Rams Conclude Home Campaign In Defeat To Leeds

Derby County concluded their 2019/20 home campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Leeds United at Pride Park Stadium.

In the final home game of the 2019/20 season, the Rams unveiled the brand new home kit for the next campaign as they walked out of the tunnel.

After a quiet first half for both side, Chris Martin opened the scoring less than ten minutes into the second with a cool close-range finish. However, just a minute later, Leeds were level through Pablo Hernandez then took the lead through Jamie Shackleton.

Their final goal came in the closing stages when Matt Clarke turned in an own goal.

Martyn Waghorn returned to the starting line-up to face the Sky Bet Championship champions after serving a three-match ban for a red card he received a the end of the 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest.

Cocu was forced to make a change just five minutes into the game when Tom Lawrence landed on his shoulder and was unable to continue. The Welshman was replaced by Jason Knight who had scored in the previous two games.

It was Knight who first came closest for the Rams after a quiet start for both sides when he cut inside and fired across goal, but his effort was deflected wide.

The visitors found the back of the net on the stroke of half-time when Tyler Roberts’ cross was met by Ian Poveda who took a touch and fired into the goal, but the offside flag was already raised.

With nine minutes off added time on the half, the Rams looked to go to the break ahead. Martin held the ball up just inside Leeds’ half and found Jayden Bogle who played a neat one-two with Curtis Davies down the right. The full-back then floated a cross to Waghorn at the far post, but the angle was too tight for the striker to turn it into the net.

Back-to-back corners came for Derby in the opening minutes of the second half. First, Wayne Rooney whipped the ball in from the left which Martyn Waghorn met with his head infront of goal, but was sent wide. Max Bird floated the ball in from the other side, but this time the Kiko Casilla held on to it.

The deadlock was broken in the 54^th minute. Louie Sibley did well to hold on to the ball despite being pulled back on the edge of the box, he fed out to Bird who did equally as well to fend off his markers. Patience in the box paid off when Craig Forsyth flicked the ball towards Martin who’s cool finish outside the six-yard box gave Cocu’s side the advantage.

That lead lasted just one minute before Leeds found an equaliser. Hernandez struck from the edge of the Derby box and his initial strike was met by a block by Curtis Davies. However, the clearance flew straight back to the feet of Hernandez who struck into the corner.

Leeds then took the lead with 15 minutes left to play when Roberts played the ball through to Shackleton and he slipped his first-time effort past Kelle Roos.

Derby looked to do just as Leeds did and find an instant equaliser, only to be denied by a good save by Kiko Casilla. Lee Buchanan, who had minutes before replaced Craig Forsyth, played the ball down to Knight. The Irishman brought the ball down and turn towards goal, with his marker slipping to the floor as he did so. The 19-year-old eyed the opportunity and drove forward into the box and took aim but his low effort was blocked by the visiting keeper.

However, it was Leeds to find the final goal of the game to seal their victory. Jack Harrison crossed to the back post, but Rams defender Matt Clarke turned the ball into the net.

Cocu’s side will end their 2019/20 campaign on Wednesday evening when they travel to the West Midlands to face Birmingham (kick-off: 7.30pm.

Derby County: Roos; Bogle, Davies, Clarke, Forsyth (Buchanan, 65); Rooney (C), Bird (Marriott, 82); Lawrence (Knight, 6), Waghorn, Sibley (Shinnie, 65); Martin

Substitutes: Hamer, Jozefzoon, Evans, Lowe, Whittaker.

Leeds United: Casilla; Berardi (Ayling, 32), White, Struijk, Douglas; Shackleton, Dallas; Poveda (Harrison, 77), Hernandez, Alioski; Roberts

Substitutes: Miazek, Cooper Bamford, Davies, Klich, Bogusz, Casey