This will be a tricky match, but they did have some good fortune against Huddersfield. Huddersfield made a lot of mistakes and in this case there are mistakes and then there is the first goal for Derby.
For those who havent seen anything of the match, From a ball punted high down the Derby right, the Huddersfield full back in plenty of space in line with the penalty area and no pressure, instead of heading the ball, seemed to let it hit his shoulder so it went up in the air towards the middle of the pitch Just outside of the penalty box. The goalie rushes out of his box and heads the ball, poorly straight to Tom Lawrence about 5 yards in front of him. The goalie continues to rush out towards Lawrence, who calmly controlled the ball with one touch and exexcuted a lovely chip over the keeper and the defenders running back towards goal, and into the empty net.
Tom Lawrence ran the show for Derby and his second goal was really excellent, worth a watch. He had a few good long range shots so we will need to close him down early.
All the good moves came through Lawrence and their young right full back Bogle looked good. Most of the attacks came centrally, and were counterattacks.
Huddersfield did dominate possession and came back into the game part way through the firsthalf, but squandered a few good chances, one or two should really have gone in, especially in the second half.
You never know what to expect so early in the season, but we will need to be strong on the right of midfield and defence to close Lawrence down who tends to play left attacking midfield.
No one else looked in his league, although Matt Clarke at CB looked reasonable.
I dont know how we will play away from home this season but I hope we continue and improve the performance during the second half on Saturday into the match on Saturday. Nothing to fear, but certainly reasons to be careful, as they will be riding on a high following their win and the Rooney announcement.