Derby County risk wasn’t worth taking as summer signing slots in amid Paul Warne transfer wish
A late goal from Sonny Bradley ensured Derby County sealed victory over Stockport County on their pre-season camp in Spain.
Played over the course of three 30 minute periods at the Pinatar Arena, and in stifling temperatures touching 40c, Bradley had the final say of a gruelling encounter when he headed in Ben Osborn’s corner.
Up until that point both sides had found the conditions tough with Derby including all of their summer signings. They did have some promising openings through Corey Blackett-Taylor who couldn’t convert a Kane Wilson cross while Jerry Yates also steered wide..
There were a couple of moments when he cleverly used his body to spread play out wide and once he settles into his surroundings, he will be such a useful asset. There were a couple of times he got caught in possession as Stockport went full man for man marking but they were the only blots on an impressive performance.
He looks a very technically adept midfield player and for the price Derby paid for him, it could well very be a bargain.
Forsyth shows his class
there is always the chance that playing with such combativeness that you are at risk of a blow or two.
That’s what proved here as he took one for the team which meant he had to leave the game early. It was only a precaution, but it was exactly the right thing to do. There’s no point taking risks in pre-season especially with a player who will be integral to Derby’s hopes next season.
The defender slotted into the back three rather than a full-back position and was that a hint at what we can expect next season or was it just an experiment for pre-season?
Either way, Nyambe proved that if he is to be played in the back three next season then he can certainly handle himself at centre-back. He barely put a foot wrong in the time he was on the pitch and as Derby County’s head coach Paul Warne has often said since his arrival he is a bonafide Championship defender.
