28 Black-Arena Nonntal
Derby County’s week-long pre-season training camp in Austria concluded with a 2-1 win over 17-time Austrian Bundesliga champions FC Red Bull Salzburg in a pre-season friendly on Friday evening.
Winger Corey Blackett-Taylor opened the scoring for Derby in the 27th minute at the 28 Black-Arena Nonntal in Salzburg, and he provided the assist in the 42nd minute as the Rams doubled their advantage through a Kayden Jackson header.
Die Roten Bullen pulled a goal back at the start of the second half, with Adam Daghim on target, but Derby held on to take the win with a strong and organised display against a side that was most recently in action at the FIFA Club World Cup in America.
The home side held the majority of possession in the opening exchanges, and Salzburg showed their UEFA Champions League level quality as they forced the Rams to do some defensive work.
Jacob Widell Zetterström was called upon to make a strong save in the tenth minute to keep out a far post header from a corner by winger Dorgeles Nene - the first effort on target of the match.
Derby nearly profited after quick pressing by Blackett-Taylor almost saw him in on goal, but goalkeeper Alexander Schlager was alive to the danger and swept up the ball.
A quick turnover following an Ebou Adams slide tackle saw a tidy move by as Ben Osborn played Blackett-Taylor down the left flank as Derby went forward. The attacker cut inside and tried a shot from the edge of the box, but saw the ball go over the crossbar.
Blackett-Taylor was liveliest for Derby and his running saw him rewarded just after the halfway point of the opening 45 minutes when he profited from a misplaced back-pass by a home defender and was able slot the ball into the back of the net.
Zetterström made another key intervention for the Rams in the 30th minute as he claimed the ball following a dangerous ball in behind towards Nene. Oscar Gloukh also came near for Salzburg as they looked for a response two minutes after the opening goal; cutting inside from the left and shooting low, but just wide of the post.
Another Red Bull attack was denied by Zetterström after captain Mads Bidstrup laid off to Nene on the edge of the box. He struck hard and low, but the Rams’ Swedish shot-stopper got his body behind the effort.
Jackson netted Derby’s second goal moments before half-time as he rose to meet a cross from Blackett-Taylor, following a fine run down the left, and arrowed his header went low beyond Schlager.
Josh Vickers was the only change for the Rams at the break as he came on in goal and a fast start from the hosts saw them pull a goal back. Edmund Baidoo slotted Daghim in behind the Derby defence and he made no mistake once he could fashion a shooting chance, going low and beyond Vickers in the Derby net.
Baidoo came near again as the hosts upped the intensity. He drove at the defence and struck the post with a low strike before the ball spun off the body of Vickers and away from danger.
John Eustace then rang the changes ahead of the hour mark with ten players entering the field to get vital match minutes, including a number of Academy youngsters.
The much younger Rams side got their first spell of possession in the 69th minute. A positive flowing move was started by the long-serving Craig Forsyth and saw Tristan Gill and Darren Robinson trying to deliver and finish in a packed penalty area - but Salzburg held firm.
Although the hosts maintained the majority of control over possession, Derby continued to show bright moments as they pushed forwards with wingers Jack Perry and Gill looking to fire balls into the box, and striker Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu and Lennon Wheeldon looking to fashion chances.
Sharp feet from Kerim Alajbegovic in the 82nd minute saw him skip beyond the Rams' defence and into the box. However, he had his shot saved by Vickers. The rebound came out to Takumu Kawamura, who couldn’t keep his effort down from 12 yards out.
Derby held firm with solid defending and good shape in the closing stages to round off another important pre-season work-out with a victory ahead of flying home to continue their preparations for the upcoming 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship soil next week back at Moor Farm.
Derby County starting line-up: Zetterström (GK) (Vickers 46), I.Gordon, Batth, Clarke, Elder, Goudmijn, Osborn, Adams (C), Jackson, Blackett-Taylor, Roofe.
Derby County (from 59 minutes onwards): Vickers (GK), Turley, Rooney, K.Robinson, Forsyth, D.Robinson, L.Thompson (C), Perry, T.Gill, Wheeldon (Oguntolu 88), Agbawodikeizu.
Unused Substitutes: O'Donnell (GK), Canoville.
