REPORT: Derby County 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

Derby County claimed a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday in front of a packed-out Pride Park Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship on Saturday.

Ben Brereton Díaz’s sixth goal of the season got Derby ahead after 11 minutes at Pride Park Stadium. But former Rams striker Jerry Yates levelled things with a header from close range just four minutes later.

The Rams went into the break in front, though, as Matt Clarke bagged his second goal in as many games to make it 2-1 just before the break- a lead which Derby held in a dominant second half showing.

Key Moments

After a cagey beginning at Pride Park, Charlie McNeill had the first attempt in the tenth minute when the Owls midfielder tried a dipping effort from range, which Rams goalkeeper Josh Vickers collected.

Brereton Díaz put the Rams ahead moments later, though, as Rhian Brewster’s cute flick unleashed the Chilean into a one-on-one with goalkeeper Pierce Charles, and he made no mistake, slotting low and into the back of the net.

He nearly had a second three minutes later, when tenacious work from Patrick Agyemang released Brewster on the left to put in a teasing ball to the back post that Brereton Díaz misjudged as the ball was sent wide.

Derby were made to pay for missing the chance, as Wednesday advanced in attack following a rebound in the middle of the park, and Yates found space to head in Jamal Lowe’s cross in the six-yard box.

Brewster looked for a goal of his own in the 23rd minute with a header from close range. A fast one-two between Travis and Murkin allowed the left back to hang up a cross that Brewster met, but he was too far under the ball, sending it above the crossbar.

Wednesday also looked to pose a threat as Tayo Adaramola found Sean Fusire’s cross on the opposite flank and sent in a low cross towards Yates in the 27th minute – but Clarke was alert to clear the danger.

Yates proved to be the visitors’ most potent threat as he aimed a stinging strike from distance, but Vickers got behind the powerful effort in the 41st minute.

Derby pushed hard to regain the lead towards the end of the half as Agyemang and Clarke found space on the left flank, winning a corner.

The original delivery was recycled to Joe Ward by Brewster, and the wing-back’s ball was met by the head of Clarke, who steered the ball into the back of the net to put Derby 2-1 up dead on 45 minutes.

HALF-TIME: Derby County 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday

The Rams held control in the first knockings of the second half, but the first clear chance came when Agyemang stole into space on the left on the hour mark and struck the ball across goal and just wide of the bottom right corner.

Sam Szmodics and Brereton Díaz came close as an incisive move from Murkin opened up the defence in the 66th minute, but both men’s attempts were blocked and cleared by the Owls’ defence.

Changes saw David Ozoh, Carlton Morris and Jaydon Banel enter the field across the next ten minutes as Derby aimed to cement their lead.

John Eustace’s side came near to doing so in the 75th minute after a prolonged spell of possession on the right flank, with Ozoh, Brereton Díaz and Ward neatly tapping the ball around the defence. It broke for Lewis Travis in space on the edge of the penalty area, but he couldn’t muster the power to trouble the goalkeeper.

A surging charge forward in the 84th minute appeared to put the final nail in the coffin as Banel burst forward and cut the ball back into the box. Bobby Clark shot but saw it deflected wide.

As the full-time whistle blew, the Rams claimed their third consecutive win on home turf.

Teams

Derby County: Vickers (GK), Murkin, Clarke, Agyemang (Morris 74), Brewster (Ozoh 62), Szmodics (Banel 74), Ward, Brereton Díaz, Travis (C), Sanderson, Clark (Fraulo 90).

Unused Substitutes: O'Donnell (GK), Forsyth, Eames, I Gordon, Allen.

Sheffield Wednesday: Charles (GK), Palmer (C), Fusire, Iorfa, Ingelsson, Lowe, Yates (Thornton 82), McNeill (Ndala 74), Otegbayo, Heskey, Adaramola.

Unused Substitutes: Stretch (GK), Ugbo, Nakamba, Johnson, McGhee, Grainger, Emery.