Anwar El Ghazi

Match Report | Derby County 1-0 Cardiff City

Match Reports
City fell to a 1-0 defeat away at Derby County on September 14th, 2024.
Joel Bagan

Erol Bulut made six changes to the team that faced Boro last time out in league action, with Jak Alnwick, Dimi Goutas, Joel Bagan, Joe Ralls, Rubin Colwill and Anwar El Ghazi welcomed into the starting XI.

The early exchange saw a clash between goalkeeper and striker, as Jacob Widell Zetterström collided with Wilfried Kanga, who looked to capitalise on a short back pass. The goalie did well to keep the ball out and was able to continue in the match. Colwill looked to test his reflexes quickly after this incident, but the Swedish shot stopper did well to keep out the powerful strike.

It was a back and forth opening half, but the home side found a way through just before the half hour mark with Kenzo Goudmijn slotting in at close range.

City looked to quickly strike back, but Goutas, Perry Ng and El Ghazi all saw efforts fail to hit the back of the net. City goalkeeper Alnwick had to be alert to keep out a strike from former Bluebird Nathaniel Mendez-Laing late in the half also.

Chris Willock

The second half saw Will Fish enter the action for Ng at the break. City continued their battle to find a leveller. Ralls saw a strike blocked while El Ghazi's strike from distance drifted off target.

Bulut's side also had to watch out for dangerous counters with the pace and power of Kayden Jackson causing trouble down the right. It took a fine stop from Alnwick to keep out Jackson with 25 minutes of the 90 left.

Substitutes combined as City fashioned a good chance with 12 minutes remaining. Cian Ashford & Chris Willock were heavily involved before the ball found its way to Ollie Tanner on the right. He beat his man well but couldn't find the target with a right footed strike.

Try as they might, the Bluebirds couldn't break through the hosts, who held on despite the late pressure.

FINAL SCORE: DERBY COUNTY 1-0 CARDIFF CITY

Derby County: Zetterstrom, Ozoh (Osborn 49'), Cashin, Yates, Mendez-Laing (Harness 70'), Goudmijn (Phillips 81'), Jackson, Elder (Forsyth 81'), Nyambe, Adams, Nelson. Subs Not Used: Vickers, Bradley, Collins, Harness, Ward, Brown.

Cardiff City: Alnwick, Ng (Fish 46'), Chambers, Goutas, Bagan (Willock 62'), Siopis, Ralls (Robertson 69'), R.Colwill, El Ghazi (Tanner 62'), O'Dowda, Kanga (Ashford 69'). Subs Not Used: Horvath, Rinomhota, Turnbull, Reindorf.