Derby County in double blow as deja vu sparks 'obvious' transfer need
· Leigh Curtis · 2026-08-16T06:20:31+00:00 · nguồn gốc
Derby County in double blow as deja vu sparks 'obvious' transfer need
Derby County lost their opening game of the season as they faced Charlton Athletic at the Valley Stadium
A late goal from Tyreece Campbell ensured Derby County began their Championship season with a defeat to Charlton Athletic.
The winger struck a terrific finish beyond Jacob Widell Zetterstrom to hand all three points to the hosts after Lloyd Jones cancelled out Sam Szmodics' superb opener..
Neither side had created much in the opening stages although Karlan Grant, once a transfer target for Derby, had a go from outside the box but his effort skipped up off the turf and into the arms of Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
Derby gradually felt their way into the contest as Sam Szmodics, a willing runner throughout, got on the end of a Joe Ward cross, but his flicked effort didn't carry enough pace to beat Will Mannion.
It was a good spell for Derby and with their next meaningful attack, they were ahead. Szmodics was again involved as he fired a pass into the run of Carlton Morris.
The striker could have gone on his own as a defender stood ahead of him, but he held the ball up during which time Szmodics made a run inside of him into the box.
The return pass from Morris was perfect and so too was the finish as Szmodics hammered past Mannion. Charlton did try to summon a fightback with Tyreece Campbell forcing a stop from Zetterstrom while Charlie Taylor blocked a Danny McNamara shot.
After the break, the hosts did eventually level when Lloyd Jones climbed highest to head beyond Zetterstrom before Oscar Fraulo saw a shot tipped around the post by Mannion.
But it was Campbell who had the final say with a terrific finish across Zetterstrom 10 minutes from time.
Deja vu
Anybody who ventured to Stoke City this time last year may have had a sense of deja vu and with good reason. Just as at Bet365, Derby went into this game with a couple of injuries and an incomplete squad as the wait for further signings continues.
Mark Robins' side secured a 3-1 win that day and Charlton were not far behind them on a blistering day in the capital. Derby had taken the lead with the only real moment of quality in the first half when Szmodics and Morris linked up superbly, leading to the former rattling in a terrific finish.
And at that stage, with Jacob Widell Zetterstrom rarely in danger, it seemed as if Derby were going to make the perfect start. But a header from Lloyd Jones put Charlton back on level terms before Campbell thrashed in the winner 10 minutes from time.
It was a transformation that nobody really saw coming at half-time when Derby looked comfortable with their 1-0 lead. The winner from Campbell was a terrific finish and served a reminder of what the visitors are missing from their own wide areas something that will hopefully be resolved in the market before it closes on September 1.
Szmodics looks the business
Szmodics scored his second goal in as many games here in what was another demonstration of his prowess in front of goal. The link-up with play with Carlton Morris was excellent, but the quality of his finish was even better. He made it look easy, but then good strikers always do.
His contribution to this game, considering he was nursing a thigh problem that he picked up in the warm-up, was excellent. There was plenty of selfless running, an ability to switch play and his goal was just reward for his effort.
There had been murmurs from fans about why the club were bringing him back after his loan spell last season didn't quite have the impact many had hoped for. But there were mitigating circumstances, given he was playing catch-up with his fitness for the first two months after suffering a knee injury at Ipswich.
But he has returned to Derby this summer with a hunger that could well make him the scourge of Championship defences once again. He had to come off here and finished the afternoon with strapping on his thigh, but Eustace will hope it's not serious given how well the forward has been playing.
Clarke and Murkin loss is a double blow
One of the major issues with last season was the amount of injuries that Derby had to endure which ultimately proved a major headache for Eustace to manage.
There were times when there were so many players out that pre-match press conferences became a lengthy checklist. Derby need a kind hand if they are to repeat their success of last season, but already there are problems to deal with and to two key players.
Matt Clarke didn't make this game because of a calf problem and he could be out for up to four weeks. Derry Murkin, who had minor surgery due to a back injury, was on the verge of a return and was named in the under-21s team to face Hull City on Friday night.
But the left-back suffered a hamstring injury and now looks to face another period on the sidelines. With Patrick Agyemang not due to return until the winter, that's three bonafide starters who make a real difference to the team when they're available.
You just hope that there aren't any more nasty surprises around the corner.
Mowatt and stating the obvious
Alex Mowatt came on after 54 minutes following his arrival from West Brom on Friday and there were flashes of why the club has been so key to sign him. He looks after the ball incredibly well and once he is fully up to speed with the patterns of play, will be a huge asset for the time he is here.
He's not the quickest by any stretch of the imagination but it was hard to recall him misplacing a pass in the time he was on the pitch. That said, there are still areas the club needs to address in the market and the lack of pace is a real issue.
Corey Blackett-Taylor's introduction livened Derby up on the left, while Charlton's Tyreece Campbell was a real nuisance throughout the afternoon. He gave Sondre Langas some considerable problems, and his finish for the goal was impressive even if he did benefit from some charitable defending.
But he was a good outlet for them throughout. Such was his pace that he could turn bad passes into good ones and that's what players of his ilk give you. It was the same with Jaydon Banel at Derby last season. Imagine what two good wingers would do for this team with a passer like Mowatt.
It has to be the aim before the window shuts.