Results - Men's First Team v Wrexham - 2026/01/04

An exceptional 30-yard strike from Matty James condemned Derby County to a narrow 2-1 defeat at home to Wrexham in the Sky Bet Championship.

The 34-year-old’s winner three minutes into the second half helped the Welsh side to a fourth win in a row after Ben Brereton Díaz had cancelled out Sam Smith’s opener midway through the first half.

The result ends a grueling run of five fixtures in 16 days for John Eustace’s side, with the Rams next in action at home to Leeds United in the Emirates FA Cup third round next Sunday.

Wrexham were quickest out of the traps, hitting the post inside the opening three minutes through Nathan Broadhead’s long-range strike. The summer arrival from Ipswich Town then got on the end of his own effort but couldn’t keep his second attempt down.

Smith had an early sight of goal, heading wide from Ben Sheaf’s cross. The Wrexham frontman felt he was being held, but Matt Corlett - refereeing just his second Championship game - was quick to wave away the appeal.

Derby responded with a sustained spell of pressure of their own. Sondre Langås almost got on the end of Callum Elder’s teasing cross, before the same supplier picked out Rhian Brewster on the penalty spot with a low corner - a seemingly rehearsed routine - though Brewster scuffed his first-time shot.

The waves of home attacks continued. Brereton Díaz played in Patrick Agyemang, whose stepovers struck fear into the retreating Wrexham backline, before his deflected attempt was averted at the last by George Thomason.

Bobby Clark then came within a whisker of his second goal in as many games. The RB Salzburg loanee took one touch to set himself after Brewster had nutmegged James, missing the bottom left corner by a matter of inches.

And so, it came against the run of play when the Welsh side opened the scoring after 25 minutes. Broadhead found space wide on the left, before cutting in and crossing towards the near post, where Smith was on the move to sweep beyond Jacob Widell Zetterström.

The Rams were behind for just nine minutes. Matt Clarke dispossessed Josh Windass in the middle of the pitch and fired through to Brereton Díaz on his weaker right foot. One-on-one with Dominic Hyam, the Chilean international faked to shoot on his right before cutting in on his left and burying the ball in the bottom corner. It was his second goal in as many matches against Wrexham this term.

Level at the break, the visitors retook the lead just three minutes into the second half via James’ inch-perfect strike. Collecting Langås’ clearance, the experienced central midfielder took one touch before unleashing a 30-yard curling effort into the top corner, leaving Zetterström with little chance.

Joe Ward’s free-kick tested Wrexham goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo as Derby threatened another swift response, before Head Coach Eustace made a quadruple change on the hour.

One of those alterations, the addition of Corey Blackett-Taylor at left wing-back, provided a number of teasing balls, as fellow substitute Lars-Jørgen Salvesen almost stretched to head home one such cross.

The Rams’ best opportunity for a second equaliser came when a bursting run from Clark was found by Brereton Díaz. Unselfishly, Sunday’s match-winner tried to square the ball for Kayden Jackson, who would have had an empty net to tap into had the pass been a fraction closer to the striker.

The Teams:

Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Clarke, Langås (C), Agyemang (Weimann 60), Brewster (Salvesen 60), Thompson (Travis 60), Elder (Blackett-Taylor 60), Ward, Brereton Díaz, Sanderson (Jackson 81), Clark.

Unused Substitutes: O’Donnell (GK), Forsyth, Batth, Adams.

Wrexham: Okonkwo (GK), Doyle, Cleworth, Hyam (C), Windass (Rathbone 66), Thomason (Cacace 90), Sheaf, Smith (Rodriguez 90), Broadhead (O'Brien 75), James, Longman.

Unused Substitutes: Burton (GK), Coady, Dobson, Scarr, Barnett.