3/1 To Win
Derby County got their pre-season campaign off to a 2-0 win against Sky Bet League Two side Bradford City at Valley Parade.
All of the damage was done in the first half as goals from Craig Forsyth and new signing Tom Barkhuizen secured the victory.
It was all about building match minutes for the players as they eased back into match action and build up some sharpness ahead of the new campaign.
Interim boss Liam Rosenior named a strong starting 11 as new signings Joe Wildsmith, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Barkhuizen got their first run out in a Rams’ shirt.
Derby started the game brightly. After Max Bird fired over a free kick in the opening 90 seconds of the game, whilst fellow Academy graduate Louie Sibley was presented with a good opportunity to open the scoring moments later as he shot over from a tight angle after a defensive mistake from Bradford.
Mendez-Laing impressed on the right-hand side, showing pace and power to get the better of his defender on 11 minutes as he delivered a pinpoint cross for Barkhuizen but his headed effort was well saved by Bradford goalkeeper Harry Lewis.
And the Bantams goalkeeper had to be aware moments later as Barkhuizen this time turned provider for Sibley who struck on target but Lewis made the save.
He could do nothing to prevent Derby taking the lead on 14 minutes, however. Sibley fizzed a low cross towards the back post for Forsyth and he finished confidently to put the Rams ahead in their opening pre-season fixture.
Bradford did have opportunities of their own in the first half as Jamie Walker was denied by the strong palms of Wildsmith, whilst a defensive mistake almost allowed the striker a chance to score, but his chipped effort went over the crossbar.
Deep into first half stoppage time, Derby would double their advantage and it would be the new signings which combined. Mendez-Laing raced down the right before pulling the ball back to Barkhuizen who, at the second attempt, scored his first goal in a Rams shirt as the referee signalled for half time.
It was all change at the break as the Rams changed all their outfield players, whilst Wildsmith was the only one to take his place in the starting 11. Richard Stearman, fresh from signing his new contract the day before, wore the captain’s armband.
It took the Rams some time to settle into the half as Bradford enjoyed a spell of dominant possession, and they almost pulled a goal back ten minutes into the half. Substitute Andy Cook headed beyond Wildsmith, but Stearman got back to head off the line.
Once they did get to grips with the pace of the game, Derby started dictating the tempo as they built up their sharpness. Jack Stretton got some much-needed match minutes, whilst his strike partner Bartosz Cybulski almost scored Derby’s third just after the hour mark but was denied by Lewis.
The goalkeeper again was alert to the danger ten minutes later as a mistake at the back led to Cybulski laying the ball back for Osazee Aghatise to shoot but Lewis made a good stop to keep the scores at two.
And that is how the scoreline would stay as the Rams saw the game out comfortably, keeping a clean sheet to ensure victory against League Two opposition in their opening pre-season friendly of the summer.
Bradford City: Harry Lewis, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Reece Staunton, Yann Songo'o, Matty Platt, Richie Smallwood (C), Harry Chapman, Ryan East, Lee Angol, Jamie Walker, Jake Young.
Substitutes: Colin Doyle, Heath Richardson, Oscar Thelkeld, Matty Foulds, Alex Gilliead, Emmanuel Osadebe, Kian Harratt, Kian Scales, Fiacre Kelleher, Charlie Wood, Andy Cook, Bobby Pointon, Romoney Crichlow, Abo Eisa, Timi Odusina.
Derby County First-Half Team: Joe Wildsmith, Eiran Cashin, Tom Barkhuizen, Max Bird, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Louie Sibley, Craig Forsyth, Curtis Davies (C), Liam Thompson, Jason Knight, Kwaku Odoruh.
Derby County Second-Half Team: Joe Wildsmith (Harrison Foulkes 72’), Haydon Roberts (Will Grewal-Pollard 77’), Jake Rooney, Richard Stearman, Darren Robinson, Ryan Glover, Osazee Aghatise, Kevin McDonald, Carlos Richards, Jack Stretton, Bartosz Cybulski.
Attendance: 4,218 (1,336 Derby County supporters)
