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СпутникиРНSpaceXРоскосмосNASADerby County beat Mansfield Town in their latest pre-season assignment last night and here Leigh Curtis looks at the major talking points
Derby County secured a pre-season friendly win over Mansfield Town as second-half goals from youngsters Charlie Smith and Cruz Allen helped seal a 3-1 victory.
In a team largely made up of fringe first-team and academy players, with the rest of the squad on duty at Burton Albion on Saturday, Derby took the lead when Dajaune Brown converted a fine cross from Lars-Jorgen Salvesen.
But Stags had enough quality to cause John Eustace's side trouble and they equalised when Michael Smith was released on the right-hand side.
The striker, a one-time Derby target, chopped the ball onto his left foot and curled an effort past the outstretched Josh Vickers, who then had to make a terrific save to deny the dangerous David McGoldrick before the break.
After the interval, Smith came close to a second when he rattled the bar from a corner before Owen Eames charged forward from the centre of midfield to set-up Salvesen who shot straight at Lewis.
After a quiet first half, chances were coming at both ends as Vickers dived to thwart McGoldrick's drive from outside the box before Derby took the lead when Charlie Smith found the bottom corner with a lovely strike from 20 yards.
You sensed there were further goals to come and Derby gave themselves some daylight when Allen steered past Harris after good work from Corey Blackett-Taylor.
Here are all the talking points from last night....
An enjoyable evening
Pre-season games are, by and large, not the most entertaining spectacles, a dress rehearsal for the real show that begins later this month. But this was a game that certainly bucked the trend of numerous changes, players going through the motions and teams not exactly too fussed with the outcome.
But there was lots of competitive fire here at the One Call Stadium, where there was plenty of snap, crackle and pop. John Eustace named a team largely made up of academy players and supplemented by those on the fringes of the first team. Mansfield went strong with a side packed full of Football League experience, headed up by the familiar sight of David McGoldrick, once a member of this parish.
Those looking at the team sheet may have anticipated that experience would be too much for youth. What followed told us otherwise. Having been given a chance to leave an impression on John Eustace, the academy players didn't pass up the opportunity. All three goals came from the boots of those educated at Moor Farm, among some impressive performances from what Derby will hope will be the next generation.
Dajaune Brown, Charlie Smith and Cruz Allen all scored on the night, and while it finished 3-1, Mansfield did hit the woodwork twice. The second half in particular was a treat with chances at both ends, crunching tackles and plenty of spirit. It was an exciting glimpse of the talent coming through on the production line, and some look as though they are ready for loan moves, which will only help them further develop.
Eames the wildcard
While the likes of Tristan Gill, Rio Canoville, Allen and Smith enjoyed themselves, Owen Eames' performance shone like a beacon on a hazy summer night.
Derby are excited by the midfielder's potential, having already made his first-team bow in the Championship, and he has also announced himself by training exactly as he plays. There is something incredibly intoxicating about watching him because he always wants to play and run forward, he's got good pace, and he's not afraid to take players on.
He left his mark on this game, underscoring once more that he's certainly going to be in and around the first team. It's highly unlikely that he will start when the season gets underway, but as a wildcard option, he could give teams a real problem against tiring legs.
He looks to have bulked up over the summer, while there's obviously more to come in terms of his footballing development. All the raw attributes are there, so as long as he keeps listening, learning and playing without fear, he's got a very bright career ahead of him.
Thompson's transfer is on the cards
There was no Liam Thompson last night, and that is because his move to Mansfield is inching closer to a conclusion. The Stags have tracked him all summer, but the deal had to be put on ice while Derby headed to Austria, where Thompson was among the travelling party.
The deal is now back on, and it's more of a case of when, not if, the move is completed. Nigel Clough did not mention Thompson by name when asked about a midfielder coming in, but he hopes to wrap it up within the next 48 hours.
"I keep saying we are close, but I think we are," he said. "We will try to conclude a deal over the weekend because it's been dragging on for a little bit now. We will do our best to get it concluded as soon as we can, and that, unless somebody goes, will complete the squad."
Should Thompson complete the move, it will end his long association with the club where he came through the ranks to break into the first team under Wayne Rooney. But with first-team opportunities going to be limited, he can't really afford to sit another season playing the odd game here or waiting to come on from the bench.
He's 24 now and needs to be playing week in, and week out, particularly as he's out of contract at Derby next summer. The club won't stand in his way, but he's been a brilliant servant. He just gets on with the job with the minimum of fuss. He leaves having played his part in Derby's promotion back to the Championship, and his celebrations with supporters in the city after the promotion was secured earned him cult status among many fans. That contribution will never be forgotten.
A true maestro
David McGoldrick only spent one season at Derby, but the quality he demonstrated on a regular basis in the 2022/23 season was enough to make him a firm favourite on the terraces. It's incredibly rare for any player to be so highly revered after just 12 months, but that is a testament to what he delivered under Paul Warne as Derby just missed out on the playoffs.
He subsequently moved on to Notts County and then Barnsley, but now finds himself at Mansfield, where, at the age of 38, his brain is still light-years ahead of others'. He's a remarkable footballer, somebody who sees the pictures quickly and finds space when others only see congestion.
He was serenaded by the away end last night with chants of 'oh David McGoldrick', which was lovely to hear. On this evidence, he looks as though he could play on until he's 40. His footballing IQ is essentially McGoldrick's own fountain of youth.
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