Derby County head to Sunderland in the first game of their 2017/18 Sky Bet Championship campaign on Friday - and dcfc.co.uk has taken an extensive look back at the Rams’ last five opening day fixtures…
2016/17 - Brighton & Hove Albion (H)
Pride Park Stadium, Saturday 6th August 2016
Derby County 0-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Starting XI: Carson, Christie, Bryson, Shackell, Keogh, Hendrick, Ince (Butterfield 83), Bent, Baird, Johnson (Hughes 60), Blackman (Martin 69)
Substitutes not used: Grant, Pearce, Lowe, Russell
Setting the Scene: The opening day of the 2016/17 season saw the two victims of the previous season’s play-off semi-finals lock horns in a highly anticipated encounter.
During the build-up to the new campaign, both Derby and Brighton had been tipped highly to be chasing for promotion once again but no early questions seemed to be answered following the conclusion of this encounter as neither side were able to find the back of the net.
Key Moments: Starting quick out of the blocks, Derby launched a number of threatening attacks early on but a stubborn defensive line from Brighton saw the Seagulls soak up all of the Rams’ pressure.
Tom Ince was denied from an impressive point-blank range from David Stockdale while Darren Bent glanced a header wide just before the break.
Brighton pushed to open the scoring after the restart through a half-volley from Tomar Hemed but Cyrus Christie managed to clear his goalbound shot.
Will Hughes then cued the curtain to fall on the Rams’ second goalless opening day of the season in a row after his low strike was pushed away by Stockdale late on.
2015/16 - Bolton Wanderers (A)
Macron Stadium, Saturday 8thAugust 2015
Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Derby County
Starting XI: Carson,
Bryson (Hendrick 21), Keogh, Martin, Russell (Weimann 67), Baird, Shackell,
Hughes (Shotton 33), Ince, Thorne, Warnock
Substitutes not used: Grant, Forsyth, Bent, Pearce
Setting the Scene: After a close-season of change, Paul Clement and his new-look Rams side faced their first challenge of the campaign away from home against Bolton.
On what was a glorious day in Lancashire, this was yet another cagey opening day fixture as both sides managed just three shots on target between them.
Key Moments: With few clear chances, particularly early on, Derby’s Johnny Russell registered the first chance of the game with a clean side-footed effort from the edge of the box which he bounced off the crossbar.
Unfortunately for Derby, though, injuries sustained to both Craig Bryson and Will Hughes were what grabbed the headlines within the first 35 minutes, with the latter player picking up a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury which ruled him out for several months.
After those two enforced changes, the Rams continued to lack a cutting edge in front of goal, as was the case for the Trotters who struck the crossbar three times during the second half as they pushed for a winner.
In the end, neither side were able to break the deadlock and the only notable bit of action towards the end of the game came in the form of a red card after Jay Spearing was sent off following his second yellow card of the match.
2014/15 – Rotherham United (H)
Pride Park Stadium, Saturday 9th August 2014
Derby County 1-0 Rotherham United
Starting XI: Grant, Christie, Forsyth, Bryson, Buxton, Keogh, Dawkins (Best 79), Hendrick, Martin, Russell (Ward 64), Hughes (Mascarell 53)
Substitutes not used: Eustace, Whitbread, Sammon, Roos
Setting the Scene: On the back of the heart-breaking play-off final defeat to Queens Park Rangers in the previous season, Steve McClaren got his first full campaign in charge of the Rams off to a winning start.
The tale before the tie saw Derby successfully achieve their plan of continuity as integral players from the memorable 2013/14 season all committed their futures in new long term deals.
Key Moments: A spirited first game back in the Championship from Rotherham saw Derby encounter a few early scares at a sun-soaked Pride Park Stadium.
However, it didn’t take long for the Rams to settle back into the swing of things and they went on to control 67% of the possession in the game.
In total, Derby registered 10 shots on goal and that included Jeff Hendrick’s eventual winner late on after the Irish midfielder turned in Cyrus Christie’s cross from the right.
It wasn’t all over from that point though, as Craig Forsyth was forced to turn way Kieron Agard’s shot off the line in order to guarantee Derby’s first three points of the campaign.
2013/14 – Blackburn Rovers (H)
Pride Park Stadium, Sunday 4th August 2013
Derby County 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
Starting XI: Grant, Forsyth, Keogh, Freeman, Buxton, Hendrick, Ward, Bryson, Hughes (Eustace, 81), Martin (Sammon, 84), Russell (Coutts, 62)
Substitutes not used: Legzdins, Smith, Jacobs, Davies
Setting the Scene: Another opening day fixture in front of a home crowd and one that carried a major milestone for Johnny Russell, who made his first appearance in a Rams shirt after he opted to join Derby from Dundee United during the close-season.
Before a ball had even been kicked, there was an air of excitement going into the game, with Nigel Clough looking to maintain his unbeaten start to a league campaign since taking over at Pride Park in early in 2009.
Key Moments: The visitors looked liveliest in front of goal early on and had a hatful of untaken chances, which fell to the likes of Ruben Rochina and Jordan Rhodes.
After a period of dominance from Blackburn, Russell managed to the turn the game on it’s head after he converted from the penalty spot following a handball offence from Alex Marrow.
Following the break, Derby picked up where they left off and continued to channel their efforts towards goal with an effort from Richard Keogh ruled out for offside.
Despite spirited defending, though, Derby were unable to see out the game after Leon Best managed to snatch an 88th minute equaliser.
2012/13 - Sheffield Wednesday (H)
Pride Park Stadium, Saturday, 18th August 2012
Derby County 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday
Starting XI: Fielding, Brayford, Roberts, Buxton, Keogh, Bryson, Coutts, Hendrick, Hughes (Gjokaj 87), Tyson (O’Connor 74), Ward (Robinson 82)
Substitutes not used: Legzdins, Jacobs, Doyle, Bennett
Setting the Scene: A four-goal thriller was what greeted the Rams when they took on Sheffield Wednesday, upon their return to English football’s second tier after a few years in League 1.
As for Nigel Clough’s Derby, their first Championship game of the campaign came on the back of their 5-5 draw to Scunthorpe United in the League Cup of which, the Rams lost out on penalties.
Key Moments: A dominant first 45 minutes from the Rams made it look as though had the game put to bed after they stormed into a two-goal lead.
Nathan Tyson netted first after just 11 minutes of play after being picked out by Jamie Ward and Jake Buxton quickly extended his side’s lead, heading in Paul Coutts’ visionary cross.
After going behind, Sheffield Wednesday sought to reduce the deficit quickly and did so in emphatic style after Chris O’Grady found the top corner from the edge of the area before the break.
Following the interval, a rejuvenated Wednesday side emerged from the dressing room and Reda Johnson’s late header meant that Derby had to settle for a point.