, play 90 minutes and that’s testimony to the group and him as an individual,”said Powell.

“Knowing Nigel, he wants to push the players even more and overall it was a good workout for everyone.”

Powell says, with just two weeks to go until the start of the season, the next 14 days are all about ‘sharpening up’.

The side have friendly matches at Chesterfield, Sheffield United and German side Karlsruher SC in the coming week, presenting a number of opportunities for the players to prove their worth.

Powell believes what he saw at the Banks’s Stadium offered plenty for Derby build on ahead of the big kick-off against Brighton & Hove Albion at the iPro Stadium.

“We’re now looking to sharpen up in certain areas and we saw lots of positives,”he said.

“We got a clean sheet, which you always need, and that’s pleasing for everyone.

“We saw elements in our defensive play that really pleased us. That wasn’t just the defenders, but also midfielders getting back into position and shape.

“Further forward Tom Ince, in the number ten role, got an assist and a goal and Darren Bent got himself off the mark in pre-season.

“Little things like that are what you want. We want that to come to the fore even more as we move forward in the next few weeks.”