Derby County 1-0 Sunderland: Player Ratings

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Post on Jan 22, 2025

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Derby County 1-0 Sunderland: Player Ratings - A Rams Fan's Perspective

Okay, Rams fans, let's dive into this one. That 1-0 win against Sunderland? Pure grit. Pure Derby. But let's be honest, it wasn't pretty, was it? Some players shone, some… well, let's just say they had a game. So grab your tea (or pint!), settle in, and let's dissect this baby. I'm going to give you my completely unbiased, totally accurate (mostly…) player ratings. Remember, this is my opinion, you might feel differently – and that's cool!

Goalkeeper: Joe Wildsmith - 8/10

Seriously, what a performance from Wildsmith! He pulled off some amazing saves. That one-on-one in the second half? Forget about it. He was a brick wall. He commanded his box too, kept the backline organized and made several crucial clearances. Totally deserved the clean sheet and man of the match, in my opinion. Maybe it was the pressure, maybe he just had a great day, but he definitely gave us that extra layer of security we needed.

Defenders:

• Max Bird - 7/10: Solid as ever. He’s our midfield anchor, but he filled in defensively and did a good job. I always thought he's got the capabilities to play in multiple positions, and today he proved it.
• James Chester - 6.5/10: A couple of shaky moments, but he mostly dealt with Sunderland's attacks well. Needs to be a little more assertive sometimes, but he's experienced and knows the game. Good experience in the defense.
• Craig Forsyth - 6/10: Did the job, but nothing spectacular. A reliable player to have in the back line, but I do wish he showed a bit more going forward.
• Haydon Roberts - 7/10: Great pace and a few good tackles. Looked comfortable on the pitch, much improved from the last few weeks. This guy's got potential!

Midfield:

• Korey Smith - 7/10: He was everywhere! Winning tackles, making passes, keeping things ticking over. A true workhorse in the middle of the park. This guy is consistent and vital to the team.
• Jason Knight - 6.5/10: A few good runs, but he needs to be a little more decisive in the final third. His passing game was quite good, but he could have taken more risks sometimes to create more opportunities.
• Tom Lawrence - 7.5/10: Our match-winner! That goal was pure class. He worked hard and made a difference on the wing. We needed that goal, and he provided it. He showed a lot of confidence today.

Forwards:

• Colin Kazim-Richards - 6/10: He always gives 100%, but he was a little quiet today. He needs to be more clinical in front of goal.
• Luke Plange - 6/10: Showed some decent flashes, but needs more consistency. We really need some creativity from our forwards, so we need him to improve.

Substitutes:

I didn't rate the subs as they didn't have enough time to really make an impact. But they all seemed to maintain the intensity that was needed.

Overall:

A hard-fought win. It wasn't pretty, but sometimes you gotta grind out results. We could have been a bit more clinical in front of goal, but the defense was solid, and Wildsmith was outstanding. Three points are three points – onto the next one! Let me know your ratings in the comments! What did you guys think of the game? Who impressed you the most?

Keywords: Derby County, Sunderland, Player Ratings, Championship Football, Joe Wildsmith, Tom Lawrence, Match Report, Football Analysis, Derby County vs Sunderland, Player Performances, Football Review