"Hard work and togetherness” – Derby dig deep for unattractive 0-1 win at Portsmouth

Nobody enjoyed watching that.

Portsmouth fans tearing their hair out. Derby fans biting their nails from behind the sofa, or a padded seat in the directors’ box as it was for the suspended John Eustace.

Perhaps it was predictable that a game some fans billed as a battle of Rams skippers past and present would be ugly and marred by bookings. Neither Ebou Adams nor Lewis Travis are known for their playmaking prowess.

Adams' second-minute shove on his armband-sporting successor was certainly an early warning. A not so welcoming welcome. If John Eustace hadn’t explained the cordial circumstances of the Gambian’s January departure last week, some may have imagined a following exchange along the lines of “that’s for taking my job”.

One moment of attacking quality was all Derby needed. As Jacon Brown headed Derry Murkin’s first corner of the night away, Sam Szmodics peeled away from the pack in and around the six-yard-box, to catch the clearance sweetly. After a touch with his left foot to control the ball, the Ipswich loanee calmly rifled it into the bottom-right corner with his right foot for his 100^th league goal.

Like Derby, Portsmouth have only won after going behind on one occasion this season. While The Rams certainly back themselves not to let a lead slip, with Eustace hailing “hard work and togetherness” in his post-match interview with Sky Sports.

When a big chance fell to Southampton loanee Ben Brereton Díaz, the game looked set to be beyond doubt after just 19 minutes, but Nicolas Schmid denied the Chile international.

Nine of the next ten shots fell the way of John Mousinho’s men, but they were limited to pot-shots. The Rams’ third-choice keeper Richard O’Donnell had to stop speculative efforts from Millenic Alli and Zak Swanson. But he wasn’t truly tested until the final one of those ten, denying Jacob Brown from 25 yards.

The Rams nearly made it two on the stroke of half-time, Agyemang seizing on Alli’s loose pass and motoring down the left, only for Schmid to push his effort onto the far post. But Portsmouth turned defence into attack as quickly as Derby’s big American had for Ben Brereton Díaz’s earlier chance, O’Donnell having to deny Gustavo Caballero.

Look at data from the second half, and you’ll find a shot map bluer than The Solent. Portsmouth maintained their dominance of the ball (68 per cent possession) and began to create higher quality chances with it.

Derby’s only real opportunity came when Joe Ward’s composed 23-yard free kick rattled the crossbar and somehow bounced clear – even Schmid had seemed resigned to the net bulging as he stood helpless. No fitting celebration of the set-piece-specialist’s one-year contract extension.

There was one particularly nervy moment when Dion Sanderson and O’Donnell got their wires crossed and came together on the edge of the box, under pressure from Brown. But O’Donnell just about cleared the danger before denying the Scot who headed goalward from the following throw.

But the biggest and best of his nine saves came in the 71^st minute, when he flew down to his left to deny Alli. The winger took a great couple of touches to drive the ball goalwards following a corner to the near post, but the 37-year-old was on hand.

As Mousinho threw the kitchen sink at Derby in search of an equaliser, half-chances kept coming. But The Rams never truly looked troubled in the dying embers.

Analysis: If you can’t win pretty, win ugly

For all their effort and desire, Pompey lack cutting edge and are on the wrong side of fine margins. That’s now 13 league defeats by a single goal this season. Under Paul Warne, who often bemoaned the same thing in the Championship, Derby had 12 last term.

Eustace’s Derby are anything but wasteful. Instead, they are among the league’s most efficient. While they struggled to control the middle of the park, they hung their hats on defensive resilience and winning the battle in both boxes. It was typical of The Rams on the road.

As a few Portsmouth fans pointed out in the build-up to the match, the difference in investment in the forward lines is clear. Arguably it was the deciding factor, be it Szmodics taking his one chance, or Agyemang’s ability to use his pace and power to create something from nothing.

But for me, most credit must go to O’Donnell, who made nine saves and looked perfectly comfortable as a Championship number one, as well as Clarke and Murkin. The duo were kept busy with most of Portsmouth’s attacks coming down the right flank, with Murkin forcing several mistakes from Alli. They were also vital in defending the box. Clarke made 14 headed clearances, while Murkin vitally sliced away multiple back post deliveries from set pieces, before putting in a couple of dangerous balls of his own.

This was a performance where hard work shone through, another battling display on the road after a recent dip in away form. It may not have been a pleasant watch, but the three points could be vital come May.

Goals: Szmodics 8’.

Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Schmid (GK); Devlin, Poole, Ogilvie, Swanson (Shaughnessy 63’); Pack (C), Adams (Segečić 77’); Alli (Bishop 77’), Chaplin (Swift 63’), Caballero; Brown (Brown 83’).

Unused Substitutes: Bursik (GK); Williams, Dia; Le Roux.

Derby (4-2-3-1): O’Donnell (GK); Ward, Sanderson, Clarke, Murkin (Forsyth 83’); Clark, Travis (C); Brereton Díaz (Banel 83’), Szmodics (Ozoh 72’), Brewster (Fraulo 61’); Agyemang (Morris 72’).

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