3/1 To Win
David Nugent netted his first goal for Derby County as they deservedly recovered from a goal down to defeat Barnsley 2-1 and earn a return to winning ways.
The 31-year-old struck the winner with 14 minutes remaining, finding the back of the net after Tom Ince had chalked off Matty James’ opener seven minutes into the second 45 minutes at Pride Park Stadium.
The victory saw Steve McClaren's side arrest their seven-game run in all competitions without a win and, with it, climb above the Tykes into tenth place with 11 games of the campaign left.
McClaren, the Derby boss, mentioned in his pre-match press conference in the build-up to this game that changes were in his thoughts in his mission to get his side back on track.
He kept to his promise. Two were made to the starting line-up, whilst there was also a tweak to the formation as the Rams’ switch to a 4-2-3-1 shape allowed them to squeeze another attacking outlet into their side, namely Matěj Vydra, who made his first start since New Year’s Day.
Whilst they were also far more direct in their approach, there was a degree of apprehension in their early play and Barnsley started the better in terms of chances created at Pride Park.
All five of their better efforts fell to two players. Adam Hammill had two, the first being a shot deflected for a corner after the hosts failed to deal with a huge arching throw from Marc Roberts.
His second, coming midway through the first half, was hit from range, but was easily claimed by Scott Carson.
The Tykes’ best openings, however, came through Adam Armstrong.
The 20-year-old’s first was tame after he had shrugged off the attention of Julien de Sart, but from two obscure angles, he shot agonisingly wide of Carson’s far post, before he was also denied by the Rams’ ‘keeper as they settled the better into the contest.
As time ticked down on a feisty first half, the Rams got stronger, finishing the 45 minutes well on top.
Their first sighting of Adam Davies’ goal came shortly after the half hour mark as the lively Johnny Russell won a tussle with Andy Yiadom down the right, advanced into the area, but saw his low effort blocked by the Barnsley goalkeeper.
Then de Sart drove a low effort into his arms after Vydra’s swipe had been blocked and Ince went within inches of netting his 13th goal of the season earlier than he eventually did, but bent his deft left foot shot agonisingly past the upright.
The momentum came out with them for the start of the second half too as the hosts picked up where they left off – a goal was just around the corner, but it did not come as expected.
Roberts, the Barnsley captain, fired a warning sign in the first half with his dangerous throw.
Derby did not heed it and from the exact same situation, Barnsley edged in front after James rose highest to meet another deep throw into the area from the right.
There was a sense of déjà vu, after the Rams had fallen to 1-0 defeats in the two previous games before this, but the game’s key moment came just two minutes later.
Faced with a situation where they could respond or feel sorry for themselves, the Rams delivered the former, hitting back immediately as Ince finished off a chance from close range to claw the hosts back level.
That laid the foundation, again, for the Rams to grow in stature and, importantly, go on to win the game.
Russell and Ince went close, but fired over with their respective efforts from outside the area, whilst Vydra looped a header on to the roof of the netting too.
With 70 minutes on the clock, McClaren’s men were getting closer. Davies, who was in top form against Huddersfield Town last time out, tipped another effort from Ince on to the post and later pulled off another fine save to deny Russell.
There was nothing he could do about what proved to be the winner, though, as Nugent found enough space in the area, hit a shot on the turn and got a giant slice of luck along the way as it took a deflection and nestled into the back of the net.
A nervy finish ensued, but it could have been so different had Cyrus Christie’s header from a corner not been cleared off the line, but the Rams had done enough and saw the contest out to claim a deserved three points and a return to winning ways.
Derby County: Carson, Christie, Baird, Pearce (C), Olsson; De Sart (Butterfield, 46), Johnson; Russell (Hughes, 78), Ince, Vydra (Anya, 86); Nugent
Substitutes not used: Mitchell, Bryson, Hughes Camara, Bennett
Barnsley: Davies, Jones, Roberts (C), MacDonald, Yiadom; Watkins, Scowen (Lee, 88), James, Hammill; Armstrong (Mowatt, 75), Bradshaw (Kent, 75)
Substitutes not used: Townsend, Elder, Jackson, Moncur
Attendance: 30,280 (2,562 away supporters)
