Derby County’s pre-season campaign continued with a thorough workout against Sky Bet League One side Shrewsbury Town on Saturday.
An early free kick goal from Tommi O’Reilly for the hosts was cancelled out by a well-worked corner routine, that was neatly finished by James Collins, by the half-hour mark. Shrewsbury regained the lead through midfielder Tom Bloxham in the second period.
Paul Warne’s side gained some more crucial match minutes ahead of the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season that kicks off in less than a fortnight.
Key Moments
Goalkeeper Josh Vickers was called into action early on as he punched
away a dangerous early ball into a crowded box by Salop left-back Mal Benning.
Derby's first chance came from an inviting free-kick delivery by Ben Osborn found the head
of Eiran Cashin in the 13th minute, but the Rams centre-back couldn’t direct
the ball goalward.
Former Port Vale full-back Benning looked to be the attacking
source again for the hosts in the 15th minute, but his long-range effort from a
corner sailed wide.
Vickers denied Bloxham moments later as the Salop
midfielder’s attempt to bend the ball around the goalkeeper was halted before
Cashin cleared Derby’s lines.
O’Reilly gave Shrewsbury the lead after 22 minutes, as his
free kick from 25 yards deflected through the Rams’ wall and beyond an
unsighted Vickers.
The scores were levelled in the 29th minute when Collins
nipped in at the near post to put Joe Ward’s corner delivery through a crowd of
bodies and into the goal.
Harrison Biggins looked to give Salop an instant reply to
Derby’s goal as he combined with Bloxham, who back-heeled the ball into space.
But the onrushing Biggins was denied by an alert Craig Forsyth in the box.
Towards the end of the half, Derby asserted dominance
further up the field of play; Collins and Blackett-Taylor combined to create a
number of openings for the Rams, but they couldn’t find the final ball to break
down a suborn Shrewsbury defence.
Warne made two changes at half time, with Ward and Cashin
making way for Ryan Nyambe and Kane Wilson.
The second period began with Derby taking the initiative, as
Barkhuizen looked to steal in behind but was denied by his defender who muscled
him off the ball.
Wilson looked to liven things up too, but a wicked cross into
the box couldn’t be received by a Derby head.
Salop were the ones to strike again though, as Bloxham
benefitted from the good work of Luca Hoole after the Salop right-back made his
way into the Rams' penalty area and unleashed a shot that Vickers parried wide,
where Bloxham was waiting to score.
Wilson was the one alert again as he met Mendez-Laing’s
corner and would have come close were it not for some tight defending in the
Shrewsbury penalty area forcing the Derby wing-back off balance.
The Rams made further changes in the 70th minute with Callum
Elder and Kayden Jackson entering the field of play while Conor Washington also
returned to the fray after his extended absence through injury.
Jackson looked to be the provider as he played an inviting
ball into the box for Washington in the 76th minute, but the Northern Ireland international was beaten to the ball by his opposite number.
Washington looked to threaten again in the 85th minute when Kenzo Goudmijn won the ball in the middle of the park and played the
striker through. But Washington’s shot was blocked by a Salop defender.
Vickers sprung into action to deny George Lloyd in the final kick of the game, as the Rams’ shot-stopper got down low to a dangerous strike.
The Team
Derby County Starting XI: Vickers (GK), Ward (Wilson 46), Nelson, Forsyth (Thompson 74), Cashin (Nyambe 46), Ozoh (Adams 74), Blackett-Taylor (Elder 69), Osborn (Goudmijn 59), Barkhuizen (Mendez-Laing 59), Yates (Jackson 69), Collins (Washington 69).
On The Bench: Luthra (GK), Robinson.
What’s Next?
Derby will head to Barnsley on Wednesday night (7:45pm kick-off) for their penultimate pre-season friendly before the 2024/25 Sky Bet Championship season begins against Blackburn on Friday 9th August (8pm kick-off).
