Derby County experienced a tough defeat against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, with a final score of 4-2. The match saw Tyrhys Dolan scoring the first goal for the hosts, which was later equalized by Curtis Nelson, giving hope to the Rams. However, Blackburn’s substitutions, Andi Weimann, Sammie Szomodics, and Yuki Osahi, turned the game around, securing the victory for their team.
Blackburn started off strong, with Makhtar Gueye missing a chance early on. Although Derby had some moments in possession, they lacked a cutting edge in the final third. The breakthrough for Blackburn came when Lewis Travis capitalized on some defensive errors by Derby, setting up Dolan for the opening goal.
Derby fought back, with Nelson scoring a header to level the score. However, defensive lapses allowed Blackburn to regain the lead, with Weimann and Szmodics finding the back of the net. Osashi sealed the victory for Blackburn with a clever finish, leaving Derby with a late consolation goal by Kane Wilson.
In terms of player ratings, Josh Vickers had a decent game despite conceding four goals. Wilson scored from a set-piece and showed moments of brightness going forward. Nelson had an intriguing battle with Gueye and scored a crucial goal, but was disappointed with the defending. Eiran Cashin had a rash performance, going to ground too often. Callum Elder displayed clever link-up play but was part of a defensive unit that struggled. Kenzo Goudmijn grew into the game and showed quality in passing, while Ben Osborn covered a lot of ground in his senior debut.
David Ozoh should have done better defensively, while Mendez-Laing showed flashes of excellence in his play. Jackson worked hard but lacked goal-scoring opportunities. Barkhuizen was eager to make an impact but was unable to convert his chances, ultimately going off injured.
Overall, Derby County faced a tough lesson in the Championship against Blackburn Rovers, highlighting areas for improvement in their upcoming matches. The team will need to work on their defensive organization and attacking efficiency to secure better results in the future.