Six things we learned from Alfreton 0-2 Derby

The Rams got their pre-season started on a glorious evening in Derbyshire (Photo: Archie Brown).

From Argentina to Alfreton. The Atlanta Stadium to the Solana. England may be out of the World Cup (who cares about the third-place play-off?) but Derby County are back.

First half goals from Joe Ward and Bobby Clark saw Derby through, and fortunately, they didn’t unfurl a banner claiming ownership of the Amber Valley town.

This was professional football at the other end of the scale. An intimate affair with the charm of an early FA Cup tie where players really get in amongst it - just like the touchline camera angle!

A great night for the local community and a chance for Derby’s youngsters to impress, with a familiar face in the opposite dugout. This clash featuring two distinct Derby County XIs against former Rams defender Jake Buxton’s Alfreton Town was about “getting minutes in the legs” more than anything else.

Though Buxton is hopeful that the funds raised may enable the recently relegated step three side to bring in another player.

Eustace's former Rams teammate Buxton was on his coaching staff until he left for Alfreton in October (Photo: Archie Brown).

Derby too still have business to do. With three weeks to go until their first competitive game, Friday night football has hopefully helped John Eustace shape his squad.

I should caution against reading too much into a pre-season friendly, but here are six things we learned from a sunny Friday evening in Derbyshire.

Ryan Hedges looked bright

Would it really be pre-season without a trialist? Alongside several for Alfreton, former Blackburn and Aberdeen wide man Ryan Hedges lined up for Derby. While it is understood that the 31-year-old Welshman is unlikely to be offered a contract at this stage, his performance can not have done him any harm.

A winger who is also comfortable at left back, Hedges was lively on the left wing, showing off his delivery with a glorious back post cross for Ward’s opener. But he looked equally comfortable dropping deep to get the ball, such as when he found Morris to tee up Clark’s opener.

But despite the assist and pre-assist, his night was cut short when he appeared to jar his leg while seeking to control the ball on halfway. Hopefully that is not the last we have seen of Hedges in black and white. 

Price is a prospect

One of Alfreton’s aforementioned trialists was a young Ram. Twenty-year-old shot-stopper Harley Price played the first 64 minutes in net for Jake Buxton’s side.  I’ll be honest, this was not a learning for me: I interviewed Price 18 months ago: he is the type of guy you cannot help but root for, so I’ve been following his progress ever since.

He is one of several highly rated young ‘keepers to have developed under the tutelage of Head of Goalkeeping Paul Clement. And training alongside the likes of Jacob Widell Zetterström seems to have helped too, Price made a few smart stops, with a couple of spectacular saves to deny Morris.

Eames remains the cream of the Young Rams crop

But the jewel in the academy crown remains Owen Eames. A dynamic attacking midfielder, he was the driving force behind attacks for the youthful Rams line-up that played the second half.

Whether playing as a left winger or a number ten, he was, as ever, unafraid to take the game to Alfreton and teed up multiple chances for Lars-Jørgen Salvesen. Could a good pre-season see him become Clark’s regular understudy?

Johnston back to his best

Scottish international Max Johnston arrived at Pride Park to much fanfare last summer before suffering an injury-plagued campaign. Looking to hit the ground running former Sturm Graz man has been doing some individual training in the off-season, and it seems to be paying off.

 With Derby light on wide men, Joe Ward, who became The Rams top-assister from right back in place of Johnston, played as a winger, allowing Johnston to make several lung-busting overlaps to deliver dangerous balls into the box.

The former Motherwell man now has not only Eustace, but soon a new Scotland boss to impress. As Ward did last season, he will hope to bounce back from injury woes to become a key creator on the right flank.

Zetterström expected to meet squad in Austria

As revealed by Owen Bradley on Rams TV, Jacob Widell Zetterström is set to return from his post-World Cup break to rejoin his club teammates in Austria this week.

Just as last year, they will travel to the Tyrol region for a training camp which will run from the 18^th to the 25^th of July. But it is not yet clear if the Swedish goalkeeper will be available to face beaten Europa League finalists SC Freiburg of Germany in Imst on Friday afternoon.

We’re not free of hydration breaks yet

I know, I know, go and get the Sean Dyche meme. And while we were not even treated to hearing John Denver’s Take Me Home, Country Roads over the PA system, I bring good news.

First, this was not the shameless cash grab of the World Cup; Rams TV did not run adverts during it for one. And they are not a permanent fixture. The usual rules on hydration breaks will apply in competitive English football this season

Plus, the forecast for Friday in Imst looks cooler and wetter, so there should be more than enough hydration on offer next time out regardless.