3/1 To Win
Derby County got their 2020/21 pre-season campaign off to a winning start as they beat Sky Bet League One side Peterborough United 2-1 at St George’s Park.
The Rams had to come from behind to secure the victory against Posh, who were playing their fifth pre-season fixture.
Academy graduate Louie Sibley cancelled out Siriki Dembélé'searly effort in the first half, whilst Josh Shonibare scored what turned out to be the winner early in the second half.
It was a nightmare start to the game for Derby as they fell behind 90 seconds into the game.
Dembele managed to find space in the penalty box and he fired past Kelle Roos to give the League One side the lead.
However, that kicked the Rams into life as they quickly went about finding a way back into the game.
Jack Marriott almost drew Derby level five minutes later but was denied by Christy Pym from close range, however, he had a hand in the Rams’ equalising goal which came on 16 minutes.
The striker was fed through on goal by Sibley, he was tackled but the ball broke to the youngster inside the penalty area and his deflected effort found its way into the back of the net.
The Rams looked comfortable throughout the half and continued to pass the ball around with purpose and when out of possession, they retrieved the ball back in good numbers.
However, they had to be on guard as Mohammed Eisa unleashed a powerful effort from range which forced Roos into a smart one-handed stop.
Into the second half and it didn’t take long for Derby to take the lead.
Good work from first-year scholar Ola Ibrahim saw him burst into the box and the ball broke nicely for Irish full back Festy Ebosele to fire home from close range.
Ibrahim was having a positive effect on the game and on the hour mark, he turned neatly in the centre and fed Josh Shonibare.
The winger found Jason Knight on the edge of the box but he curled narrowly over.
New signing Mike te Wierik was solid at the back alongside experienced defender Curtis Davies, who is into his 20th season as a professional.
All in all it was a good run out for the Derby County squad and it gets pre-season off to a positive start.
First half team: Roos, Bogle, Evans, Forsyth, Buchanan, Bird, Shinnie, Whittaker, Bennett, Sibley, Marriott.
Second half team: Ravas, Ebosele, te Wierik, Davies, Lowe, Knight, Brown, Ibrahim, Jozefzoon, Shonibare, Hector-Ingram.
