Derby County claimed another point in a hardy display as they played out a 0-0 draw against Oxford United at Pride Park Stadium in the Sky Bet Championship on Tuesday evening.
The game was at deadlock for the majority with chances for Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Kenzo Goudmijn unable to open the scoring in the first half for the Rams.
Both defences remained equally stern in the second period and the game ended goalless despite Derby’s late pressure with Marcus Harness heading over.
Key Moments
Mendez-Laing had the Rams’ first shot on target after the ball landed at his feet from a tight angle on the left wing. Callum Elder’s cross met Lars-Jørgen Salvesen’s head and found the Guatemalan international who had an effort that goalkeeper Jamie Cumming was equal to.
Goudmijn fired just wide in the 14th minute when Salvesen knocked down Mendez-Laing’s cross into the path of the Dutch midfielder who spun the ball just beyond the post from inside the penalty area.
The first opportunity of the game for the visitors came in the 25th minute as Siriki Dembélé drove a left-footed effort towards goal from the edge of the box and forced Derby goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström to make a strong save to see the ball behind for a corner.
A break from the Rams won a corner in the 29th minute. Elder’s delivery met Goudmijn on the edge of the box. He miss-hit his attempt and found Nat Phillips who drifted the ball over the bar with the follow-up after his first effort rebounded.
Derby dominated proceedings for the rest of the half but the U’s defence held firm against the Rams’ advances to deny the hosts an opening while they were in the ascendancy.
Mendez-Laing struck a bouncing ball hard towards goal after Goudmijn had a go from range after skipping beyond his defender and opening up space to shoot in the 44th minute. Mendez-Laing latched onto the deflection, but the drilled effort was smothered by Oxford shot-stopper Cumming.
Callum Brannigan’s free-kick went close at the near post at the start of the second half; the Oxford captain sent a low strike below the wall but was denied by a block from Ebou Adams.
Matt Hamshaw made Derby’s first changes of the game in the 59th minute as Marcus Harness and Jerry Yates entered the field as the Rams looked to break the deadlock in the game.
Salvesen tried for an acrobatic effort in the 60th minute as he met a floated ball to the far post with a scissor kick, but the connection wasn’t sweet enough to trouble Cumming who caught the ball.
The Norwegian striker came close again two minutes later when he met a corner delivery with a strong header and forced a save from Oxford’s goalkeeper, who did well to parry the ball away from danger with Yates lurking at the near post looking to convert.
Derby continued to threaten as Elder’s cross was arrowed over the bar by Harness from inside the area after a quick pattern of play down the left flank created the chance.
Phillips twice made a crucial intervention in the 69th minute as the visitors had a dangerous attack stemmed when he intercepted a ball across the face of goal and then he got his body in the way to block Mark Harris’ attempt from the edge of the penalty area.
Harrison Armstrong came on to make his home debut in the 76th minute, with the midfielder also joined from the bench by Ryan Nyambe as Phillips and Ozoh gave way.
Oxford came near in the 86th minute when Gregg Leigh unleashed a thunderous strike towards goal that spun just beyond the far post after a counter-attack from the U’s.
Hard work from Harness won a late chance after he jostled for position an played Elder in to play a low cross in, but the ball couldn’t find a player to attack the ball in penalty area.
Despite three minutes of added time, neither side could make the breakthrough and the spoils were shared.
The Teams
Derby County: Zetterström (GK), Phillips (Nyambe 76), Clarke, Langås, Elder, Adams, Ozoh (Armstrong 76), Goudmijn (Yates 59), Mendez-Laing (C) (Harness 59), Salvesen, Jackson (Barkhuizen 90).
Unused Substitutes: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Thompson, Osborn.
Oxford United: Cumming (GK), Brown, Helik, Vaulks, Płacheta (Rodriguez 65), Brannigan (C), Harris (Phillips 89), Matos (Mills 65), Leigh, Dembélé (Goodrham 80), Kioso.
Unused Substitutes: Ingram (GK), Long, Romeny, Ter Avest, El Mizouni.
Referee: Stephen Martin
Assistant Referees: Carl Fitch-Jackson, Sam Lewis
Fourth Official: Leigh Doughty
Attendance
25,999 (1,012 away supporters).
