Derby County: Paul Warne needs solution to big issue that cost points v Plymouth Argyle
Derby County came into the international break fresh off a very annoying 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle at home.
For the first time since he left the Rams in the summer of 2022 after the team was relegated to League One, former manager Wayne Rooney was welcomed back to Pride Park.
The Pilgrims manager was greeted with great warmth by his former fans, but it could have been even more affectionate if his new team hadn’t saved a point in DE24 with a deflected free kick from Adam Randell shortly before halftime.
On a chilly East Midlands afternoon, Derby had already established a commanding lead less than ten minutes into the match. A superbly timed bicycle kick from Jerry Yates had given Derby their second goal in as many games.
Paul Warne’s team had to settle for a point because the Rams lacked a clinical edge in front of goal, and they failed to get the winner in the second half despite relentless pressure from the home team.
Warne should be annoyed at the lack of conviction in Derby’s attacks
This season, Derby hasn’t been the more dominant team in a game too frequently. Usually, the East Midlands team is under a lot of pressure from their opponents, but against Plymouth, they were in the lead the entire time.
The Rams got out to a very strong start, and shortly after Yates’ spectacular goal, Liam Thompson nearly doubled his team’s advantage before being stopped by a block from Matthew Sorinola of Argyle.
The home team found it more difficult to overcome the Devonshire team’s tenacious defensive after the break, though, as the fast-paced football seemed to slow down.
Yates had two chances to give Derby the lead back in the second half, with Daniel Grimshaw narrowly denying his first attempt. The custodian slammed into the post to stop the Swansea City loanee’s attempt to catch his old Blackpool teammate out after he hit the ball from beyond the halfway line.
Thompson won the ball shortly before it was sent out for a goal kick, allowing Yates to take too long to release his shot before it was cleared.
Although Curtis Nelson came close with a header, the Rams wasted two points as they huffed and puffed for the rest of the game. Most of their chances were blocked or went wide.
Warne can not let this happen again
This Derby squad has a few vulnerabilities that need to be addressed immediately, even though it may only appear like two points were lost.
With Warne’s team having the second-lowest average possession percentage in the Championship thus far in 2024–2025, the Rams appear to be more at ease without the ball than when they do.
| Derby County Stats v Plymouth Argyle (FotMob) | |
|---|---|
| Possession | 53% |
| xG | 1.09 |
| Shots (On Target) | 20 (4) |
| Pass Accuracy | 75% |
| Fouls Commited | 7 |
| Corners | 8 |
| Shots Inside Box (Outside) | 13 (7) |
They have a tendency to make the most of what little they have, and therefore playing the ball about the box is not part of their repertory. However, they need to get more comfortable controlling the contest.
Derby doesn’t have a lot of shots on goal, but when they do have plenty of chances, like against Plymouth, they can’t afford to let them pass since the points they lost prevented them from moving out of the bottom three.
