Derby County 2-1 Barnsley: Wayne Rooney captains Rams to victory against Tykes

January 2, 2020

Wayne Rooney captained Derby County to victory on his debut for the Rams and set up their first goal as they beat Championship strugglers Barnsley.

Jack Marriott atoned for a number of squandered chances at Pride Park when he poked home Rooney’s free-kick just before half-time to put the Rams ahead.

Barnsley levelled soon after the break when Elliot Simoes tapped in after Derby goalkeeper Ben Hamer spilled Conor Chaplin’s shot.

Martyn Waghorn restored Derby’s lead when he fired home Andre Wisdom’s low cross and the hosts held on for victory.

Rooney, whose last game was at the end of October for DC United, played the full 90 minutes in the centre of midfield.

Derby remain 17th in a tight table but move level on points with Middlesbrough, while Barnsley are three points off safety in 23rd.

Relive Thursday’s EFL action as it happened
Swansea beat Charlton to move into play-offs

A decent debut for captain Rooney

Rams manager Phillip Cocu had no hesitation putting 34-year-old Rooney straight into the starting XI and making him captain, citing his “leadership” qualities.

Having joined the club on an 18-month player-coach deal in August, the former England captain was ineligible to play until January.

In a subdued but comfortable first-half performance, Rooney pulled the strings and finally gave a crowd of 27,782 reason to celebrate as he assisted the hosts’ opener with an excellent free-kick.

From midway inside Barnsley’s half, Rooney bent the ball over the defence and onto the foot of Marriott who finished first time from 12 yards.

He also played a part in their second goal, sending a lovely cross-field pass to Wisdom who then set up Waghorn.

Rooney even had the chance to mark his debut with a goal, but miscued a header from a few yards out and the ball dribbled wide.

After struggling for form this term, Derby started the match closer to the relegation zone of the English second tier than the play-off places, but their win moved them to eight points off sixth place.

Monday’s win against Charlton was their first victory in eight games, with Rooney on the bench as a coach for seven of those matches.

England’s all-time record goalscorer, Rooney won the Premier League five times, the Champions League, the FA Cup and three League Cups in 13 years with Manchester United and is now off to a winning start in his first spell in England’s second tier.

Marriott makes amends for misses

Before Rooney set up the opener for Marriott, the striker missed a couple of glaring opportunities. First, he fired wide of the mark from Waghorn’s delivery before he chipped a tame shot from distance wide after bursting through on goal.

Having started the game poorly, Barnsley were reinvigorated when boss Gerhard Struber made an early tactical change by bringing Simoes on for Mike Bahre after just 26 minutes.

They were almost rewarded just before Marriott’s opener when Mads Andersen found space at close range, forcing a last-minute block from a Derby defender.

Barnsley keeper Sam Radlinger made a stunning diving right-handed save to keep out Matt Clarke’s header shortly after the restart and the visitors immediately levelled through Simoes’ strike.

However, Waghorn’s composed finish ensured the hosts registered two wins in a row for the first time this season.

Line-ups

Derby

Substitutes

Barnsley

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Match ends, Derby County 2, Barnsley 1.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Derby County 2, Barnsley 1.

Attempt missed. Luke Thomas (Barnsley) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Conor Chaplin.

Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Curtis Davies.

Attempt blocked. Elliot Simoes (Barnsley) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Williams.

Attempt saved. Conor Chaplin (Barnsley) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Luke Thomas.

Substitution

Substitution, Derby County. Morgan Whittaker replaces Jack Marriott.

Attempt blocked. Jacob Brown (Barnsley) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Conor Chaplin.

Foul by Mads Andersen (Barnsley).

Jack Marriott (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Booking

Duane Holmes (Derby County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Luke Thomas (Barnsley) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Duane Holmes (Derby County).

Foul by Aapo Halme (Barnsley).

Duane Holmes (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution

Substitution, Derby County. Scott Malone replaces Martyn Waghorn.

Attempt missed. Martyn Waghorn (Derby County) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Max Lowe.

Bambo Diaby (Barnsley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Jack Marriott (Derby County).

Attempt missed. Alex Mowatt (Barnsley) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Luke Thomas.

Attempt missed. Duane Holmes (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Martyn Waghorn.

Attempt blocked. Martyn Waghorn (Derby County) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Max Lowe.

Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Max Bird.

Attempt blocked. Jason Knight (Derby County) header from the centre of the box is blocked.

Attempt missed. Mads Andersen (Barnsley) header from very close range misses to the left. Assisted by Clarke Oduor with a cross following a corner.

Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Wayne Rooney.

Goal!

Goal! Derby County 2, Barnsley 1. Martyn Waghorn (Derby County) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Andre Wisdom with a cross.

Foul by Elliot Simoes (Barnsley).

Jason Knight (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Corner, Barnsley. Conceded by Matthew Clarke.

Attempt missed. Conor Chaplin (Barnsley) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Williams with a cross.

Foul by Elliot Simoes (Barnsley).

Martyn Waghorn (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Bambo Diaby (Barnsley).

Martyn Waghorn (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Substitution, Barnsley. Jacob Brown replaces Patrick Schmidt.

Attempt missed. Wayne Rooney (Derby County) with an attempt from very close range misses to the right. Assisted by Jason Knight with a headed pass.

Goal!

Goal! Derby County 1, Barnsley 1. Elliot Simoes (Barnsley) left footed shot from very close range to the bottom left corner.

Attempt saved. Conor Chaplin (Barnsley) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordan Williams.

Attempt saved. Matthew Clarke (Derby County) header from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Max Bird with a cross.

Source: Read Full Article