Derby Day

Derby County 2-0 Atromitos (Friendly)

Whisper it quietly, but I’m a Nottingham Forest fan, and today I’m sitting in the Derby County end, at Pride Park, enemy territory, although I have no ‘beef’ with anyone from Derby, I don’t even know that many people from the city, although I did once date a Derby fan, before quickly nipping that one in the bud.

I think the rivalry comes from the early 80’s when Peter Taylor parted with long-term friend Brian Clough to re-join Derby as Manager from his assistant role at Nottingham Forest. Taylor wanted Clough to go with him, back to the side they won the championship with in 1972, but Clough stayed at Forest where he had already won two European Cups, and when Taylor tempted an ageing John Robertson to join the Rams in 1983, Clough would never speak to his bestie again, from there I suppose a football rivalry grew, and today the East Midlands Derby is one of the most heated in the English game.

The word ‘Derby’ used globally for big events in all sports, actually comes from the Earl of Derby, who in 1780 organised an elite horse race which has long been staged ever since at Epsom, rivalries have used the term ‘Derby’ to showcase their hatred for one another ever since.

Back to Derby County, they were formed in 1884, they won the FA Cup, their first major trophy, in 1946, after three times previously finishing as cup runners-up. Under Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, they went from second division relegation fodder to first division champions within four years, they won the title again in 1975 under Dave Mackay but ever since have faltered to achieve anything near their success of the seventies.

After a couple of seasons in League One they finished 19th in the Championship last year, but have signed well this summer and will be looking to make a push for the playoffs at least.

Atromitos are a Greek Super League side, formed in 1923 they are based in Peristeri, Athens, finishing seventh in the table last season, their highest super league finish back in 2013 was third, whilst they have twice been Greek Cup runners up.

The Venue

I’ve arrived at Derby a good hour and half before kick-off, parking is problematic as there’s no spaces at the Park & Ride Derby Arena which I tried to book online in the morning, the official club are charging £10 which I think is extortionate for a 'friendly', so after driving aimlessly around I chance it in a retail car park across the way which has a two hour duration limit, I even buy some trainers from Sports Direct in a hope that I can use that receipt as evidence for my lengthy shopping trip if needed.

These stadiums on the edge of industrial suburbia are all a much of a muchness, nowhere to park, nowhere to drink or eat, just soulless bowls appearing midst many retail units with car garages and factories everywhere set back off wide roads. To be fair to Derby, it does have a Greggs attached to the ground which I find intriguing, inside you walk through the turnstile and at base level is the wide concourse, before taking the steps up, or down, to your seats, a magnificent cauldron of black and white then greats you wrapping around the sunlit green surface of the playing field in perfect condition, not trod on since May.

I’m up on row X, which is quite a walk, but you get an unobstructed view of the playing surface and with Pride Park being a 35,000 seater stadium, or thereabouts, you never feel too far away from the action.

The Game

As pre-season friendlies go, I’ve chosen this match as it’s only half hours’ drive from my house and I’m going out for a meal in Nottingham tonight, a quick entrance/exit is needed and there’s only a few thousand in attendance so it shouldn't be too difficult to get away.

The beginning is played at pedestrian pace but it’s all Atromitos who keep possession for all of six minutes, Derby don’t have a touch, it’s one way traffic in the centre of the park, but the Rams get into gear with their more direct and robust style, Ebou Adams often racing down the left midst chants of 'booo' from the crowd, then Corey Blackett-Taylor cuts in before being fouled softly in the box, the same player stepping up, and dispatching the penalty after fifteen minutes.

There’s a lot of fouls, in a niggly first half, where the game hardly flows, let alone ebbs, there's some good stuff, mainly on the break from Atromitos, where the diminutive number ten Brayan Palmezano shows quick feet, whilst Derby more powerfully move forward, Ebou Adams, Blackett-Taylor, strong, quick, direct, new signing Carlton Morris is winning his battle in the air against defenders, in midfield Kenzo Goudmijn and Kayden Jackson are combative, high energy, whilst it feels like Liam Thompson is covering all bases across the park.

The Score

There's been a couple of chances at either end, but the second half is less open, Derby by now have full control, Atromitos neat, but pretty toothless in attack, I like Ismahila Ouedaogo in midfield who's not missed a pass, but the strength, physicality and fitness of Derby is their to see, the stronger bigger team always looks like doubling their advantage, and they do, when a Kenzo Goudmijn corner goes straight in, on 50 minutes.

Thereafter, a plethora of substitutes stop and start the game, a lot of niggly fouls reward bookings for culprits, there were chances, Kayden Jackson blazing wide and Dajuane Brown on the end of a fine move blasting over from close range, late on Makana Baku, the Atromitos right winger caused a bit of panic in the Derby defence, he rounded Zetterstrom but couldn't get his shot past the big Swedish goalkeeper who stood firm.

The Stars

Derby looked better going forward than they did defensively, caught on a couple of occasions with a simple looking straight through ball, they lack pace in defence which might be a telling factor during the upcoming Championship campaign, in midfield though I was hugely impressed, Goudmijn is a good solid technical footballer who grafts, Jackson hard working with energy is snappy out of possession, but working harder than most is Liam Thompson who was brilliant on the day, covering every blade of grass whilst showing neat passing skills and good technique on the ball, aged 23 he can become a very good player at the level should he keep up the consistency over the next nine or ten months.

Up front, Carlton Morris a recent signing from Luton Town, put himself about a bit in the good old English way, he won his battle against his opponents despite not scoring, Corey Blackett-Taylor was very good on the ball, as was Eboue Adams, both have pace and skill and get the Derby fans off their seats which excites.

For Atromitos, they didn't have the power of their English opponents, but they were good in possession, and organised defensively, at the helm, led by Brazilian defender Mansur at centre half. I really liked Ismahila Ouedraogo who played it simple in midfield, he always came short looking for the ball, whilst their talisman is Brayan Palmezano, a former Venezuelan U20 international, German winger Makana Baku was also a real nuisance, tricky and teasy he perhaps should have got himself a goal.

The Verdict

I think Derby will certainly improve on last seasons fortunes under John Eustace, a useful outfit going forward, they also have new signings Andreas Weimann, Patrick Agyemang and Rhian Brewster to come, but they may need to add some steel to their defence if they are to keep enough clean sheets to get them into the top half of the table?

As for Atromitos, same again, last season they finished seventh in the Greek Super League, I expect them to be ok just plodding along as they do, with a neat style based on possession unless there's opportunity to break, they start their season on the 23rd August and have Lazio to play in a friendly before then, whilst Derby start their Championship season on Saturday, at Stoke.

The Teams

Derby County: Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Ryan Nyambe (Isaac Gordon 46), Danny Batth, Jake Rooney, Craig Forsyth, Liam Thompson, Kenzo Goudmijn, Kayden Jackson, Eboue Adams, Corey Blackett-Taylor, Carlton Morriss (Dajuane Brown 65).

Atromitos: Lefteris Choutesiotos, Mattheo Mountes, Dimitros Stavropoulos, Mansur, Jere Uronen, Quini, Ismahila Ouedraogo, Peter Michorl, Georgios Tzovaras, Brayan Palmezano, Baku.

3:00pm Kick Off. Saturday 2nd August 2025, Pride Park, Derby (att 4,746).