No excuse for double shambles as key Derby County moment sneaks under the radar

Craig Forsyth of Derby County scores against Norwich City
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Borja Sainz scored a hat-trick as Norwich City ended Derby County's 1 00 per cent home record with a 3-2 victory at Pride Park.

Derby had actually made a bright start and could and perhaps should have been in front in the opening minutes when a wonderful move carved open the visitors.

It started with Yates flicking a pass into the feet of Osborn who found the run of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing whose cross to the back post was met by Kayden Jackson who scuffed wide of the post.

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Jerry Yates then had a chance from a set-piece although he was in an offside position as Derby continued to search for a breakthrough. But Norwich started to show a threat themselves although their best chances came from Derby's mistakes.

After Borja Sainz fired inches wide from a corner, a rogue pass from Osborn was cut out by Sainz whose shot ended up being pushed over the bar by Jacob Widell Zetterstrom. Eiran Cashin then thwarted Josh Sargent with a last-ditch tackle before the Canaries had their breakthrough. Another mistake by Derby in possession was pounced on which ended up leading to Sargent crossing for Sainz although the ball had clearly run out of play.

Sainz flicked the ball into the net but despite Derby's protests the goal stood. But Warne's side fought back after the break and they drew level when Craig Forsyth smashed in superbly from a corner. Just as Derby sensed the tide was about to turn however, Sainz smashed in an excellent shot from the edge of the box to make it 2-1.

Eiran Cashin nearly conjured up a spectacular equaliser with a 30-yard strike that hit the bar before Sainz grabbed his hat-trick although that was marred in controversy as the ball had gone out of play. Substitute Corey Blackett-Taylor made it 3-2 in injury time and Jackson was denied by Angus Gunn as Derby pushed for an equaliser which ultimately didn't arrive.

Here are all the major talking points from Saturday's game

No excuse for Sargent shambles

There can be no dispute that being a referee or an assistant these days is a tough gig given how quick the game is. But that is still no excuse for the total shambles of a decision that gifted Norwich City their opening goal.

Everybody inside the stadium could tell that the ball was out when Josh Sargent crossed for Borja Sainz - apart from the assistant whose job it is to spot such crucial moments. TV replays merely confirmed just what everybody knew and it was not as if the ball was out by a couple of centrimetres. If it had been then we could have perhaps allowed him some respite.

But when it's half a yard, there is no defence and it was one of the worst clangers seen at Pride Park in recent times. And if that wasn't bad enough, and with the score at 2-1 and Derby pushing for another equaliser, the ball was out of play again as Norwich started the move to score the decisive third as Sainz went on to complete his hat-trick. For the officials to make one mistake as bad as the Sargent decision is bad enough, to make two is inexcusable. And when you've invested as much energy into the game as Derby did, you can only feel sympathy for the players because it felt particularly cruel.

A bit more care

Within the opening minutes, Derby had created a gilt-edged chance with a wonderful move that, had it ended with a goal, would have been one of the finest scored in the Paul Warne era.

Unfortunately, Kayden Jackson scuffed his effort wide of the post when he perhaps had enough time to take a touch. It was comfortably Derby's best move in a game in which they emptied the tank and they went toe to toe with a team that has spent a fair bit of cash this summer.

But if there was one aspect that will prove a source of frustration from a black-and-white perspective, it was the lack of accuracy when it came to their work in and around the final third. There were a lot of promising situations that just needed a bit more care, perfectly demonstrated by one pass from Kayden Jackson who pulled a pass behind Jerry Yates on the edge of the box in the second half.

That is something Derby can work on moving forwards and if they can just tidy up those moments, they will pose even more of a threat.

Forsyth never lets you down

Callum Elder's injury was regarded as a blow given how well he had started the season and the athleticism he provides at left-back. But Craig Forsyth continues to age like a fine wine and his performance here was excellent.

Considering he has not had many minutes this season, the longest serving player in the squad quickly dispelled any fears that he would be a little rusty on his first start in the Championship this season.

On what was his 300th league appearance, it was fitting that he should haul Derby level with a thumping finish as he latched onto a knockdown from Curtis Nelson. He has been a tremendous servant to Derby and just never lets you down. He must be an absolute dream for a manager because he does all the right things and is certainly the ideal role model for any young pro.

Blackett-Taylor makes his mark

Amid all the post-match hoo-ha regarding the officials, Corey Blackett-Taylor's first goal for the club snuck largely under the radar.

But it was the kind of goal that we were used to seeing at Charlton which is the reason why Warne had made him one of his top transfer targets. Since then, Blackett-Taylor's career at Derby has yet to really take off although he did produce an outstanding performance in a 2-2 draw at Portsmouth last season when he was unplayable.

But consistently being able to reproduce that level of performance has eluded him and there have been a couple of injuries here and there that have thwarted his progress. He still has a lot to do to get in this team on a regular basis but now he has broken his duck, that hopefully might just kickstart his season. And if it does, then that will give Warne another valuable weapon in his armoury.

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