BBC Radio Derby commentator Ed Dawes believes the Rams 5-3 home defeat by Coventry exposes fragility in the side
Derby County's first home game of the season had everything: goals, drama, and no shortage of tension. Unfortunately for the Rams, it also underlined the fragility of a side still searching for balance under head coach John Eustace.
To score three times and still lose is the kind of result that leaves coaches scratching their heads. It was entertaining for the neutral, but for Derby it was a reminder that attacking promise means little without defensive solidity.
Injuries to central defenders Sondre Langas and Curtis Nelson have forced Eustace into uncomfortable selections, and it showed against a Coventry side who punished every lapse.
The opening half was breathless, end-to-end football. Coventry struck first after a defensive lapse from a quick free-kick before Callum Elder opened his Rams goalscoring account with a superb equaliser. What followed was chaos - two penalties in quick succession and a bundled finish from Ebou Adams that briefly suggested Derby might seize control.
But the game turned just after the hour. A visible dip in energy coincided with Coventry's ruthless seven-minute spell in which Derby's defence was beaten for pace, beaten in the air, and too slow to close down in dangerous areas. That spell decided the match.
Still, not all was negative. Carlton Morris is beginning to look like the striker Derby had hoped for - physical, combative, and already with two goals to his name in as many matches. The side also created opportunities and showed spells of sharp interplay, offering glimpses of what might be possible once Eustace has his first-choice back line available.
The bigger question is how much ground Derby will lose while waiting for that day to come. Early-season points can be just as valuable as those in the spring, and consistency in defence must become the priority if Derby are to avoid turning every match into a shootout.
For now, Pride Park has already witnessed one of the season's most dramatic contests. Derby showed character going forward, but the defensive lapses told the real story. Until that balance is found, the Rams' ambitions will remain on an uncertain footing.
Category: General Sports
