Agyemang goal secures point for Derby against Saints

Patrick Agyemang joined Derby in the summer from Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC

Patrick Agyemang's first Derby County goal earned a point against improving Southampton but the Rams are still without a home win this season.

The American headed in Andreas Weimann's delightful floated cross five minutes before the break to cancel out Adam Armstrong's fine early individual effort.

An open and entertaining game full of chances, and excellent goalkeeping by Derby's Jacob Widell Zetterstrom and counterpart Alex McCarthy, saw the hosts respond impressively to the Armstrong opener, with the outstanding Carlton Morris and Weimann both going close.

Saints also created plenty of opportunities, most notably when Armstrong shot wide after the break.

But neither team could find a winner, leaving Derby with just one league victory this season and Southampton with just two from their nine matches.

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The Rams have lost just one of their past seven matches, but five of those have ended level and they have taken just two points from five matches at Pride Park.

Will Still's Saints are now unbeaten in three but were unable to build on their first away win of the season, at Sheffield United on Tuesday - a win that saw them earn as many points on the night as they had in their previous five matches.

The visitors looked in good shape to make it consecutive away victories when Armstrong's tenacity and positivity saw him bundle through three half-hearted challenges and calmly finish.

But Derby responded impressively, Morris and Weimann both testing McCarthy, while at the other end Widell Zetterstrom made fine saves from Ross Stewart, who was later forced off with an injury, and Leo Scienza.

The open nature of the game continued after the break - and the chances kept coming at both ends.

The towering, influential figure of Morris was inevitably at the heart of Derby's best moments, teeing up Agyemang, who shot into the side netting, and then heading narrowly wide from an inviting Craig Forsyth cross.

Saints, with their pace and movement up front, were also posing problems.

Armstrong should have had a second goal but shot wide from a Ryan Fraser centre and the excellent Scienza, who was surprisingly taken off on the hour, also went close.

Derby substitute Kayden Jackson had the best opportunity late on, a powerful curling effort towards the far corner that McCarthy pushed away thanks to some perfect positioning.

Derby County boss John Eustace told BBC Radio Derby:

"I thought it was a great game of football between two good teams. We're up against top-quality players and we went toe-to-toe with them.

"The first goal was too easy unfortunately, but the response was amazing. We are getting sharper and fitter as a team and I thought the football was really good.

"Heads haven't dropped all season. I'm delighted with the response and proud of the efforts again of the group.

"I'm delighted with the way Carlton Morris and Patrick Agyemang are linking up at the minute.

"Today was a good sign when we're confident and playing our football we can create and score against the best in the league."

Southampton boss Will Still told BBC Radio Solent:

"We have got four points from six in two tricky away games. If we're being hyper-critical and demanding of ourselves then these are the sort of games we have to learn to win or find a way to win.

"We started really well and brightly and created a good few chances. We wobbled a bit after our goal and they hit us with a lot of direct and physical play.

"Then we grew back into the game and had a bit more control, but we've then been undone by what I think is a really poor refereeing decision. I don't know how the throw-in goes their way.

"We still need to then switch on and we've conceded an annoying goal, the second half was scrappy and it wasn't our style but we have to deal with it.

"We've had a few opportunities we haven't really taken and we need to have a bit more composure going forward."