Paul Warne has now said what moment, aside from the Joe Wildsmith error, had a ‘big impact’ on Derby County in the defeat to Charlton Athletic.
Derby County were stunned on Tuesday night as they lost to Charlton Athletic 2-1.
The Rams may have taken the lead in the contest through Eiran Cashin, but a familiar narrative unfolded at Pride Park as the hosts dropped more points from a winning position.
A mistimed challenge from goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith on Daniel Kanu handed Charlton the chance to equalise from the penalty spot.
Alfie May obliged with a calmly taken penalty midway through the second half before teenager Karoy Anderson scored the winner 10 minutes from time.
Wildsmith’s massive error, not for the first time this season, was ultimately the turning point in the contest but Warne also believes Ryan Nyambe going off the field was a decisive factor.
Paul Warne says Ryan Nyambe leaving the pitch had a ‘big impact’
Nyambe arrived from Wigan Athletic in the summer and has been one of Derby’s standout performers this term.
The 26-year-old has missed eight matches through a groin injury and AFCON duty with Namibia, but he’s been largely ever-present in the Derby defence, and his return to the side was a welcomed one.
In the match against Charlton, Nyambe offered the Rams defensive protection down the right as he’s difficult to beat in one-on-one situations and is strong in the tackle.
When he hobbled off the pitch in the 52nd minute, the hosts lost his ability to deal with the threatening Thierry Small and Warne described the moment he left the pitch as having a “big impact” on the outcome of the match.
Speaking to BBC Radio Derby after the game, he said: “I just felt we lost a bit of a battle in the middle of the park, all of a sudden we didn’t look as fresh and then obviously Ryan coming off has a big impact because he’s probably our most athletic defender.”
Derby simply weren’t good enough
Whilst the enforced substitution of Nyambe was a big blow when the Rams were 1-0 up, Warne can’t use that as an excuse to paper up the cracks of a dismal display.
Derby, for weeks, haven’t been great at all and the manager even said himself that they haven’t been amazing all season.
Remarkably, they still sit second in the League One table but following consecutive defeats over Barnsley and Charlton, questions have to be asked about Warne’s tactics.
At times, watching the Rams is made for arduous viewing as supporters are made to sit through uninspiring matches of football and would rather be entertained.
With the players they have at their disposal, including the likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Corey Blackett-Taylor, Derby have the individual talent to put in entertaining performances.
Sadly, in the Warne era, they’ve fallen short of producing that and they may fall short of achieving promotion if they aren’t careful.