3/1 To Win
Derby County fell to their first pre-season defeat of the summer on Wednesday in a 3-0 against fellow Sky Bet Championship side Brentford at St George's Park.
It was a good work out for the Rams with a lot of players benefiting from extended playing time, getting 60 minutes under their belts against last season's defeated Play-Off Finalists.
On the game itself, Marcus Forrs gave Brentford the first half lead whilst second half goals from Christian Nørgaard and Mathias Jensen secured the victory for the Bees.
It was a quiet opening half an hour with both sides enjoying spells of possession but clear cut chances were at a premium.
The Rams did enjoy more of the ball as Graeme Shinnie, Max Bird and Wayne Rooney tried to pick holes in the Bees’ defence.
It was, however, slightly against the run of play when Brentford took the lead on 35 minutes.
A cross from Tariq Fosu on the left was attacked by Marcus Forrs whose deft flick handed Brentford the lead.
Derby almost equalised before the break. Good work from Shinnie saw him win a free kick 25 yards from goal. Rooney stepped up but his low free kick was saved by Luke Daniels.
The Bees, who changed their whole side at half time, almost extended their lead 10 minutes into the second half.
Sergi Canos met a low driven cross into the middle but his fierce effort rebounded off the crossbar and away to safety.
Phillip Cocu made 10 changes on the hour mark with Jack Marriott the only man to remain on the field. He was soon replaced by Jack Stratton on 75 minutes.
Brentford did extend their lead midway through the second half as Mads Roerslev stood up a cross for Nørgaard to head home.
Derby’s closest effort of the second half came from Mason Bennett whose curled effort goalwards was tipped wide by David Raya in the Brentford goal.
The Bees secured their victory in the final two minutes of the game as Jenson fired home from close range.
Starting Team: Marshall, Wisdom, te Wierik, Forsyth, Buchanan, Bird, Shinnie, Rooney, Knight, Whittaker, Marriott.
Team From 60 Minutes: Ravas, Bogle, Solomon, Davies, Lowe, Evans, Ibrahim, Bennett, Shonibare, Hector-Ingram, Marriott (Stretton 75).
