The Kassam Stadium
Derby County were defeated by a single goal in a 1-0 loss at Oxford United in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday afternoon.
Stan Mills put Oxford in front with a goal on the break after 24 minutes played at the Kassam Stadium, following a back-and-forth opening to the match.
A physical contest between the two sides saw Derby push for an
equaliser in the second half, but the hosts, who had several chances to extend their lead, held on to take all three points despite some late Rams pressure.
The defeat is Derby’s first in the last four league matches, and the Rams will be looking to respond quickly when they welcome Norwich City to Pride Park Stadium on Tuesday night (7:45pm kick-off).
After an open first knockings of the game, Rhian Brewster looked to be played in on goal for Derby after Carlton Morris and Ben Brereton Díaz’s movement opened up space in the defence for the attacker to charge into.
However, a last-minute intervention from Oxford defender Ciaron Brown thwarted Brewster before he could get into a shooting position.
Brereton Díaz’s cut-back to the edge of the box looked to fashion a chance for Andi Weimann in the 14th minute after a spell of Derby pressure, but the Austrian international saw his effort blocked.
A precise ball over the top from Cameron Brannagan gave the hosts their first chance of the match a minute later. Striker Mills ran in behind to a one-on-one scenario, but his shot was denied by an excellent Jacob Widell Zetterström save.
A triple chance moments later saw Zetterström in action once more as Siriki Dembélé saw his effort blocked by Dion Sanderson, and the Swedish shot-stopper got to two efforts from Brian De Keersmaecker, who hit low from the edge of the penalty area after two rebounds fell to him.
Mills gave Oxford the lead at the halfway stage of the opening 45 minutes as he latched onto a well-threaded through ball from De Keersmaecker and slotted home calmly.
Morris had an inviting opportunity when Max Johnston delivered a low cross into the box in the 27th minute. The ball looked to be landing at the striker’s feet in space, but a timely stretch of the boot by Michał Helik steered the ball out for a corner.
Derby kept pushing, and the resulting set piece saw Weimann fizz a strike just over the crossbar when the ball landed to him on the edge of the box.
Nik Prelec fired just over the bar for the hosts in the 36th minute when a quick attacking move saw Dembélé lay him off in space to unleash from distance.
Helik nearly doubled the lead on the half-volley if not for some fantastic goalkeeping, as Zetterström got to full stretch to deny the defender from close range.
Head Coach John Eustace made one change at the break, bringing attacking midfielder Bobby Clark into the fold with Brereton Díaz making way.
Derby started the second half positively, with a ball over the top just evading the boot of an onrushing Weimann inside the penalty area, and then Morris held the ball up well to win a corner for the Rams, which was cleared well by the hosts.
Zetterström thwarted another Mills effort in the 49th minute when the striker broke away down the right flank and cut inside with a left-footed shot.
Striker Patrick Agyemang entered the field after an hour of play, and
ten minutes later winger Corey Blackett-Taylor joined him with the Rams pushing for an
equaliser, replacing Weimann and David Ozoh respectively.
Opportunities came for the Rams, with Johnston delivering a corner and cross, but they couldn’t make the final move to take advantage.
Morris made a chance of his own in the 79th minute, when he held the ball up and struck a low spinning effort just wide of the far post.
Striker Lars-Jørgen Salvesen and defender Callum Elder were Derby’s final changes with five minutes of regulation time remaining with Brewster and Craig Forsyth replaced.
Morris came close from a corner in added time, as he met Elder’s delivery with a header that was blocked over and behind for another corner kick, which he again met, but fired high and wide when the ball bounced to his feet.
The final whistle blew seconds later with Oxford holding out for the win.
Oxford United: Cumming (GK), Brown, Vaulks, Helik, Brannagan (C), De Keersmaecker, Spencer, Prelec (Harris 89), Mills (Płacheta 70), Dembélé (Davies 89), Currie.
Substitutes: Ingram, Long, Goodrham, Leigh, Lankshear, Krastev.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Forsyth (Elder 85), Clarke, Morris, Brewster (Salvesen 85), Weimann (Agyemang 60), Ozoh (Blackett-Taylor 71), Johnston, Brereton Díaz (Clark 46), Sanderson, Adams (C).
Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Batth, Langås, Jackson.
11,197 (including 1,484 Derby County supporters)
Derby will return to Pride Park Stadium for the first of back-to-back home matches next week, with the visit of Norwich City on Tuesday night (7:45pm kick-off) and Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
