Latest Derby County news from DerbyshireLive brings you how the players fared in the Championship clash at Pride Park
17:00, 04 Jan 2026Updated 17:12, 04 Jan 2026
Derby County’s Patrick Agyemang (right) and Wrexhams Matthew James battle for the ball.
Matty James carried Wrexham closer to the Championship playoffs as they beat Derby County 2-1 at Pride Park this afternoon.
Sam Smith had put the visitors ahead before Ben Brereton Diaz levelled as an entertaining first-half came to a close.
But James struck the winner when he seized on a poor pass from Sondre Langas which allowed James to curl in from outside the box.
Wrexham started with a great deal of intensity and purpose and could have been ahead early on when Josh Windass’ curling effort bounced off the post and fell into the path of Nathan Broadhead who lashed wide of the post.
Sam Smith then headed wide of the post from a Ryan Longman cross which only created more noise in the away end.
When Patrick Agyemang lost possession facing his own goal, Windass then broke and forced a wonderful save from Zetterstrom.
Derby took a while to offer a threat themselves, but they had a decent chance from a corner routine when Callum Elder picked out Rhian Brewster but he scuffed his shot straight at Arthur Okonkwo.
Bobby Clark then could have given Derby the lead when he was picked out by Brewster but he could only drag wide of the post.
But with their next attack, Wrexham were ahead when a pass from Broadhead found Sam Smith who was too quick for Matt Clarke to prod the visitors into the lead.
Derby’s response was emphatic however as Clarke won a tackle with his pass matching the run of Brereton Diaz who raced towards goal. He had Brewster in support but used his run as a decoy to beat his man and find the bottom corner.
After half-time, however, Derby were behind when a careless pass from Sondre Langas was seized by Matty James who curled a terrific effort into the top corner from 20 yards.
Joe Ward fancied his chances from a free-kick but his effort was saved by Okonkwo as Derby pushed for a quick equaliser. But as the half wore on, Wrexham looked a threat on the counter attack.
Ollie Rathbone saw a thunderbolt tipped over the bar before Brereton Diaz picked out the run of Clark who fed a ball into the six-yard box which just eluded substitute Kayden Jackson.
Jacob Widell Zetterstrom: The big Swede made an outstanding save to deny Josh Windass in the first half, but could do very little about the goal which was from the edge of the six-yard box. Made another good stop to deny Rathbone. 7
Joe Ward: Set-pieces were a disappointment which is not like him, but there were a couple of impressive bursts in the first half as the winger tried to prise Wrexham open. Just couldn’t find that final ball. 5
Sondre Langas: Wrexham’s movement seemed to cause him a problem early on and he just did not seem to be himself in terms of his energy or his vigour. That much was proven by the mistake that led to Wrexham’s second. 4.5
Dion Sanderson: The best of the centre-backs. Calm and assured in possession and won a couple of challenges. Seems to be relishing in what is a fresh start for him after his permanent move to the club. 7
Matt Clarke: Was asleep for the first goal and you could see he was angry with himself but he atoned for that with a crunching tackle and a fine pass to Brereton Diaz for the goal. Not quite at it mind. 5
Callum Elder: The Australian’s set-pieces were also inconsistent but he did create a fine chance for Brewster for one of them which came straight from the training ground. 5
Bobby Clark: Drove forward at every opportunity and could have scored himself with a chance in the first half when a player of his quality you would expect to hit the target. Derby’s best player. 8
Liam Thompson: The position of Wrexham’s two number 10s gave Derby a real problem in the early stages as Wrexham created some good chances. The academy graduate worked hard. 5
Ben Brereton Diaz: Took his goal brilliantly as he used the run of Brewster as a decoy to keep his composure superbly before rifling past the goalkeeper. Showed real class with how he took it. 7
Rhian Brewster: Had one snatch shot from an Elder corner that you would have backed him to seriously test the goalkeeper because he has the ability. Didn’t make much of a dent in the Wrexham defence. 5
Patrick Agyemang: Needs to protect the ball better when he is stood facing his own goal and it was an afternoon when the American just couldn’t fashion any momentum. Had a header saved. 5
Subs
Lewis Travis (Thompson 60): Contributed some long-range passing which Derby’s midfield desperately needs and made a great tackle with 10 minutes to go. 6
Corey Blackett-Taylor (Elder 60): Produced a couple of decent crosses that Derby couldn’t make the most of. 6
Lars Jorgen-Salvesen (Brewster 60): Was a nuisance inside the box when challenging for headers, but nothing would drop. 5
Andi Weimann (Agyemang 60): Didn’t make the kind of impact he would have hoped for. 5
Kayden Jackson (Sanderson 80): Was very close to an equaliser when Clark almost picked him out. N/A