Derby ease to victory against Bristol City

Derby enjoyed another winning day out at Pride Park with a 3-0 victory that ended Bristol City’s unbeaten start to the Championship campaign.

City had chances but could not find a way past Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, who twice denied Sinclair Armstrong before Dutch midfielder Kenzo Goudmijn scored his first goal for Derby.

Zetterstrom made another top save from Armstrong early in the second half and Derby took full advantage when Kayden Jackson followed up his winner against Middlesbrough two weeks ago with the second.

Midfielder David Ozoh then capped an impressive display for the newly promoted home side with his first County goal in the closing minutes.

Former Derby players Max Bird and Jason Knight lined up for the visitors while the Rams did not include deadline day signings Ned Phillips and Marcus Harness in the squad.

City had the first chance when Armstrong got away down the left but Zetterstrom made a good save at his near post before blocking the rebound.

Bird set up Scott Twine for a shot that was deflected behind for a corner before Armstrong’s pace took him behind Derby’s defence but Zetterstrom again denied him.

Derby offered little going forward until the 26th minute when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing burst forward and played in Goudmijn whose low drive was blocked by the legs of Max O’Leary.

But O’Leary was beaten two minutes later when Goudmijn’s shot from the edge of the box took a deflection and went in off his right post.

Bristol City cut Derby open again in the 35th minute with Bird playing in Twine but Curtis Nelson made a superb block that kept his side in front at the break.

Armstrong had been a constant threat and he forced another sharp save out of Zetterstrom from a tight angle four minutes after the interval.

It was another big moment because Derby doubled their lead on the hour when Jerry Yates knocked the ball down for Jackson who arrowed a right-footed shot past O’Leary from 15 yards.

The goal clearly rattled City who almost conceded again in the 65th minute. Goudmijn’s pass sent Mendez-Laing away down the right and lifted the ball over the onrushing O’Leary but his shot rolled against a post.

Derby struck the post again in the 75th minute through Yates and City’s chances of finding a way back faded when Zetterstrom reacted quickly to turn behind a Twine free-kick.

City’s fate was sealed in the 89th minute when Ozoh slammed in the rebound after O’Leary palmed out Ebou Adams’ shot.