Wed 04 Apr - Posted in Feature
Time to read: 3mins
Derby County’s dazzling talisman Matej Vydra was deservedly named in the Sky Bet Championship Team of the Season on Tuesday after a superb campaign in which he’s scored 18 league goals so far.
No player in the second tier has scored more this season and his form has been a key factor behind the run that has taken the Rams to fifth-place in the table going into the final seven games.
Gary Rowett will be hoping that his star forward can sustain his form as Derby look to secure a play-off place, but for now, here’s a look at the numbers behind what has been a stunning campaign so far for our Czech No.23.
Central to Vydra’s form so far has been his outstanding ability to finish difficult chances where you wouldn’t necessarily expect him to score.
The prime example of this is his memorable strike against Nottingham Forest inside just 24 seconds back in October, where he collected the ball on the half-turn before rifling into the corner, with his ‘weaker’ foot nonetheless.
Last season, Vydra’s shot conversion rate stood at 14.7%, with all of his five goals coming from inside the 18-yard box.
By comparison, his conversion percentage this term stands at 34%, having scored with 18 of his 28 shots on target in the league so far, with three coming from outside the penalty area, against Hull City, Forest and Millwall.
It’s clear that Vydra has been absolutely key to Derby’s charge to the top-six, and a look at the numbers will tell you that no other player has been as critical to their side as the forward has been for Rowett.
The forward has contributed to 32% of the Rams’ goals in the Championship, with 18 of their 57 strikes so far this term.
That percentage is the highest in the league, with Norwich City’s James Maddison just behind.
Vydra’s outstanding finishing from outside the area has provided some of the best moments of Derby’s season so far, but his knowhow inside the box has been crucial.
Specifically, the forward is the league’s best when it comes to the pressure situation of a penalty kick. He’s bagged six out of six in the Championship, whilst he buried another in the EFL Cup against Grimsby Town back in August.
Vydra’s penalty record through his career is strong, but his spot-kick against Preston North End to secure Derby’s first win of the season was his first success since 2014 when he was playing for Watford.
In between, he missed both of his efforts whilst on-loan at Reading during the 2015/16, so the return to form has been welcome.
One of Rowett’s best achievements at Pride Park so far has been his ability to get the best out of Vydra, who had previously struggled during his first season with the Rams.
The Czech scored when Rowett took charge of his first game at the City Ground against Forest in March 2017, and he has maintained a high level ever since.
Under three managers prior to the arrival of Rowett, Vydra scored three goals and set up one in 30 appearances
By contrast, in 41 games under the current boss, he has scored 21 goals whilst laying on three more for his teammates.
When Vydra joined Derby in the summer of 2016, you could make a case to argue that he was the ideal signing.
A proven goalscorer with experience of winning promotion from the Championship sounds good, right? Then, you realise that he had been directly involved in nine goals in just five games against Forest in his career.
Since then, he’s gone on to add two more goals as well as another assist to his record against our East Midlands rivals. That’s one way to endear yourself to the Derby support.
