Derby County: Paul Warne needs solution to big issue that cost points v Plymouth Argyle | OneFootball

The Rams drew 1-1 with the Pilgrims on Saturday, a game that they probably should have won.

Derby County entered the international break off the back of an incredibly frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Plymouth Argyle.

The Rams welcomed back former manager Wayne Rooney to Pride Park for the first time since he left the club in the summer of 2022 following relegation to League One.

The Pilgrims boss received an incredibly warm reception from his ex-supporters, but it was a reception that might have been even kinder had his new side not salvaged a point in DE24 thanks to a deflected Adam Randell free kick just before half-time.

Derby had taken the lead in spectacular fashion less than 10 minutes into the game on a cold afternoon in the East Midlands, with Jerry Yates adding his second goal in two games with a perfectly executed bicycle kick.

Despite constant pressure from the hosts, they were not able to find the winner in the second-half and Paul Warne's side were forced to settle for a point, with the Rams' lack of a clinical edge in front of goal being called into question.

Warne should be annoyed at the lack of conviction in Derby's attacks

It has not been too often this season that Derby have been the more dominant side in a match, with the East Midlands club usually on the end of a lot of pressure from their opposition, but against Plymouth they were the side on the front foot throughout.

The Rams started incredibly brightly, and just moments after Yates' stunner, Liam Thompson came close to doubling his team's lead, being denied only by a block from Argyle's Matthew Sorinola.

However, the fast-paced football seemed to ease after the break, and the home side found it more difficult to break down the Devonshire team's resolute defence.

Yates came close twice to taking the lead back for Derby in the second-half, with his first effort only just being saved by Daniel Grimshaw. The Swansea City loanee struck the ball from past the halfway line and nearly caught his former Blackpool teammate out, with the goalkeeper colliding with the post to stop the strike.

Not long after, Thompson won the ball just before it went out for a goal kick, playing in Yates who took too long before releasing his shot, and ultimately it was cleared.

The Rams huffed and puffed throughout the remainder of the game, and although Curtis Nelson came close with a header, the majority of their shots either flew wide or were blocked, ultimately costing them two points.

Warne can not let this happen again

While it may only seem like two points dropped, the performance has shown a few weaknesses in this current Derby squad, and they must be rectified quickly.

The Rams seem to be more comfortable without the ball compared to when they have it, with Warne's team recording the second-lowest average possession percentage in the Championship so far in 2024/25.

They tend to make the most of what little they have, and playing the ball around the box is not something that is part of their repertoire, but becoming more comfortable controlling the match is a part of their game that they must improve.

Derby do not take too many shots on goal, but when they do get countless opportunities like they did against Plymouth, they cannot afford to pass them up, as those points they missed out on denied them the opportunity to breakaway from the bottom three.