Expert view: 'It could get worse before it gets better'

Anger, sickness and disillusionment. Just a few of the words I have heard and read since the final whistle at Pride Park on Sunday.

Derby County had their second-best first half of the season, the tempo was high, they controlled the game and were creative. The balance in midfield gave the Rams a presence with Liam Thompson and Ben Osborn working in tandem to move them up the pitch.

Sheffield Wednesday had no answer and Derby went ahead with a goal crafted by a move between Eiran Cashin, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Jerry Yates and Marcus Harness before the cross was swept into the net by Ebou Adams. A brilliant move from back to front and a glimpse of what they can do.

The Rams should have added to that tally with the Owls under pressure for most of the first half but Danny Rohl’s half-time team talk for Wednesday hit home and they came out firing in the second half with a higher tempo.

Barry Bannan scored a brilliant equaliser from distance after the Rams switched off in defence and, after Yates failed with two chances to put the Rams ahead, it was Nathaniel Chalobah’s introduction for the Owls that changed the game, sitting in front of the Owls defence, allowing Barry Bannan to concentrate on attacking.

Rams head coach Paul Warne tried to counter the changes by taking off Thompson and Osborn. The latter did not play on Wednesday and was fresh for this game, while Thompson played 28 minutes against Swansea but was taken off after 79 minutes.

Derby did not have another chance on goal. Kenzo Goudmijn was ineffective in midfield and the game was won down the right when a cross was converted by Owls substitute Jamal Lowe.

Self-destruction? Perhaps, but with trips to Leeds United and Burnley to come next week it could get a lot worse before it gets better.