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Derby County v Hull City player ratings as 'brilliant' hero suffers cruel twist

Dajaune Brown of Derby County celebrates with team mates after scoring during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County FC and Hull City AFC at Pride Park
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Dajaune Brown's first senior goal rescued a point for Derby County as they stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a third successive 1-1 draw.

Xavier Simons had opened the scoring after half-time with a rocket from 25 yards before Brown came on from the bench to send a brilliant looping header over Ivor Pandur but cruelly then had to go off injured.

The Championship clash was far from a classic and after three games in a week, Derby's usual energy out of possession wasn't quite up to the standards we have come to expect. But for their part, Hull were not much better in a first half that lacked quality.

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There were moments when the game threatened to take off, but the best chance of the half came when Kane Wilson met a Nathaniel Mendez-Laing corner but his header was beaten away by Ivor Pandur.

At the other end, Abu Kamara lashed a shot over the bar before the first half was brought to a close which would have given Paul Warne's side a chance to regroup. But the visitors started the second half in control of possession which was eventually rewarded when Xavier Simons struck a brilliant 25-yard effort into the bottom corner.

That was enough to tempt Warne into changes and he made a triple sub as Ben Osborn, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Dajaune Brown were sent on to try to inject some energy. And it worked a treat as Derby were level when Osborn's free-kick was delivered into the box for Brown to send a looping header over Pandur.

Both sides tried to find a second goal in stoppage time but in the end they both settled for a point.

Here's how the players rated...

Jacob Widell Zetterstrom: Had a couple of routine saves he had to make, but outside of that was largely a spectator in the first half. Made a good save after the break but helpless for the goal. 6

Kane Wilson: Got down the sides a couple times but that bit of quality in the final third wasn't quite there. Had the best chance when he forced a save from Ivor Pandur with a header. 6

Curtis Nelson: Derby's best player in the first half. Had a couple of really important blocks and marshalled Chris Bedia well. Was a big performance from the centre-back who is in fine form. 7

Eiran Cashin: Had a solid game alongside Nelson in the heart of the Derby defence and that remains such a strong partnership. Made a couple of timely challenges. 7

Craig Forsyth: Didn't see much of him as an attacking threat, but defensively he was sound particularly when Hull threw numbers forward in their high-risk style of football. 6

Ebou Adams: Won plenty of challenges and he will never let you down in terms of the ground he covers or the attitude, but just needs that improvement on the ball. 6

Kenzo Goudmijn: Warne revealed he was carrying a minor injury against Oxford and based on this display, he still doesn't look quite right. Lacked his usual pop and fizz. 4.5

Kayden Jackson: Worked hard against a shrewd operator in Cody Drameh but just couldn't find that bit of quality in the final third when Derby needed it. 5

Marcus Harness: Had some good moments where he ventured into promising positions but in the first half, Derby couldn't find the final pass that would have caused Hull a problem. 5

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing: Some cute touches, particularly with one around the corner to Harness, but in the one moment he did get into the box, the accuracy wasn't there. 5

Jerry Yates: Had two strapping defenders looking after him so it was always going to be difficult to move them physically. Derby needed to get down the sides of them but didn't happen. Quiet. 4.5

Subs:

Dajaune Brown (Yates 59): Scored a brilliant header to rescue a point and chased a lot of lost causes. But in a cruel twist of fate had to go off injured. 7

Ben Osborn (Goudmijn 59): Added much-needed energy to the centre of midfield and grabbed an assist. 6.5

Corey Blackett-Taylor (Mendez-Laing 59): Had a couple of runs into the box and lofted a shot over the bar. 5.5

Nat Phillips (Brown 88): Slotted in the heart of the defence. N/A

Liam Thompson (Harness 88): Tried to make things happen. N/A

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