Derby County were left stunned by a Josh Windass wondergoal as Sheffield Wednesday ensured the Rams made a miserable start to 2025 with a 4-2 win at Hillsborough.
Derby struggled to find their rhythm and range early on and it just took nine minutes for them to be punished as Djeidi Gassama beat Sonny Bradley for pace before prodding into the path of Shea Charles. He just managed to keep the ball in play and cut it back for Barry Bannan who slid in a simple finish. Derby summoned a response as they began to pose a threat from set-pieces.
Kane Wilson headed over from virtually underneath the crossbar before Nat Phillips saw James Beadle keep his header out on the line. The chances kept coming as Wilson lashed over the bar. But the best chance came before half-time when Kenzo Goudmijn whipped a cross to the back post for Jerry Yates who somehow hit the post from three yards.
Warne made three changes at the break as Liam Thompson, Callum Elder and Dajaune Brown were all sent on to try to help the Rams find an equaliser. But Jacob Widell Zetterstrom had to be alert when he kept out a Shea Charles shot from distance before Brown saw a shot saved by Beadle. Gassama then hit the post for Wednesday before they made it 2-0 when substitute Josh Windass lobbed Zetterstrom from inside his own half.
Before Derby could gather their senses Gassama made it 3-0 as he showed too much pace for the defence before Yates made it 3-1 with a tap in from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s cross. Substitute Anthony Musaba made it 4-1 when he slotted in at the second attempt. Ebou Adams made it 4-2 at the death with a sweet strike on the volley.
Jacob Widell Zetterstrom: Annoyed the natives when he went down early on for treatment, which allowed for a tactical briefing. Quite why he was so far off his line for the Windass goal only he knows. 4.5
Kane Wilson: The most vibrant attacking outlet as his fine form continued. Showed courage to take players on and could have scored when he headed over in the first half. In spectacular form at present. 6
Nat Phillips: The on-loan Liverpool defender continues to look a class act and he was solid here at Hillsborough, didn’t really put a foot wrong and used his experience to good effect. Didn’t deserve a 4-2 loss. 6
Curtis Nelson: Must have wondered what on earth was happening after the break because none of the goals can be attributed to him. Derby turned the ball over and they got done on the counter. 5
Sonny Bradley: Hasn’t started since Luton and it showed at times. Was beaten for pace by Gassama for the first goal and couple of passes went astray. Won headers but looked off the pace. 3.5
Craig Forsyth: The long-serving Scott had loads of space down his flank and patiently waited for a switch that never came. Lack of pace when moved to centre-back was an issue. 4.5
Ebou Adams: Won his tackles, played a couple nice balls out wide and you can always bank on him to do the job he is assigned. But he can’t do it all on his own. Scored a decent goal. 6
Kenzo Goudmijn: Had a rough 15 minutes but grew into the game and created a great chance for Jerry Yates from which he should have scored. Got muscled off the ball in a couple of situations. 4.5
Marcus Harness: Along with the team, suffered in the first quarter of an hour before Derby settled. Work on the ball could have been tidier and he was hooked at half-time. 3.5
Jerry Yates: Only he knows how he managed to hit the woodwork from about three yards after a Goudmijn cross. Did pull a goal back in the second half but damage was already done. 4.5
Kayden Jackson: The striker had one or two moments but it was enough to convince Warne to make a change at the break as he rang the changes in a bid to find a goal. 3.5
Subs
Callum Elder (Bradley 45): The Australian struggled to make an impact. 3
Dajaune Brown (Jackson 45): Could have scored in the second half. 4
Liam Thompson (Harness 45): Just couldn’t match the pace of the game. 3
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Goudmijn 66): Set up the goal for Yates. 3.5
Tom Barkhuizen (Wilson 73): Didn’t do much to unsettle Wednesday. 3
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