Derby County vs Portsmouth: Rating the Rams

Derby’s 1-1 draw with visitors Portsmouth was crucial for the Rams’ season.

They had the chance to clinch a playoff spot with a win but after a tough fought draw, it will go down to the last game at Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday.

Here are our player ratings for Saturday’s game against Pompey.

GK – Joe Wildsmith – 9/10

Wildsmith put in yet another class performance against Portsmouth making five saves to crucially keep the Rams in the game, especially early in the second half when Derby’s opponents were pressing hard for a second goal.

Derby wouldn’t have been in with a chance of winning this game without Wildsmith, it’s as simple as that.

Def – Craig Forsyth – 5/10

There was nothing particularly special about Forsyth’s involvement on Saturday as he put in a few good tackles and helped to retain possession at times when the Rams needed to calm down the game.

However, he was meant to be marking Portsmouth’s Colby Bishop when he scored a free header to take the lead, so that in itself has to bring down Forsyth’s rating here.

Def – Curtis Davies – 8/10

Derby’s club captain had a good showing on Saturday including an assist for the Rams, he flicked on a free kick to James Collins who put Derby level in the 71st minute.

Other than that a pretty solid game from Davies, who held up well in the centre of Derby’s defence.

Def – Eiran Cashin – 6/10

Cashin’s performance was by no means a poor one, he managed to keep up at times with Portsmouth’s pacey attackers but in a few instances they seemed just that bit too quick.

He got caught out on the counter a couple of times which just allowed Portsmouth time and space to attack including in the build up to their goal. Okay but not spectacular.

Mid – Haydon Roberts – 7/10

Roberts seems to be improving and improving for the Rams. Another good performance here has solidified himself as a consistent name on the team sheet.

It was a wonder how he didn’t get an assist here as towards the end of the game, Roberts fizzed a ball across the box which almost ran along the goal line, it just needed any sort of touch. He’s starting to really come into his own.

Mid – Jason Knight – 9/10

Any Rams fans will know that Knight will run and run and run, he has a motor that never stops and it was no different here. Playing on the wing, Knight started a number of attacking moves by bombing down the side-line.

His highlight was late on in the game where he won a free kick after getting fouled by Portsmouth’s Owen Dale. He ran with the ball for almost the full length of the pitch which just shows how his energy can really do good for Paul Warne’s side.

Mid - Max Bird – 6/10

Quite a quiet day from Max Bird, but nothing necessarily wrong with that. He helped to hold possession in the midfield and also put in a couple of strong tackles to win the ball for the Rams.

Yet another ever-present in Paul Warne’s team, he’ll no doubt play against Wednesday at the weekend.

Mid – Conor Hourihane – 9/10

Derby’s only member of the League One team of the season put in another worthy performance on Saturday. His deliveries into the box were second to none again. On two occasions in the first ten minutes, Hourihane created two of the Rams best chances by playing the ball into David McGoldrick.

He also contributed to James Collins’ equaliser as he floated the ball in from near the halfway line on a free kick which was flicked on and finished by Derby’s striker. A very good showing from Hourihane here.

Att – Louis Sibley – 7/10

Playing in his more natural attacking role, Sibley has shown real quality in recent weeks. He put in a decent performance here too helping the Rams in some of their most dangerous attacking moves, especially early in the first half.

He was subbed off in the 63rd minute but overall, a very solid game.

Att – Nathaniel Mendez-Laing – 3/10

This one is painful. Mendez-Laing has been one of Derby’s best players this season, but this was a game to forget. He had a huge opportunity the put the Rams ahead inside ten minutes when he received the ball 12 yards from goal and just hit it well wide, in all honesty he really should’ve scored.

After this, his head seemed to drop, he gave the ball away countless times and even misplaced a chance to slide McGoldrick in for an easy tap-in. Let’s hope he can pick it up against his former team at Hillsborough.

Att – David McGoldrick – 7/10

You’d assume that McGoldrick’s rating would always be higher going by his season for the Rams so far. But Derby’s talisman was slightly off on Saturday. He had a really good effort on goal early on in the first half just hitting the post from outside the box.

Other than this, he played a few nice passes and had a few efforts, although it would’ve been nice if he could’ve added to his very impressive goal tally.

Sub – Lewis Dobbin – 5/10

Dobbin’s story of the season has been that he has the build up play but no end product. Yet again this was the case. After he came on in the 63rd minute, his biggest moment in the game came late on when he found himself in space at the edge of the box, he had a very tame effort which went straight at Portsmouth’s goalkeeper.

Quiet and slightly disappointing.

Sub – James Collins – 9/10

Collins’ goal was crucial to Derby in this game earning them a point against Portsmouth. He scored seven minutes after he came on with a great first time finish.

He had a chance to put the Rams ahead only a few minutes later after Hourihane whipped a ball in on a free kick, Collins just couldn’t find the target.

Overall though, he put in a lot of effort and scored a crucial goal. A great showing from the Rams striker.

Sub – Tom Barkuizen – 6/10

A very uneventful performance for Barkhuizen who replaced a struggling Mendez-Laing on the 64th minute. He got into a few good positions but just never had the chance to act on them.

Sub – Korey Smith – 7/10

Smith came on for Max Bird on the 76th minute, so he didn’t have that much time to perform. He did however win the ball back a couple of times including in the build up to a really good chance for the Rams when Dobbin’s shot was saved by Portsmouth keeper Matt Macey.

Sub – Harvey White – 5/10

White came on in the 83rd minute and since coming on, hardly touched the ball. He didn’t have very long to make an impact and struggled to do so too.