“Why not?” - Banel’s solo strike seals Derby’s sixth straight home win

Travelling 70 yards in eight seconds, Jaydon Banel executed Derby’s only successful dribble of the first half.

It was more than a dribble.

Released by Sam Szmodics on the edge of his own box following an Oxford throw, the Dutchman motored majestically from coast to coast, cutting inside two defenders and drilling the ball through Myles Perart-Harris’ legs and into the bottom-left corner.

It surely got the approval of his compatriot Robin van Der Laan and his former Rams teammates; some of whom were watching on having been invited to Pride Park as part of celebrations to mark the 30^th anniversary of their Premier League promotion under Jim Smith.

John Eustace reflected: “You need that bit of magic, that moment of quality, and Jaydon certainly brought that.

“We want clever wingers who can come inside and play in the pitch, who can stay out wide and play one-v-ones.”

The on-loan Burnley winger combined both as a left-sided inside-forward and had already been dangerous in the opening 21 minutes. He had The Rams’ first shot, which was blocked, from Derry Murkin’s cut-back.

But the 21-year-old also played Derby into danger after 14 minutes: it was his heavy touch which allowed Stanley Mills, the sole goalscorer in October’s reverse fixture, to break away down the right. But Lewis Travis did well to force the winger wide and shepherd the ball out for a goal kick. Relief for goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström, back in the team for the first time in almost three months, after an illness.

“It was worrying, really worrying,” Eustace said, asked if he had feared his number one would not play again. But having been back in training for a week, the 46-year-old, who had kept his cards close to his chest in the build-up, confessed: “it was never in doubt for me to put him straight back in.”  

Alongside Zetterström and Murkin, who missed the Southampton game as a precaution before having an injection on Tuesday, Saints loanee Ben Brereton Díaz, returned to the side.

With the retro scoreboard updated, chances continued to flow Derby’s way after Oxford squandered a chance to level instantly from a corner. Banel had another effort blocked well by Michał Helik after a give-and-go with Murkin in the box, before he used his pace to keep Travis’ long ball in play and draw a foul from Sam Long.

Unlike the set-piece two minutes earlier, 45-yards-out on the right, from which Matt Clarke had glanced Joe Ward’s deep delivery wide, this one was in a prime crossing position on the left. Almost more like a corner. But Ward’s back-post cross was headed over by Carlton Morris with 90 seconds of the half to play.

Derby had their highest possession share of the season in the first half, at 77 per cent – yes that does say seventy-seven. Lots of play came through David Ozoh, who would push up from a deeper position alongside Travis to join Sam Szmodics in possession. While The Rams had a firm grip on the game, they lacked the final ball.  

Eustace said: “I think that’s what let us down a little bit in the final third today. The decision making.”

And after Jamie Cumming made a flying stop to deny Sam Szmodics ten minutes after the break, this nearly came back to bite Derby. The visitors broke from a Derby corner and Jamie Donely slipped through Peart-Harris, but Zetterström dashed out of his goal to stop the former Brentford man giving Derby a taste of their own medicine.

Continuing to make a mockery of my statement at kick-off that he has been better on the right, Banel cut inside and played a one-two with Szmodics, only to find the side-netting.

But I soon had more pressing concerns – namely that of Oxford, after Yunus Konak robbed Matt Clarke of the ball fresh from completing a step-over. But the Turkish midfielder could not find the target when one-on-one with Zetterström.

Game management was understandable with Norwich to come on Tuesday night (and the fact “we haven't got many players left” as Eustace put). But there was the vulnerability in trying to see out a game at a lower tempo with just a one-goal lead.

After Cumming denied Banel once more, he made a great reaction save to stop an effort from Szmodics, found in acres of space in the six-yard-box from Ward’s quickly taken throw-in.

But Oxford had chances late on too, with Ciaron Brown seeing an effort blocked before Mark Harris fired wide in the 96^th minute.

“Relief” for Eustace. “Frustration” for Matt Bloomfield: “when you get opportunities, you need to score from them,” he said.

Analysis: In first gear

A year to the day that Matt Bloomfield’s Luton delivered a potentially fatal blow to Derby’s hopes of Championship survival, The Rams have made light work of another relegation-battling side. Now five points adrift of safety (albeit with a game in hand over Blackburn) things look pretty terminal for The U’s.

Just three players that played against The Hatters that day featured against Oxford, Sondre Langås, Craig Forsyth and Matt Clarke. Indeed, this Rams side is now full of “Championship-hardened” players.

That day, or even six months ago at The Kassam Stadium - after which was the only time I’ve heard insiders worry even slightly about Eustace’s position - that Derby would be in the top six chase now was unthinkable. But they have gained on Hull, who drew at home to Birmingham, and significantly, have done so without really breaking a sweat.

At times in the first half, it looked more like a training exercise, considering the control of the ball Derby had. Rotations between wingers and full backs, who are not afraid to come inside were key as they tried to lure Oxford out of their low block, something The Rams had struggled against for most of the season.

As well as Ozoh providing that link between defence and attack, playing as a six, eight and 10 at times, the relentless direct runs beyond Carlton Morris chiefly from Jaydon Banel, but also Sam Szmodics and Ben Brereton Díaz were vital. It seems that in developing their link-up play, both down the flanks and off Morris as a foil since his return, Eustace’s side have found a way to play without relying so much on space in behind. Though Banel’s obvious strength in one-v-one’s helps create that too.

The second half was little to write home about, so I won’t here either. But it is points that matter if Derby are to sneak into the top six, as they will likely need to be perfect from here on in.

 With a sixth home win on the spin, Derby are now on their best home run in 16 years. Jim Smith’s promotion winners won eight in a row. I ask: can they match that?

As with the play-off race, Eustace says: “Why not?”

Derby (4-2-3-1): Zetterström (GK); Ward, Sanderson (Langås 70’), Clarke, Murkin (Forsyth 90’+1); Travis (C), Ozoh (Fraulo 70’); Banel (Johnston 86’), Szmodics (Salvesen 90’+1), Brereton Díaz; Morris.

Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK); Batth; Allen, Eames.

Oxford (4-2-3-1): Cumming (GK); Long, Helik, Brown, Spencer (Vauks 89’); Konak (Harris 84’), Brannagan (C); Mills, Donley (Jin-Woo 63’), Peart-Harris (Emakhu 63’); Lankshear.

Unused Substitutes: Ingram (GK); Makosso, ter Avest; McDonnell; Romeny.