Derby County’s preparations for the upcoming 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship season continued with a 2-1 reverse at League One side Burton Albion on Saturday.

The pre-season friendly at the Pirelli Stadium also acted as the final of the 2025 Bass Charity Vase.

The clash with the Brewers was Derby’s fourth public run-out this summer, following the recent meetings with Matlock Town earlier this month, Red Bull Salzburg in Austria and Walsall in midweek.

Jake Beesley’s header in the ninth minute opened the scoring for Burton in a lively opening 45 minutes.

Derby hit back to equalise just after the hour mark through winger Corey Blackett-Taylor’s close-range finish to continue his fine pre-season form.

Beesley scored what proved to be the winner with seven minutes of normal time remaining to seal Burton’s 15th success in the Bass Charity Vase.

Key Moments

Head Coach John Eustace named another strong squad for the clash with the Brewers, with the start of the new season just two weeks away for the Rams.

Summer signing Patrick Agyemang, as well as defenders Kane Wilson, Curtis Nelson and Sondre Langås and striker Lars-Jørgen Salvesen remained out of action. Midfielder Ben Osborn was not involved after sitting out training this week.

Defenders Joe Ward and Ryan Nyambe, strikers Dajaune Brown and Carlton Morris and versatile attacker Andi Weimann all trained this week as they build up training time after injuries, while new signing Owen Beck joined in with the group on Friday for the first time since signing on loan from Premier League side Liverpool.

Brown and Beck were named on the bench against the Brewers, while Ward, Nyambe, Brown and Weimann continue to build up their training minutes before returning to action. Youngster Charles Ebuka Agbawodikeizu started up front after scoring in the 3-2 victory at Walsall in midweek.

There were plenty of Derby links on the Burton staff in the form of ex-Academy coaches Gary Bowyer and Pat Lyons, while former Rams full-back John Brayford is also on the Albion coaching team. The trio helped oversee a fine run of form in the second half of last season to see the Brewers finish 20th in the third tier and avoid relegation.

Burton are just a week away from their League One campaign kicking off when they host Mansfield Town, managed by former Brewers and Derby boss Nigel Clough, at the Pirelli Stadium in their season-opener - so this workout was a last chance for members of their squad to stake a claim to be in the starting line-up against the Stags.

A healthy following of Rams fans made the short journey across the A38 to East Staffordshire after selling out their 1,600 ticket allocation earlier this month.

Burton got the game started on a sunny afternoon and the first noteworthy piece of action to report was Rams centre-back Matt Clarke having to be withdrawn after six minutes. He appeared to take a knee to the groin area whilst going in for a challenge early on and he was promptly replaced by Craig Forsyth to avoid any further risks.

The hosts had the first chance of the contest moments later as midfielder Charlie Webster let fly from 25 yards out, but his swerving effort was straight down the throat of Jacob Widell Zetterström in the Derby goal.

Burton took the lead a minute later, however, as a cross into the box from the left-hand side was powerfully headed into the net by Beesley from around six yards out.

The pressure continued to be applied by the home side early on. Two minutes after picking the ball out of his net, Zetterström was called into action to push the ball away to safety after a cross into the Derby area from the right-hand side caused a moment of panic.

Derby’s first opportunity came after 15 minutes, and it almost brought them back level. Ebuka Agbawodikeizu used his feet well to fashion a chance to shoot inside the box and his powerful strike thundered back off the crossbar.

Blackett-Taylor had the chance to add to his two pre-season goals so far on the half-hour mark. He won the ball in midfield and drove forward with real pace before shooting narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

Webster had a good chance to add to Burton’s lead ten minutes prior to half-time after a loose ball fell invitingly for him inside the Derby penalty area, but he lacked composure and dragged his right-foot effort wide.

The second half began with little goalmouth action and Derby made their second change just before the hour mark with Morris entering the action in place of Ebuka Agbawodikeizu for his first outing in Rams colours since signing from Luton Town in June.

Derby almost drew level on the hour as Kayden Jackson’s left-wing cross was sliced towards his own goal by a Burton defender, with Jordan Amissah between the posts making a reaction save for the hosts to keep the ball out.

An excellent left-wing cross from Callum Elder almost carved out a leveller for the Rams as he picked out midfielder Ebou Adams at the far post but a Burton defender managed to block him heading into the net.

Derby got their equaliser on 63 minutes with Blackett-Taylor netting his third goal in as many pre-season outings. A smart move down the right saw Kenzo Goudmijn play Adams in behind the home defence and, after sliding in to beat Amissah to the ball and taking a heavy blow in the process, he laid it on a plate for Blackett-Taylor to poke it into the unguarded net.

Third-choice goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell replaced Zetterström for the final 20 minutes as Eustace made another switch as the clock ticked down.

Burton retook the lead with 83 minutes played with a smart move on the edge of the box. Beesley was eventually slipped in behind the Rams’ defence and he kept his cool with a low finish beyond the reach of O’Donnell in the last standout moment of the match.

Next up for Derby in pre-season is a visit to National League outfit Solihull Moors in their penultimate friendly ahead of the new campaign on Tuesday 29th July (7:45pm kick-off).

Derby County: Zetterström (GK) (O’Donnell 68), Rooney, Batth, Clarke (Forsyth 6), Elder, Thompson, Goudmijn, Adams (C), Jackson, Blackett-Taylor, Ebuka Agbawodikeizu (Morris 59).

Substitutes Not Used: Evans (GK), Beck, Turley, I Gordon, Wheeldon, Hawkins.