Derby County fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat against Cardiff
City despite a battling display in South Wales on Saturday afternoon.
Despite Derby being in control for the majority of the first period the game remained goalless in the first half.
Quickfire goals from Callum Robinson and Anwar El Ghazi put Cardiff in front against the run of play in the early stages of the second half.
Striker Lars-Jørgen Salvesen powered home his first goal for the club in the 71st minute as he met Jerry Yates’ cross to take the score to 2-1 and set up a tense finish to the match, but Cardiff held on despite the pressure to take all three points.
Key Moments
Yates had the first chance of the match within the second minute after a clearance found him in space to shoot and he forced a save down low from goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
Joe Ralls’ shot from distance in the sixth minute was the Bluebirds’ first attempt on target, with Jacob Widell Zetterström made to make a fingertip save.
Yates had the ball in the back of the net after nine minutes but was denied as Craig Forsyth was deemed offside when he met Ben Osborn’s free-kick from deep to direct the ball to the striker, who had met the ball with a tidy finish.
Ebou Adams’ firm challenge thwarted a certain chance for the hosts in the penalty area as he dispossessed Chris Willock before he could have a strike on goal.
Salvesen held the ball up well for Yates in the 20th minute. The striker squared the ball for Kenzo Goudmijn to take a speculative strike from the edge of the penalty area which looked to trouble Alnwick, but the Cardiff shot-stopper got his body behind the ball to stop the powerful hit.
The Rams hit the target again when Callum Elder whipped a hip-height delivery into the box that Salvesen met on the volley - but the goalkeeper got down low to scoop up the effort.
More tenacious work from Derby’s newest addition won a corner as he latched onto a loose ball that dropped in front of him and forced a deflection to win a corner. The delivery forced a punch away by Alnwick with the Rams in the ascendancy.
Derby kept pushing towards the end of the first period, with Yates and Salvesen linking up at the top of the pitch, but they couldn’t find the goal,despite their dominance and threat.
Andy Rinomhota had the first effort after the half-time break, as the ball bounced to the Bluebirds’ midfielder on the left flank, he struck it and saw the ball sail high and wide of the mark.
Zetterström was forced to redeem himself after making a wayward pass that led to Robinson having a shooting chance from close range in the 55th minute. The Swedish goalkeeper made himself big to make a blocking save at the near post.
An injury to Corey Blackett-Taylor saw a forced substitution for Derby as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing came on in his place in the 58th minute.
Robinson gave Cardiff the lead moments later after the striker pounced on a rebound in the box to follow up his shot after Zetterström’s save.
The hosts’ lead was doubled in quick time as El Ghazi slotted a tidy finish to complete a fast counter-attack following the restart after the first goal.
Another chance dropped to El Ghazi and was well saved by Derby’s goalkeeper Zetterstrom before Cian Ashford blasted over the follow-up.
Salvesen clinched his first Derby goal and narrowed Cardiff’s lead when he firmly latched onto Yates’ looped ball in behind the defence after a surging run from Adams.
Marcus Harness came onto the field of play in place of Elder in the 77th minute as Derby continued to try for an equaliser.
Salvesen met Mendez-Laing’s corner delivery in the 80th minute with Derby still pushing for an equaliser. Ashford came near for Cardiff moments later as he slid a low shot just wide on the Derby goal.
Zetterström had to be the hero to keep Derby in the tie after Craig Forsyth lost his footing to give El Ghazi a chance on goal, with the Swede getting down fast to save with his leg.
Derby rang their final changes with Tom Barkhuizen, Kayden
Jackson and the returning David Ozoh coming onto the field, with Goudmijn,
Yates and Osborn going the other way.
Late substitute Yousef Salech was denied by Zetterström at
his near post after the hosts broke with Derby going all-out for a goal.
The Rams pushed for chances but couldn’t find a clear effort and Cardiff held on for the win.
The Teams
Cardiff City: Alnwick (GK), Goutas, Daland, Ralls (C), Chambers, Willock (El Ghazi 55), Robertson (Salech 67), Rinomhota, Ng, Ashford (Fish 84), Robinson (Meite 84).
Unused Substitutes: Horvath (GK), Siopis, Colwill, Giles, Pearce.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Nyambe, Forsyth, Cashin, Elder (Harness 77), Adams, Osborn (C) (Jackson 86), Goudmijn, Blackett-Taylor (Mendez-Laing 58), Goudmijn (Ozoh 86), Yates (Barkhuizen 86), Salvesen.
Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Rooney, Turley, Thompson.
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Assistant Referees: Daniel Leach, Richard Woodward
Fourth Official: Scott Simpson
What’s Next?
The Rams will return to Pride Park Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship when they go head-to-head with promotion-chasing Sheffield United on Saturday 1st February (3pm kick-off).
