Pride Park Stadium
International
Derby County fell to a 2-1 defeat to Sheffield United on the final day of the 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship season after a battling contest on Saturday.
Sam Szmodics netted his third goal of the season for the Rams to make the most of a lively start, taking that advantage after five minutes of play.
Despite Derby’s dominance, United levelled proceedings in the 62nd minute when Tom Cannon took advantage of a fast turnover – and the visitors had the advantage five minutes later when Sydie Peck struck from distance.
The result at Pride Park Stadium sees the last play-off spot
fall just out of reach for Derby on the final day of the campaign.
Derby started liveliest; Joe Ward and Sam Szmodics had sight of goal in the first knockings.
Ward’s left-footed effort from the edge of the penalty box was saved by Blades goalkeeper Adam Davies, before Szmodics saw the ball roll inches wide moments later when Jaydon Banel’s ball down the left flank found him one-on-one for a shot on the angle.
Szmodics had his goal four minutes later, Ward laid off Banel for a shot inside the box, which ricocheted into the path of the attacking midfielder who poked home at the far post.
Gustavo Hamer had the Blades’ first opportunity after 15 minutes of play. Sydie Peck won a free kick 25 yards out, which the Dutch midfielder stuck low, forcing Jacob Widell Zetterström into a low diving save.
The Rams continued their domination in the first half as Matt Clarke and David Ozoh had chances thwarted in the 23rd minute, and Szmodics looked to have a golden chance to lay off for Banel in the box, but had his square pass blocked off.
United took hold of the game for a longer spell as the half went on; however, Derby kept them at bay to see the lead into the interval.
Joe Ward was the first to trouble goalkeeper Michael Cooper after a battling start to the second period. A free kick from the wide left was fizzed on goal, but the shot-stopper punched the ball away from danger.
A vital intervention from Sondre Langås kept the score at 1-0, when United mounted a fast break via Callum O’Hare in the 57th minute. The attacker shot from a tight angle but fired into the side netting after Derby’s Norwegian centre-back recovered to close him down.
United got their goal just after the hour mark when Cannon pounced to tuck away after a fast turnover by the Blades. The visitors hit a quick double when Peck found space on the edge of the box for a strike, which bent out of reach of goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström to make it 2-1.
Lars-Jørgen Salvesen, Oscar Fraulo and Max Johnston entered the field on either side of the goal as the Rams pushed to regain parity.
Fellow substitute Bobby Clark looked to run free after a long ball forward from Szmodics, but he was well harried by the United defence, who closed off the danger.
Zetterström made a fantastic low save from Danny Ings down the other end as the Blades looked to put the game out of sight moments later.
A run in behind from Salvesen was also thwarted by the offside flag two minutes from the end of regulation time.
The game pushed through to ten minutes of added time as the Rams continued to battle – Clark winning a free kick on 25 yards out in the 90th minute - Ward’s effort forced a corner which Matt Clarke nodded over the crossbar.
The season was concluded with a 2-1 scoreline.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Forsyth (Salvesen 76), Clarke, Langås, Morris, Ozoh (Fraulo 76), Szmodics, Ward, Brereton Díaz (Johnston 67), Travis (C), Banel (Clark 60).
Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Batth, Sanderson, Eames, Allen.
Sheffield United: Davies (GK), Tanganga, Arblaster (Rothwell 64), Cannon (Chong 64), Hamer, O’Hare, Burrows, McGuiness, Seriki (Hoever 64), Peck, Bamford.
Unused Substitutes: Betts (GK), Ings, Soumaré, Sasnauskas, McGlinchey, Riedwald.
32,538 (including 3,101 Away Supporters)
