S25/26| The Official Match Thread | Derby 2 Swansea 0 | Att: 27,841 | 14/02/26 | The EFL Championship | Pride Park Stadium

[FearOfAJackPlanet]

I thought Derby gave a good example of how to beat teams that employ a high press and lots of energy.

Sit further back, allow us to pass it about between us, never allow us quick turnovers or space behind and rely on our wingers being unable to find a good enough ball to really hurt them.

We got frustrated, huffed and puffed, lost our shape and composure a bit and ran out of ideas.

It is what it is. We all know we lack real quality out wide and creativity in the middle.

No need to start to panic - we are not at the top six level as yet. We need some better players in certain positions. That’s not a surprise.

The only slight disappointment for me is that we were so poor at defending corners. They could easily have had another in exactly the same way.

Let’s hope not too many teams do the same against us.

I thought we had plenty of quick turnovers, especially in the first half when Franco was at his pick-pocketing best. We just did nothing with them as we get the bends when we get to the final 3rd.

 

[Stopthebus]

I thought Derby gave a good example of how to beat teams that employ a high press and lots of energy.

Sit further back, allow us to pass it about between us, never allow us quick turnovers or space behind and rely on our wingers being unable to find a good enough ball to really hurt them.

We got frustrated, huffed and puffed, lost our shape and composure a bit and ran out of ideas.

It is what it is. We all know we lack real quality out wide and creativity in the middle.

No need to start to panic - we are not at the top six level as yet. We need some better players in certain positions. That’s not a surprise.

The only slight disappointment for me is that we were so poor at defending corners. They could easily have had another in exactly the same way.

Let’s hope not too many teams do the same against us.

There’s no way that the first 45 minutes were Derbys game plan. They were awful and were lucky not to be 0-2 down with wasted opportunities from Eom & some poor decision making from Ronald. They couldn’t handle the press.

The second half they came out and obviously changed shape and looked threatening. Similiar to the game at the Swansea.com actually.

Eustace is a good manager and I’ve said previously, we would have done well if he joined us a few years back

 

[Copamundial]

Some crap spouted on here, we beat the press time after time, what let us down today was the lack of quality in and around their box and some poor defending.

 

[Flash]

2 games coming up where we need a response. I agree that we are not ready for the top 6 and would even argue that we are not quite top 10 quality.
The league is poor which does offer a dangle of a carrot now and again.

Well we’ve been hovering around the top of the form table since December so I think this squad is knocking at the door of top 6. Will probably run out of time this season though.

 

[magicdaps10]

I thought Derby gave a good example of how to beat teams that employ a high press and lots of energy.

Sit further back, allow us to pass it about between us, never allow us quick turnovers or space behind and rely on our wingers being unable to find a good enough ball to really hurt them.

We got frustrated, huffed and puffed, lost our shape and composure a bit and ran out of ideas.

It is what it is. We all know we lack real quality out wide and creativity in the middle.

No need to start to panic - we are not at the top six level as yet. We need some better players in certain positions. That’s not a surprise.

The only slight disappointment for me is that we were so poor at defending corners. They could easily have had another in exactly the same way.

Let’s hope not too many teams do the same against us.

Certainly no need to panic but there needs to be an acceptance of our downfalls and clear areas that need improving such as extra goals and creativity from midfield both centrally and wide(Walta looks in place centrally).
If teams do work us out then it's that old Plan B and C from seasons gone past.

 

[Smurph]

Sounds obvious and it probably is, if we'd scored first we would have gone on to win that game fairly comfortably.

 

[sit_down_jack]

I thought Derby gave a good example of how to beat teams that employ a high press and lots of energy.

Sit further back, allow us to pass it about between us, never allow us quick turnovers or space behind and rely on our wingers being unable to find a good enough ball to really hurt them.

We got frustrated, huffed and puffed, lost our shape and composure a bit and ran out of ideas.

It is what it is. We all know we lack real quality out wide and creativity in the middle.

No need to start to panic - we are not at the top six level as yet. We need some better players in certain positions. That’s not a surprise.

The only slight disappointment for me is that we were so poor at defending corners. They could easily have had another in exactly the same way.

Let’s hope not too many teams do the same against us.

Good post. We don’t have enough quality to play against a low block and it holds us back in games where teams sit off us. Eustace is the type of manager who will happily surrender the ball against possession sides from what I’ve seen of his teams (makes you wonder why he was seen as an option down here).

We need a summer window and a preseason under Matos to really kick on I feel.

We should never easily concede a corner with Burgess and Cabango at the back and to be fair to Matos, we aren’t usually poor in those situations.

 

[magicdaps10]

Well we’ve been hovering around the top of the form table since December so I think this squad is knocking at the door of top 6. Will probably run out of time this season though.

Dont think we are that far off and things have improved since Matos came in for sure.
Today's game was against a team in Derby who offer things very similar to what Millwall did with us but we seemed to get caught in the same trap again.
I thought today was going to be more a game that would test our character given our result against a poor Sheffield Wed , one that we might have taken too much confidence from given their issues both on and off the field.

The next 2 games are certainly going to test our character as a team and individuals. If they can show good character then the picture could change in our favour.

Big test coming up.

 

[Londonlisa2001]

Good post. We don’t have enough quality to play against a low block and it holds us back in games where teams sit off us. Eustace is the type of manager who will happily surrender the ball against possession sides from what I’ve seen of his teams (makes you wonder why he was seen as an option down here).

We need a summer window and a preseason under Matos to really kick on I feel.

We should never easily concede a corner with Burgess and Cabango at the back and to be fair to Matos, we aren’t usually poor in those situations.

Yes I agree.

I would also mention btw that I thought Agyemang had a really good game.

 

[eteb]

There’s no way that the first 45 minutes were Derbys game plan. They were awful and were lucky not to be 0-2 down with wasted opportunities from Eom & some poor decision making from Ronald. They couldn’t handle the press.

The second half they came out and obviously changed shape and looked threatening. Similiar to the game at the Swansea.com actually.

Eustace is a good manager and I’ve said previously, we would have done well if he joined us a few years back

I'd be supporting Cardiff if we had edustace

 

[Londonlisa2001]

Sounds obvious and it probably is, if we'd scored first we would have gone on to win that game fairly comfortably.

Quite probably. Because Derby would no longer have been able to sit as far back so we’d have had more chance in the press as they came at us.

 

[Smurph]

Quite probably. Because Derby would no longer have been able to sit as far back so we’d have had more chance in the press as they came at us.

Just one of those days.

I'm certain we'll see a totally different performance at home next weekend.

 

[Swanjaxs]

Disappointing, all fur coat and no knickers today, unfortunately.

 

[FearOfAJackPlanet]

First half we made Derby retreat and play deep as we were picking them off in the press very effectively. I really don't think that was their game plan, especially looking at how pissed off and visibly frustrated Eustace looked. 2nd half after they got the lead it was a different game.

 

[Swans Jack]

Disappointing, all fur coat and no knickers today, unfortunately.

Faux Fur.. Remember that .. We banned real fur many moons ago