“We played with no fear”: Brewster’s header sees Derby sink toothless Birmingham 1-0 - report

Spring is in the air, and there’s a spring in Derby’s step too.

That’s now four straight Championship home wins for the first time since February 2021 for Derby, and the 1-0 victory over Birmingham City seemed sweeter than most for John Eustace.

At Thursday’s Fan’s Forum he revealed a liking for Oasis songs. While the former Blues boss won’t look back in anger, he did find time to take subtle swipe at the Birmingham owners. Knighthead cited their desire for a ‘no fear’ playing style when they parted company with the former Rams midfielder.

He told me: “I thought we were very dominant. We played with no fear and played a really exciting brand of football at times.”

Indeed, this was an afternoon that vindicated Clowes’ steady, sustainable approach. Isn’t it amazing what a manager can do when afforded patience and backing from the board?

With Pride Park basking in glorious sunshine, the atmosphere was Electric as an unchanged Rams XI burst out of the blocks. First, Patrick Agyemang was denied, before Rhian Brewster shot wide from 20 yards. Chris Davies’ side need[ed] a little time to wake up.

As Birmingham returned to DE24 for the first time since the Save Derby County march and that Krystian Bielik goal, the crowd certainly did not. “We’ll never f*cking die!” was the flock’s chant of choice as Derby suffocated their visitors, with Agyemang working Beadle again inside the opening ten minutes.

The Rams continued to control the game with Travis and Clark, who played as “a six” too excelling in the middle, facilitating Sam Szmodics’ free role. Eustace said Derby were “much better” on the turn-over, having lamented it at Portsmouth. The midfield duo were a big reason for this: their boss described them as “[two] of the best player[s] on the pitch”.

Travis topped the rankings for accurate passes (42) and recoveries (6) while creating the second-most chances (3) and completing the second-most tackles (3).  This was the sort of physical battle he thrives upon, while Clark, though smaller in stature excelled too. He completed the most successful dribbles for Derby (3), constantly looking to be positive while making 10 defensive contributions.

Agyemang saw a glancing header cleared before Ward shot wide as Birmingham sat off in a back five – a shape they haven’t used all season.

The goal came two minutes before the break, Rhian Brewster heading in his fourth in five games at Pride Park. Agyemang held the ball up on the overloaded left flank, where Travis and Clark combined to find Murkin, who delivered the inch-perfect cross.

The left back was afforded fewer forward forays than in recent games, but showed his defensive capabilities again, as well as his excellent delivery when the time was right. In a game where every player was worthy of seven or eight out of ten, he was a player of the match contender.

And to round out the first half, there was a great chance to put the game to bed. Joe Ward found Szmodics down the line. But Christoph Klarer did just enough to stop Patrick Agyemang from reaching his teasing ball across the six-yard box, in one of the game’s defining battles.

The possession share flipped in the second half, with the visitors having two thirds of the ball. But it was still Derby who looked most dangerous, playing one-and-two-passes on the counter with a real swagger. Beadle was called into action to deny Brereton Díaz from distance, and then Szmodics in the inside-right.

Having made Szmodics’ chance from nothing when he flicked on Murkin’s clearance, Agyemang proved the perfect foil for his attacking colleagues again ten minutes later. The American international held the ball up for Brereton Díaz, who teed up Szmodics’ on the turn. He could only hit the North Stand goal’s woodwork, though some at the other end thought it was in.

Klarer would again thwart Agyemang with 15 minutes to play, blocking his shot after he took down a sumptuous pass which Clark hit from inside his defensive third.

 Richard O’Donnell sprung into action once late on, to deny Carlos Vicente, who was in an offside position. That sums up a display that reflected Birmingham’s bottom-six away form.

Eustace may have rejected the premise that Birmingham would be out of the play-off conversation with defeat, but Chris Davies’ body language said he thought otherwise. Following a toothless performance, where the 40-year-old’s side failed to muster a shot on target, there were multiple long pauses during answers at his post-match press conference. He spoke slowly, with a noticeably dejected tone, talking openly about the pressure he felt.

With The Blues now seven points behind Derby, who remain eighth, and ten points off the top six, it will take something special in their final seven games.

Remaining just three points off the top six, The Rams are firmly in the race after what Eustace felt was his side’s most dominant display at Pride Park this season.  After the scrappy trip to Fratton Park on Monday night, Derby showed they can be “flexible in our style” which their head coach believes is “key” in the second tier.

The upcoming international break will provide recovery time for Derby’s “eight players in the medical room” and more who “cannot train”.

“The lads who need a rest will get a rest.” Eustace told me, referencing a couple of “deserved” days off his side will have. But what about the man himself?

“No, we keep working.”

The Masterplan is being implemented Little by Little.

Goals: Brewster 43’.

Derby (4-2-3-1): O’Donnell (GK); Ward, Sanderson, Clarke, Murkin; Clark (Ozoh 84’), Travis (C); Brereton Díaz, Szmodics (Fraulo 83’), Brewster (Banel 65’); Agyemang (Morris 83’).

Unused Substitutes: J. Thompson (GK); Forsyth, Gordon, Canoville; Allen.

Birmingham City (3-4-3): Beadle (GK); Klarer (C), Robinson, Panzo (Kyōgo 82’); Laird (Doyle 58’), Tomoki, Paik, Osman (Vicente 58’); Gray, Ducksch (Solís 58’), Stansfield (Priske 71’).

Unused Substitutes: Allsop (GK); Osayi-Samuel, Neumann; Roberts