Huddersfield Town 1, Derby County 2
Former Manchester United starlet Tom Lawrence scored a first half double against Huddersfield Town to inflict an opening day defeat on the Terriers.
Embed from Getty ImagesLawrence’s double punished a Terriers side, who were still playing like season’s relegated Premier League side, to inflict a 13th defeat in 16 games for Jan Siewert as Town boss.
Despite pulling a goal back through Karlan Grant’s spot kick the Terriers also missed a late chance to equalise through Elias Kachunga but they looked short of creativity and incisiveness in the final third.
Town had shed half a dozen players since the end of their Premier League campaign – the most high profile of whom was Philip Billing – and were also without their Benin international striker Steve Mounie after his stint in the African Cup of Nations.
Kamil Grabara and defender Tommy Elphick both made their debuts for the club but both players had games to forget.
Last season’s defeated play-off finalists Derby County had a new manager, Phillip Cocu, and the former Dutch international was tipped to get the Rams close to the Championship summit this season although his team arrived at the John Smith’s Stadium with a host of injury doubts.
They fielded ex-Manchester City player George Evans in a deep midfield role but it was Tom Lawrence who caught the eye on a night when another former Everton and Manchester United alumni was linked with the Rams.
Wayne Rooney linked with move to Derby County
Wayne Rooney had been linked to a player/coach role at Pride Park but Lawrence put in a match winning performance in the first half that Rooney, now with DC United in MLS, would have been proud of.
The ex-Manchester United winger could have won a first minute penalty after his run into the Town area saw the ball appear to come off Elphick’s hand.
Lawrence also had free kick chances as Town failed to make the best of their narrow escape while Town’s French winger Adama Diakhaby was thwarted by a well timed tackle by Matthew Clarke as he outpaced everyone to latch onto a through ball.
Diakhaby went on to win a couple of corners with positive play but the Terriers paid the price for some slack defending Lawrence scored a quickfire double to to set the Rams on their way.
He chipped the ball into the empty net after gobbling up a poor headed clearance by Kamil Grabara after a calamitous attempt to clear the ball by Elphick and then stroked the ball home after exchanging passes with Jayden Bogle to stun the home team.
Town were slow to take advantage of the few chances that came their way, with Adama Diakhaby forcing a few corners, and Alex Pritchard curling a shot over the bar between Lawrence’s double strike.
They did convert a penalty after Juninho Bacuna was hauled down in the area but in truth the Rams were all over the Terriers and Martin Waghorn could have restored their 2-goal lead after Florian Jozefzoon had crossed the ball to him.
Roos saved from Chris Schindler after the break and Aaron Mooy drilled a low shot wide with Roos beaten as the Terriers came out with more intent but little end product.
Grabara’s poor debut wasn’t over, as he clattered Terence Kongolo as the pair converged to clear a Derby ball into the area with 15 minutes to go as Town failed to capitalise on their brief second wind.
Elias Kachunga had been on the pitch barely 10 minutes when he blazed a late golden chance to equalise over the bar after a Kongolo cross fell to him but Town couldn’t find the equaliser against a Derby side that were hanging on stoutly by this point.
GOALS – Huddersfield Town 1, Derby County 2
Huddersfield Town 0, Derby County 1: 22. Tom Lawrence chipped the opening goal after a calamitous attempted clearance off his shoulder by Tommy Elphick drew Kamil Grabara off his line but his header fell only as far as Lawrence who gobbled up the chance from 25 yards and chipped it into the empty net.
Huddersfield Town 0, Derby County 2: 25. Tom Lawrence makes it 2-0 after exchanging passes with Jayden Bogle and, in plenty of space, placed the ball past Grabara and his static defence.
Huddersfield Town 1, Derby County 2: 30. Juninho Bacuna turned Kieran Dowell and was hauled down by the Derby man as he tried to go past him for a penalty. Karlan Grant placed the spot kick into the bottom right corner to beat Kelle Roos and half the deficit.
MATCH STATS – Huddersfield Town 1, Derby County 2
Huddersfield Town: Grabara, Hadergjonaj, Elphick, Schindler (C), Kongolo, Hogg, Bacuna (Mbenza 62), Mooy, Diakhaby (Kachunga 67), Pritchard, Grant (Quaner 89)
Huddersfield Town Subs: Schofield, Bockhorn, Quaner, Stankovic, O’Brien
Goal: Grant pen 30
Derby County: Roos, Bogle, Keogh (C), Clarke, Malone, Evans, Huddlestone, Jozefzoon (Bennett 74), Dowell (Knight 87), Lawrence, Waghorn
Derby County Subs: Mitchell, Shinnie, Marriott, Lowe, Davies, Knight
Goals: Lawrence 22, 25
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
Attendance: 22,596 (1863 visitors)