Derby County claimed all three points in a dominant 1-0
win in the Sky Bet Championship at Deepdale on Saturday afternoon.
After there was nothing to split the two sides in the first 45, Derby came agonisingly close on multiple occasions at the start of the second half – but were somehow kept at bay by a resolute Preston.
The Rams eventually got their reward in the 82nd minute when Patrick Agyemang nodded in his seventh goal of the season.
Key Moments
Joe Ward came into the side from the bench as a late change before kick-off, with Danny Batth deemed unable to play following the warm-up. Goalkeeper Harley Price has also been added to the bench.
A Ward long throw met the head of Sondre Langås in the fourth minute and won a corner as goalkeeper Jack Walton forced the attempt wide.
Lewis Dobbin had the hosts’ first opportunity of the match when he took possession in the middle of the park and struck just wide of the post from 20 yards.
A short corner routine in the 17th minute saw Derby teasing to open the deadlock, but for resolute defending from Preston. The ball dropped for both David Ozoh and Patrick Agyemang, but they were both dispossessed before a chance could be taken.
The hosts then went on a break after relieving Derby’s pressure, but the move ended disappointingly for Heckingbottom’s side, with midfielder Ali McCann miscuing his effort and sending the ball high and wide.
Militun Osmajić nearly profited from smart pressing in the 27th minute as he claimed a high ball that dropped on Ward, but he couldn’t make the most of the chance as his strike went wayward.
A Langås header again saw Derby fly close to breaking the deadlock in the 39th minute. Strong work on the wing by Agyemang had earned a free-kick out wide, which Callum Elder sent to the Rams’ Norwegian centre-back, but the ball dropped wide of the posts.
HALF-TIME: Preston North End 0-0 Derby County
The Rams leapt out of the traps in the second period with a flurry of goal attempts.
Agyemang looked to have a sure-fire chance to take the lead when Ben Brereton DÃaz rolled the ball to him in the box soon into the second half. The striker had sight of an open goal but saw the ball roll awkwardly on the surface, and he sent it over the crossbar.
Rhian Brewster was the next to be played in behind the North End defence, but a superb save from the onrushing Walton denied him, before his cross back into the box was almost sent in for an own goal by Odel Offiah, who was grateful to concede only a corner.
Matt Clarke and Elder both made crucial defensive interventions
when the hosts surged forward in the 63rd minute, with the former sliding in to
deal with Osmajić’s run in behind and Elder cleaning up a rebound that headed
towards Brad Potts, who had sight of goal.
Oscar Fraulo and Liam Thompson’s introduction to the game in the 72nd minute saw Derby looking dangerous once again, as Bobby Clark and Brereton DÃaz were both able to get shots away following extended patterns of play, but they were unable to trouble the goalkeeper.
Brereton DÃaz made Walton work with a dipping effort that was saved as the bout of pressure continued in the 82nd minute.
Derby finally took advantage of their dominance moments later when the Chilean forward floated in a cross, which Agyemang headed into the back of the net.
Jacob Widell Zetterström then made an equally important action at the other end as the goalkeeper kept out Preston’s Devine, who was looking to provide an instant response.
Impressive defending saw Derby take the win at Deepdale with the final whistle blowing at 1-0.
Goal: Agyemang 82′
Teams
Preston North End: Walton (GK), Whiteman (C), McCann (Smith 79), Storey, Dobbin (Thompson 79), Lewis (Small 58), Gibson, Devine, Osmajić (Jebbison 67), Offiah, Potts (Valentin 67).
Unused Substitutes: Cornell (GK), Lindsay, Frøkjaer.
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Clarke, LangÃ¥s, Agyemang (Salvesen 89), Brewster (Fraulo 72), Ozoh (Thompson 72), Elder, Ward, Brereton DÃaz, Travis (C), Clark (Weimann 89).
Unused Substitutes: O’Donnell (GK), Price (GK), Forsyth, Blackett-Taylor, Thompson, Ward, Nyambe.
What’s Next?
Derby are on the road in the Sky Bet Championship once more when they head to the Valley to face Charlton Athletic on Tuesday 20th January (7.45pm kick-off).
