Pride Park Stadium
International
Derby County made it six on the spin at Pride Park Stadium, continuing their hot home form with a 1-0 win over Oxford United on Saturday afternoon.
Individual brilliance from Jaydon Banel, who bagged his first goal for the club in their last home win over Stoke City a fortnight ago, opened the scoring once again at Pride Park Stadium when he ran the length of the pitch before dispatching.
The Rams threatened in the fifth minute when Jaydon Banel, who bagged his first goal for the club in their last home win over Stoke City a fortnight ago, struck a loose ball just inside the penalty area and saw his effort blocked by an Oxford defender.
Jamie Donley had the visitors’ first chance of the match, nearing ten minutes, when a low cross from the left was struck first time, with Matt Clarke sliding in to block the threat.
An opportunistic shot from Derry Murkin nearly capped off a well-constructed move for Derby two minutes later. A cross-field pass by Banel found Joe Ward, who delivered a cross that bounced out to Murkin to strike on the half-volley. Again, the Rams were blocked.
Derby were made to defend when Stan Mills got the better of a footrace down Oxford’s right flank, but recovery runs from Clarke and Lewis Travis, who applied excellent pressure to the U’s striker, quelled the danger.
A superb sprint from Banel got Derby in front in the 22nd minute. An Oxford throw was cleared, and Sam Szmodics’ well-placed pass put the ball into the Dutch winger’s path on the edge of his own box.
A surging run upfield saw him chop to cut inside on the edge of the penalty area and hit a low right-footed strike into the bottom corner.
A tidy one-two pass with Murkin in the 28th minute nearly saw him double his tally, but Oxford defender Michał Helik’s sliding block closed off the chance.
A long ball from Murkin found Szmodics running in behind after the visitors had been on top in the first knockings of the second period. Szmodics was stewarded to a wide angle by the Oxford defence but still forced a corner with a left-footed effort.
The resulting corner fell kindly for the U’s, who mounted a counter-attack with Myles Peart-Harris through on goal, but Szmodics was pivotal as he placed a well-timed tackle in tandem with good positioning by goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström, who rushed out to clear the Rams’ lines.
Banel nearly fashioned another of his own when he grabbed a
long pass from Travis and found space to shoot after a give-and-go with Szmodics,
but the Dutchman just couldn’t find his footing, and the effort was sent wide.
Fraulo had an opportunity as he struck a bouncing ball on the edge of the penalty area with the first attack after joining play as the second ball from a Ward free-kick delivery found him, but his attempt was headed away.
The Rams recycled the play and found Banel bursting in on the left flank, but his low cross deflected off a Derby leg and went behind for a goal kick.
Szmodics inches from goal in the 82nd minute, but Jamie
Cumming got down low to save from a tight angle.
The Rams were made to work for the points in the late stages
as the match went to added time with a strong block from Morris and a header
clear by Clarke in the vital moments, keeping the visitors at bay.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Murkin (Forsyth 90), Clarke, Morris, Ozoh (Fraulo 70), Szmodics (Salvesen 90), Ward, Brereton Díaz, Travis (C), Sanderson (Langås 70), Banel (Johnston 86).
Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Batth, Eames, Allen.
Oxford United: Cumming (GK), Long, Brown, Konak, Helik, Brannagan (C), Spencer, Mills, Lankshear, Donley (Jin-Woo 62), Peart-Harris (Emakhu 62).
Unused Substitutes: Ingram (GK), Vaulks, Harris, Romeny, Ter Avest, Makosso, McDonnell.
29,281 (including 1,701 Away Supporters)
Derby will head out on the road for Tuesday night Sky Bet Championship action at Carrow Road against Norwich City in the penultimate match of their 2025/26 season (7.45pm kick-off).
