Derby County pulled off an upset victory at Huddersfield Town to start life under Phillip Cocu with a win.
Tom Lawrence scored twice from outside the penalty area in the opening 25 minutes to lead Derby on their way. Karlan Grant scored a consolation from the penalty spot on half hour as the recently relegated Premier League side failed to cause Kelle Roos to many problems in the Derby goal.
Here are EFL Matters’ player ratings from Huddersfield Town 1-2 Derby County:
Huddersfield Town
Kamil Grabara 6 – Didn’t get anything on his header to lay the ball into Tom Lawrence’s path for Derby’s opener. Made a fine save to deny Martyn Waghorn shortly before half-time.
Florent Hadergjonaj 5 – Although not directly at fault for either goal, Tom Lawrence did tear Florent Hadergjonaj apart in the first half. Offered width down the right wing in the second half.
Christopher Schindler 7 – Would have expected to score from two yards out at the start of the second half. Couldn’t have done anything about Derby’s opener and allowed Derby’s attack nothing in the second half.
Tommy Elphick 6 – Awful mistake to gift Derby an early lead after a spell when Huddersfield had been well on top. The visitors were kept at bay after scoring their second.
Terence Kongolo 8 – Kept fellow countryman Florent Jozefzoon quiet all evening.
Aaron Mooy 7 – Was either winning possession back for his side or conceding free kicks. Saw a powerful effort go narrowly wide in the second half.
Juninho Bacuna 7 – Energetic first half before limping off on the hour mark. Juninho Bacuna’s movement caused Derby’s defence a lot of problems which included winning their penalty. Let himself with his finishing though.
Jonathan Hogg 7 – Kept the ball ticking over in midfield as Huddersfield controlled possession in the second half.
Adama Diakhaby 5 – Missed an excellent opportunity at the start of the game and didn’t have his shooting boots on in general this evening. Replaced midway through the second half.
Karlan Grant 7 – Some good movement and good touches but didn’t get fed the ball enough. Converted a first-half penalty.
Alex Pritchard 6 – Picked up the ball in good positions outside Derby’s penalty area but failed to test Kelle Roos.
Substitutes
Isaac Mbenza (30 mins) 5 – Failed to dribble past Richard Keogh one-on-one which would have got him in one-on-one down the left.
Elias Kachunga (25 mins) N/A – Missed a sitter from eight yards out in the final quarter-of-an-hour.
Collin Quaner (2 mins) N/A – Late substitute but didn’t get a chance to be a late hero.
Derby County
Kelle Roos 7 – Fantastic save to deny Christopher Schindler at the start of the second half. The only other effort Huddersfield had on target was Karlan Grant’s penalty.
Jayden Bogle 5 – Was caught out of position a number of times as Juninho Bacuna in particular found a lot of time and space in and around the penalty area. Looked a bit more reassured in the final half hour when he sat back.
Richard Keogh 9 – Caught of position a couple of times but also made a couple of important interceptions and blocks to keep Huddersfield at bay, particularly when the numbers didn’t look good for his side.
Matthew Clarke 7 – Made a crucial challenge to deny Adama Diakhaby one-on-one in the opening moments of the game. Aside from their penalty, Huddersfield’s only other effort on target came from a corner.
Scott Malone 5 – Gave Huddersfield too much time and space down the wing. Got sucked inside for a cross that allowed Elias Kachunga a free effort on goal from eight yards in the final 12 minutes.
George Evans 7 – Tidy in possession and won the ball back fr his side a number of times, playing alongside Tom Huddlestone in front of the back four.
Tom Huddlestone 7 – Clever in possession and did a good job in protecting his back four.
Kieran Dowell 4 – Didn’t get on the ball too much at all in the first half and when he did Kieran Dowell was giving it away. Beaten too easy by Juninho Bacuna and reacted by conceding a penalty that got the hosts back into the game. Surprised the Everton loanee lasted as long as 87 minutes before he was benched.
Florian Jozefzoon 5 – Saw little of the ball and didn’t do anything of note. Subbed in the final 20 minutes.
Martyn Waghorn 7 – Good positioning inside the penalty area. Was denied twice in the first half.
Tom Lawrence 10 – Looked up for the game from kick off and scored twice from outside the penalty area in the first half. Tom Lawrence was excellent cutting in from the left, causing Huddersfield numerous problems. Worked very hard off the ball in the second half in a man of the match performance as Derby caused an upset on Monday night.
Substitutes
Mason Bennett (17 mins) N/A – Late introduction as a counter-attack threat but barely saw a touch of the ball.
Jason Knight (3 mins) N/A – Late substitute appearance for the teenage midfielder.
