Derby County vs Swansea City. Sky Bet Championship.
Pride Park StadiumAttendance21,640.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash between Derby County and Swansea at Pride Park as Wayne Rooney's men earn another point on home soil with a goalless draw
Saturday 2 October 2021 18:36, UK
Derby delivered another spirited display to hold Swansea to a 0-0 draw at rainswept Pride Park.
Swansea dominated for long periods of the game but only forced Ryan Allsop into one serious save.
Derby, who were docked 12 points after going into administration two weeks ago, could have snatched a second victory in four days but for Ben Hamer, who made a triple save to deny Tom Lawrence early in the second half.
Swansea made a confident start and forced Allsop into action in the eighth minute.
Joel Piroe made a good run down the left and played the ball across for Korey Smith 10 yards out, but Allsop got down to his right to block the shot.
Piroe had a good chance in the 15th minute when he burst into the box but was tackled as he tried to turn inside a defender and Derby cleared.
Swansea were getting plenty of possession around the Derby penalty area and Piroe had a shot on the turn deflected behind before Joel Latibeaudiere headed wide at the back post in the 23rd minute.
Derby were struggling to get out of their own half, but for all their dominance, Swansea had not tested Allsop since that early save and they came close to conceding in the 35th minute.
Jason Knight pounced on a loose pass and surged into the box before firing in a low cross which flashed across the six-yard box.
Derby had their first attempt at goal in the 52nd minute when Knight fired at Hamer from distance, but the goalkeeper was called into more significant action a minute later.
Lawrence broke away but Hamer blocked his drive before saving the next two shots from the Wales international.
Derby were having their best period and it needed a great tackle from Jamie Paterson to deny Knight when he was poised to strike.
Swansea responded with an attack that saw the ball pinballing around inside the area, but Derby's defence again stood firm.
The visitors had another chance in the 75th minute when Jake Bidwell crossed from the left, but Smith could not get over his header at the back post and Allsop saved easily.
Derby almost caught Swansea on the break in the 83rd minute. However, Lawrence could not get enough power in his shot to trouble Hamer.
Derby's Wayne Rooney: "It was a difficult game for us, Swansea played some good stuff and had a lot of possession but didn't really create that many clear-cut chances. But it can be a frustrating game when the opposition has that much of the ball. Second half we did well, we had to be more aggressive and put more pressure on them and on another day maybe could have nicked a win.
"The players are showing attitude, spirit and enthusiasm and it's good this game happened today because on another day we could get frustrated and lose our discipline. With everything that's gone on, for the lads to keep their concentration, stay in the game and stick to what we were trying to do, overall I have to be pleased with a point and I think last season we might have caved in."
Swansea's Russell Martin: "I'm really frustrated, frustrated for the guys," he said. "We deserved to win, we were so dominant, had 10 shots inside their box and that needs to come to more. We are very close to being a very, very good team. Derby had a great result during the week and we didn't allow them to play at all. We had great energy, intensity, and real control, but we need to make more of the dominance.
"We created a lot, we had good chances and someone has to give themselves up to really put the ball in the net. I'm so happy with so much, but I'm frustrated for the players and I think they feel the same way. As I said, we are really close to being very, very good side and so much of it today was so good, but we have to win the game when we're that dominant."
