Derby County moved within two points of the Championship play-off places after a hard-fought 2-1 victory at lowly Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night. Back-to-back away wins under John Eustace highlight the Rams’ growing consistency on the road, with a mix of tactical discipline and decisive finishing proving key.
Derby’s breakthrough came in the 17th minute. Patrick Agyemang, continuing his rich vein of form, slalomed past two defenders and drove into the six-yard box. His low cross forced Macaulay Gillesphey into an unfortunate own goal, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Charlton had early chances, particularly through new signing Lyndon Dykes, but Derby’s defence and goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell making his first Championship appearance since May 2017 kept them at bay. Derby forwards Ben Brereton Díaz and Corey Blackett-Taylor both went close before half-time, with Blackett-Taylor denied by Thomas Kaminski after a clean break.
The Rams doubled their advantage on the hour with a well-worked team goal. Agyemang and Bobby Clark the latter on loan from RB Salzburg exchanged passes before Brereton Díaz found Clark, who finished calmly past Kaminski. Derby appeared in control until Tyreece Campbell reignited home hopes with a fierce strike from outside the box that rattled the post and left O’Donnell with no chance.
The final stages were tense. Matt Clarke received a second yellow card in the 85th minute, reducing Derby to ten men. Charlton pushed hard for an equaliser, but the Rams defended resolutely, with O’Donnell making crucial saves, including a near-post stop from a Gillesphey free-kick, to secure the victory.
The win lifts Derby into 10th place, just two points shy of the play-off places, while Charlton remain four points above the relegation zone.
Derby operated in a disciplined 4-2-3-1 shape. Craig Forsyth and Joe Ward functioned as full-backs, offering defensive security while supporting attacks. David Ozoh and Liam Thompson formed a double pivot, shielding the back four and allowing the team to recycle possession efficiently.
Upfront, Patrick Agyemang acted as a physical focal point, supported by Ben Brereton Díaz, Bobby Clark, and Corey Blackett-Taylor operating between the lines. This setup allowed Derby to exploit transitions effectively, with Agyemang’s movement pulling defenders out of position and creating space for Clark and Brereton Díaz to attack on the break.
Even after Clarke’s dismissal, Derby maintained a compact defensive structure, with Ozoh and Thompson protecting central areas and limiting Charlton’s chances.
Charlton countered with a 3-1-4-2 system, using a back three of Macaulay Gillesphey, Lloyd Jones, and Reece Burke, with Conor Coventry as a defensive anchor. The midfield four of Tyreece Campbell, Jayden Anderson, Joe Carey, and Kayne Ramsay aimed to dominate possession and supply the front two, Miles Leaburn and Lyndon Dykes.
While this structure allowed Charlton to generate moments particularly through Campbell it left exploitable spaces in wide and central transition areas. Derby capitalised ruthlessly on these gaps for both goals, with Charlton struggling to regain defensive shape quickly enough to prevent decisive counter-attacks.
Third-choice goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell was drafted into the starting line-up just before kick-off after Jacob Widell Zetterström was ruled out due to illness. The 37-year-old impressed on his club debut, producing a series of assured saves, including a crucial stop from Macaulay Gillesphey’s free-kick in the closing stages.
John Eustace praised his goalkeeper:
“It’s about our squad and how they prepare. Richard has been working his socks off in training all year without getting an opportunity. I was excited to put him in, and that’s what the squad is all about. We ask every player to dedicate themselves in training. Do the right things, and you will get the right results. I am delighted for him and very proud of his performance.”
O’Donnell on his debut:
“It was amazing. I’ve loved every second of that. Even when we were under the cosh for the last seven minutes with ten men, I absolutely loved it, and I’m delighted for the boys. I felt really relaxed. It’s nothing I hadn’t done before, and I thought, ‘Just go and enjoy it.’”
Charlton Athletic:
Kaminski (GK), Ramsay, Gillesphey, Jones (C) (Clarke 46), Coventry, Campbell, Leaburn (Fullah 46), Carey, Anderson, Burke, Dykes
Unused Substitutes: Mannion (GK), Berry, Docherty, Roussillon, Kelman, Godden, Rankin-Costello
Derby County:
O’Donnell (GK), Forsyth, Clarke, Langås (C), Agyemang (Salvesen 76), Blackett-Taylor (Brewster 58), Thompson, Ozoh (Travis 58), Ward, Brereton Díaz (Elder 88), Clark (Fraulo 76)
Unused Substitutes: Price (GK), Weimann, Jackson, Nyambe
Richard O’Donnell (7.5): Assured on his debut, key saves, excellent distribution.
Joe Ward (7): Solid defensively, offered attacking support.
Sondre Langås (8): Dominant, composed, led defence after Clarke’s red card.
Matt Clarke (4.5): Costly errors and second yellow left Derby defending with ten men.
Craig Forsyth (6): Reliable defensively, distribution mixed.
Ben Brereton Díaz (7.5): Tireless, creative, key pass for Clark’s goal.
David Ozoh (7.5): Composed, intelligent in possession.
Liam Thompson (6): Effective defensively, disciplined.
Corey Blackett-Taylor (5): Missed a clear chance, inconsistent.
Bobby Clark (8): Sharp, influential, scored crucial goal, linked play superbly.
Patrick Agyemang (7): Constant threat, key to first goal and counter-attacks.
Substitutes: Lewis Travis (6), Rhian Brewster (5), Lars-Jørgen Salvesen (5), Oscar Fraulo (5).
Thomas Kaminski (6.5): Made smart stops, limited for Derby goals.
Kayne Ramsay (6): Active but struggled against Agyemang.
Macaulay Gillesphey (4.5): Own goal, limited defensive impact.
Lloyd Jones (5.5): Solid, caught out at times.
Reece Burke (5.5): Worked hard but exposed in transitions.
Conor Coventry (6): Defensive shield, bypassed on counters.
Tyreece Campbell (7): Brightest spark, scored long-range goal.
Jayden Anderson (5.5): Limited impact.
Joe Carey (5.5): Adequate defensively, limited attacking threat.
Miles Leaburn (5): First start, lacked composure.
Lyndon Dykes (5.5): Lively early, missed chances.
Substitutes: Fullah added energy; Clarke replaced Jones (46); others minimal impact.
On loan from RB Salzburg, Bobby Clark was Derby’s standout performer. Sharp, intelligent, and influential throughout, he linked play superbly with Agyemang and Brereton Díaz and capped his performance with a calm, well-taken goal that doubled Derby’s lead. His vision, movement, and work rate made him central to Derby’s attacking threat, earning him Man of the Match honours.
John Eustace:
“I thought the effort the group put in tonight was superb after a really tough game on Saturday against Preston. But to get the same effort and the same result was very pleasing. The front three—or rather the front four—were outstanding. Their work ethic and the way they linked up were very pleasing. Corey coming in for his first start in a long time was excellent, and the back four and midfield certainly followed that lead. Overall, it was a gritty performance, and I’m very proud of the effort.”
“To go anywhere away from home and have to defend a lead is tough. Coming here, and going away at Preston, are two really difficult games, and we’ve come away with six points. Going into Friday, we want to make it three out of three. We showed another side of ourselves—down to ten men with ten minutes to go and defending the box as we did, that was super special.”
Nathan Jones:
“I’m disappointed with the goals, and once you concede two in the Championship it is very difficult to win a game. It was an even game in the first half, and it became a bit edgy. It was tough when they sat in. I’m disappointed with the first goal, and the second goal as well. In the second half we started really well, made positive changes, but then we concede on the counter. It became really difficult.”
On half-time changes:
“Miles [Leaburn] coming off was tactical, and Lloyd [Jones] was feeling his ankle. I didn’t think it affected us too much. TC [Tyreece Campbell] was excellent again today. What we need to do is go back to keeping clean sheets. The players are giving everything, and today was a hard one to take. We have a big game at the weekend, and we’ll definitely be up for it.”
Reece Burke:
“It was disappointing, and we started slow. When we conceded the second goal, it gave us an uphill battle. The first goal was too easy, and it was tough for Macca [Gillesphey] in the box. It’s been good to get minutes today, I am fit and ready to go again at the weekend. You noticed a change in the second half, and the fans were pushing us on.”
Derby County return to Pride Park on Friday evening to face West Bromwich Albion, hoping to make it three consecutive league wins in front of their home supporters.
Charlton Athletic travel to promotion-chasing Millwall for a Saturday lunchtime kick-off, aiming to bounce back from their narrow defeat.
