Davies: “I Think A Draw Is A Fair Result”

Derby County central defender Curtis Davies was pleased to register a point on the opening day of the 2021/22 Sky Bet Championship season following a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield Town.

With supporters welcomed back into Pride Park Stadium for the first time in a competitive fixture since the 2019/20 season, it was the Rams who took the lead six minutes before half time.

Davies, who re-signed for the club on the eve of the game as a free agent after four years with the club, was closest to the action as Levi Colwill bundled the ball into the back of the net to put the Rams ahead.

The lead, however, didn’t last long as Terriers central defender Naby Sarr headed an equaliser from a set piece before the half time interval.

Derby rallied after the break and went close to regaining the lead with substitute Louie Sibley twice going close but neither hitting the target, whilst in the final minute of additional time, he strung the palms of the goalkeeper Ryan Schofield.

So, the Rams had to settle for a point on the opening day of the 2021/22 campaign but Davies admitted Derby’s goal did not touch the defender on the way into the back of the net.

“I wish it was mine,” the defender told RamsTV. “I think the whole stadium was rooting for it to be my goal, but I was nowhere near it.

“I thought even if I try to nick it, I am more likely to foul him, so I just let him put it into his goal and I was happy that Duane Holmes got the assist for it, so he is still trying to do things for us.

“The pressure before the contact, I am claiming the assist at least, but unfortunately it wasn’t my goal.”

It was an entertaining affair at Pride Park with both sides going close to winning the game in the second half.

Sibley made an impact and had a couple of efforts, whilst at the other end, goalkeeper Kelle Roos made a crucial save from Frazier Campbell to keep the scores level.

“In terms of getting the lead it was a great start, we were a bit cagey at first which is totally understandable as to what has happened lately,” he said.

“That was how we wanted to play but we didn’t quite do it straight away. Huddersfield’s shape that we expected was maybe a little bit different because they have had a few COVID-19 cases, so that throws a spanner in the works.

“They are a high energy, high-pressing team. We had to be brave, we had to get going, but when their energy started sapping a little bit we started moving that ball well and eventually we got our goal which was from a set piece.

“It seemed that every time we made three or four passes, we were able to cut them open and we needed more of that. To get the lead was a good thing, but we couldn’t see it out to half time and we conceded a silly set piece.

“It is sometimes a worry because you concede that goal just before half time and sometimes you go in and you are licking your wounds and come out and are a bit shaky. Fortunately, we weren’t that way.

“We came out and gave it a go and I think the second half was quite open – more open maybe than we would have liked.

“They had a couple of chances to win it, Kelle Roos made a great save from Frazier Campbell. Louie Sibley came on and had a great impact when he came on, which is what I always say to him. He is an impact player and he did that today. It was an even game and I think a draw is a fair result in the end.”