Просмотр новости
Найдите то, что Вас интересует
Спутники
РН
SpaceX
Роскосмос
NASA
СпутникиРНSpaceXРоскосмосNASADerby County began their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory at Alfreton Town as Leigh Curtis brings you his talking points from the Impact Arena
08:29, 18 Jul 2026Updated 08:29, 18 Jul 2026
Goals from Joe Ward and Bobby Clark ensured Derby County kicked off their pre-season campaign with a victory against non-league Alfreton Town.
Head coach John Eustace named a strong first XI at the Impact Arena, and Derby's quality proved too much for the non-league side, who are managed by Derby favourite Jake Buxton.
Ward opened the scoring when Ryan Hedges, who is training with Derby after his exit from Blackburn, teased a delicious cross to the back post from which the winger buried a header into the net.
The lead was doubled when Hedges found Carlton Morris, whose clever ball around the corner picked out the run of Bobby Clark, who applied a cool finish.
The only downside to the first half was an injury to Hedges, who appeared to jar his ankle while attempting to bring the ball under control.
Eustace sent out a completely different team in the second half, which contained a smattering of the first-team squad with Lars-Jorgen Salvesen and Kenzo Goudmijn among them.
Derby's goal was under little threat, but Richard O'Donnell did make a terrific save to deny Charlie Finney before Salvesen was denied at the other end.
Up and running
It does feel as if there is a lot of emphasis based on performances in pre-season when in reality, it's just about fitness and making sure you avoid any injuries to key players that could dramatically alter any transfer plans. As far as pre-season assignments go, then, this was a straightforward night as Derby brushed off the cobwebs from the summer's break and came through it unscathed in the process.
John Eustace named a different team in each half with the first-team playing the opening 45 during which time the game was sewn up before the break. Joe Ward's thumping header and a smart finish by Bobby Clark made it 2-0 on a difficult pitch before the academy and a smattering of fringe first-team players took over after the interval.
There will be assignments that will prove more taxing this summer, but as far as curtain-raisers for the summer goes, it was all rather comfortable which is how Eustace would have wanted it to be.
Hedges makes an impact
Ryan Hedges is training with Derby after his release from Blackburn at the end of last season and it's a move that will suit both parties. Derby are very light on numbers out wide, and Hedges needs to keep himself in shape just in case the phone rings as a free agent. While there is no expectation that he will be handed a contract by Derby, he didn't let his time on the pitch go to waste. He was one of the standout players in the first half, culminating in a wonderful cross that led to Ward's opening goal. He also had a hand in the second, which ended with Carlton Morris receiving his pass and teeing up Clark.
He was happy to come into a central position when required and always tried to get Derby moving. The only drawback was that he was forced off before half-time after appearing to jar his ankle when attempting to control a ball in the centre circle.
It didn't look too serious, and the expectation is that he will head to Austria. He will be needed too, as the lack of senior wide players needs addressing. The sooner, the better.
Bobby dazzler
When you watch Bobby Clark dart around midfield, and he does it with a great deal of panache, the £6m Derby paid to sign him from RB Salzburg looks an absolute snip. It's hard to think of a transfer that has taken place in the Championship this summer that can rival it in terms of a) the cost and b) the quality.
He has Champions League experience, he's won a trophy at the highest level and ordinarily those factors alone would put millions on a pricetag. But somehow Derby managed to get him for £6m. To put that into context, Ethan Galbraith cost Stoke City £4m more. And yet Clark has been through the Liverpool academy, moved to Europe and was one of the standout young players in the Championship last season.
It really is a hell of a deal when you think about it, and at 21, he's not even at his peak. Eustace was desperate to bring him back, and for good reason - he's just a very clever footballer. He certainly enjoyed himself last night as he popped the ball about and took his goal well following a cute pass from Morris. There's still so much more to come from him too which is a mouth-watering prospect.
Good to see Crolla on his feet
Luca Crolla was one of the academy players sent on at half-time, and the young centre-back certainly acquitted himself well, producing one of the best tackles of the game in the second half just as Alfreton sensed there might be an opening.
But he was involved in a sickening clash of heads towards the end of the game when it quickly became apparent that he was not in
Derby's medical staff immediately got to work on the touchline and were eventually aided by a couple of ambulance staff. There was a fair degree of concern as he was tended to after the final whistle, while the senior players stuck around to make sure he was okay.
He eventually got back to his feet, which was a huge relief on a night when the young defender showcased why Derby are excited by his potential.