Derby County won 3-1 away at Fleetwood Town in League One this afternoon, with a couple of players standing out.
After starting 2024 with a 3-2 defeat at home to promotion rivals Peterborough United, the Rams earned a routine win at Fleetwood Town courtesy of goals from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, James Collins, and Tom Barkhuizen.
It was a commanding performance and one that leaves Paul Warne‘s side in 4th place of the League One table and just two points behind Bolton Wanderers in 2nd, who go up against Luton Town in the FA Cup tomorrow.
Mendez-Laing and Max Bird were among those who shone for Derby County today. But Collins, who netted his 11th League One goal of the season vs Fleetwood, had a particularly impressive game.
Leigh Curtis raves about James Collins’ performance vs Fleetwood Town
Colins, 33, is enjoying a strong season with Derby County.
He’s now scored as many league goals as he did in the entirety of last season for Derby and he only seems to be getting better as the campaign goes on.
Derbyshire Live rated his performance vs Fleetwood Town as an 8/10, with journalist Leigh Curtis adding:
“There were a few occasions when he held the ball up very well and just looks like a player seriously enjoying his football. Here there and everywhere. At times was like Popeye after a can of spinach.”
As per Sofascore, Collins won 3 out of 7 ground duels and 1 out of 3 aerial duels, with 2 shots on target (joint-most of anyone), and 13 passes completed out of 16.
Colins did a lot of the dirty work today and was a constant thorn in the side of Fleetwood; taking his chance when it fell to him and adding yet another goal to his already-impressive tally for this season.
Collins giving Paul Warne and Derby County food for though
Collins is one of several names out of contract in the summer, so his current scoring form could give Derby a decision to make in the coming weeks and months.
Despite being 33 years old, he’s showing no signs of slowing down, with his energy in attack symbolic of that.
And he boasts so much experience and nouse in front of goal too. He’s a forward who can score an array of goals and can also provide defensive coverage, so there’s a lot for Warne to like about Collins.
He looks set to play a key role in the club’s promotion push and whether or not Derby go up, keeping him for next season seems like a smart bet.
He’s Championship experienced and so he’d be a crucial player to have in the team should the Rams go up; if not, then Collins has shown in the last year-and-a-half that he’s prolific at this level.
Up next for Derby County is a home game vs Bradford City in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.