The back end of 2022 had been kind to Derby County and confidence was high going into 2023.
Paul Warne’s men had started to display a real identity and went into the new year unbeaten in 14 matches in all competitions.
With up to six games to play in January and four of those coming in Sky Bet League One, it was yet another huge month ahead and one that had the potential to shape the season.
Here, dcfc.co.uk has taken a look back at January’s action…
02/01 - Derby County 4-0 Accrington Stanley (Sky Bet League One)
2023 kicked off with a bang at Pride Park Stadium as Derby dismantled Accrington Stanley.
Tom Barkhuizen, Conor Hourihane and David McGoldrick put the Rams 3-0 up before the break before Barkhuizen added his second and Derby’s fourth just after the restart.
William Osula was handed a late red card but the Rams saw the game out comfortably to land their first three points of the year.
08/01 – Derby County 3-0 Barnsley (FA Cup Third Round)
It was a break from league action the following week but a familiar opponent as the Rams faced off with League One top six rivals Barnsley in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Aside from a shaky opening 10 minutes, Derby were relentless throughout and dominated large portions of the game.
James Collins opened the scoring from the penalty spot just before half-time before Tom Barkhuizen and Jason Knight wrapped things up in the second half.
The reward for their exploits was a home tie against Premier League side West Ham United in the Fourth Round at the end of the month.
14/01 – Cheltenham Town 2-3 Derby County (Sky Bet League One)
The Rams made it six points from six to start 2023 with an impressive victory on the road at Cheltenham Town, but they were made to work for them.
A goal inside the opening two minutes from Caleb Taylor put the home side in front before the Rams quickly turned things round through a header from Conor Hourihane and a stunning goal of the season contender from Max Bird.
Barkhuizen added a third in the second half before a late Alfie May strike made for a nervy finish.
The Rams held on and made it 17 unbeaten in all competitions ahead of a big game against Bolton Wanderers the following week on home turf.
21/01 – Derby County 2-1 Bolton Wanderers (Sky Bet League One)
Derby’s fourth game of the month would undoubtedly be their toughest to date as play-off rivals Bolton Wanderers visited Pride Park Stadium.
After playing out a 0-0 draw at the University of Bolton Stadium just a month prior, most were expecting a tight game once more and whilst the ultimate scoreline suggested that – the Rams’ performance on the day was brilliant.
After Nathaniel Mendez-Laing had given Paul Warne’s men the lead midway through the first half, the result never looked in doubt.
The Rams were dominant in all areas with their relentless press causing the Trotters all sorts of problems.
Conor Hourihane made sure of the three points with a well taken goal with just 15 minutes to go as Warne’s men tightened their grip on their spot in the top six.
Kieran Sadlier had got one back for the visitors in the last minute of stoppage time but it wasn’t enough to dampen what was an extremely impressive performance.
24/01 – Port Vale 1-2 Derby County (Sky Bet League One)
The final league game of the month happened to be the most dramatic for the Rams.
After dominating for large parts of the game, Derby found themselves 1-0 down early in the second half against the run of play through a Funso Ojo strike.
Tom Barkhuizen, Lewis Dobbin and David McGoldrick all saw chances pass them by to level the match and it started to have the feeling of one of those games.
But as the clock ticked past the 87th minute, McGoldrick tapped home to make things 1-1 and just over 90 seconds after that ball had hit the net, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing turned the game on its head with a great finish to send the away end into pandemonium.
30/01 – Derby County 0-2 West Ham United (FA Cup Fourth Round)
January rounded off with a night of FA Cup action under the lights at Pride Park Stadium against Premier League side West Ham United.
The Rams went into the game full of confidence and real belief that they could progress in the competition but that suffered a blow after just 10 minutes when Jarrod Bowen put the Hammers in front.
Derby composed themselves after the early set-back and were the better team for the majority of the first half without creating anything too clear-cut up the other end.
It was all to play for going into the second 45, but a goal from Michail Antonio shortly after the restart stifled momentum and sealed the tie for David Moyes’ men.
Despite defeat, the Rams were able to come away with their heads held high after more than matching the side two divisions above them for large parts.
Derby County Under-21s
It was a very difficult month for the Under-21s who suffered two defeats on the road as well as seeing three games cancelled owing to poor weather.
A 3-0 loss at Southampton was followed up by a 7-2 defeat away at East Midlands neighbours Nottingham Forest, with Ola Ibrahim and Osazee Aghatise finding the net for the Rams against the Reds.
Southampton Under-21s 3-0 Derby County Under-21s
Nottingham Forest Under-21s 7-2 Derby County Under-21s
Derby County Under-18s
Jake Buxton’s Under-18’s were able to finish the month of January unbeaten though were unfortunate not to have done so with two wins rather than just the one.
A 4-2 victory on the road at Stoke City Under-18s was backed up with a solid 1-1 draw away at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The young Rams finished the month with a home game against Everton which turned out to be a thriller.
Winger Jaydan Davidson scored a hat-trick to put the team 3-0 up against Everton Under-18s at Moor Farm Training Ground at the end of the month but the Toffees fought back and a 94th minute equaliser saw the match end up in a 3-3 draw.
Stoke City Under-18s 2-4 Derby County Under-18s
Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-18s 1-1 Derby County Under-18s
Derby County Under-18s 3-3 Everton Under-18s
Derby County Women
It was a fantastic month for Derby County Women who made it nine points from nine following three convincing victories to start 2023.
The pick of the results came in a 5-1 hammering of Stoke City Women midway through January with Amy Sims grabbing her second hat-trick of the season in the win.