3/1 To Win
Derby County's Under-23s salvaged a 2-2 draw as they opened the new Premier League 2 Division 1 season against Blackburn Rovers under the lights at Pride Park Stadium.
Blackburn took the lead early with goals from Stefan Mols and Hayden Carter inside the opening ten minutes to hand Derby a tough challenge to open their 2018/19 campaign.
Cameron Cresswell capitalised on a miss-communication between Rovers’ stopper Andy Fisher and his defender to pull one back for the Rams before a superb volley from Alex Babos earned the hosts a point.
It took 56 seconds for the division new boys to announce themselves as Mols and Lewis Harcastle teamed up to break through the Rams’ backline. Mols latched onto the throughball and fired in to the top right corner past Henrich Ravas to give Rovers the early lead.
Blackburn doubled the lead at the nine-minute mark when Carter powered a header off Joe Grayson’s corner.
Derby built through the half with their first real chance coming at 26 minutes. Chris Martin collected a pass in the box from Timi Elsnik and slipped it through to Cresswell, but the 18-year-old’s close-range shot was unable to get past Fisher.
Two minutes later and Ravas was called in to action again with back-to-back saves denying the visitors a 3-0 advantage. Mols low cross found Butterworth in front of goal. Ravas managed to get a strong hand on his initial attempt then was forced to dive backwards to palm wide his second attempt that had crept behind the Rams ‘keeper.
Derby pulled one goal back 10 minutes before the break when Cresswell beat Fisher to a long punt. There was confusion between Blackburn’s 'keeper and his defender and Cresswell’s deflection off the failed clearance bounced into the back of the net.
The second half was the Rams’ turn to jump out the blocks quickly with Babos striking level. Elsnik’s free-kick into the box was headed clear but landed perfectly to Babos who was the only player left outside the area for a sweet, unstoppable volley.
The visiting side were reduced to 10 men just after an hour when Charely Doyle was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge on Sven Karic down the left flank.
The hosts looked to take advantage and almost did so ten minutes later when Martin latched onto a through ball and fired across the goal. It was Fisher’s turn to save his side, getting his fingertips on the effort to send it wide.
Martin had another golden opportunity to seal the winner in the closing minutes but Fisher’s instincts pulled out a wonderful save with his legs to keep things level.
Derby County: Ravas, Gordon, Karic, Thorne, Bateman, Macdonald, Cresswell (McAllister ‘71), Elsnik (Sibley ‘61), Martin, Butterfield (Shonibare ’79), Babos
Unused Substitutes: Mitchell-Lawson, Barnes,
Blackburn Rovers: Fisher; Doyle, Evans, Bucley, Magloire (Paton ’53), Grayson, Carter, Hardcastle, Butterworth (Simmonds ’86), Tomlinson, Mols
Unused Substitutes: Albinson, Vale, Mansell
Next Up…
The Rams will be back in action next Monday when they continue league play away at Swansea City, kick-off: 7pm.
Derby then go back on the road to take on Chelsea under the lights at Stamford Bridge on Friday August 24th, kick-off: 7pm.
