Derby County endured a tough re-introduction to the Championship on Friday night.
Derby County lost 4-2 vs Blackburn Rovers on Friday night as Championship football got underway in 2024/25.
The Rams headed to Ewood Park quietly confident of getting a result. But Paul Warne’s side were outclassed in both halves.
Kenzo Goudmijn impressed Derby County fans on his debut after signing from AZ Alkmaar this summer.
He was one of the very few shining lights for the Rams, whose distinct lack of Championship quality, especially so coming off the bench, was exposed against a strong-looking Blackburn side.
There’s now three weeks remaining of the summer transfer window and the defeat vs Blackburn has certainly highlighted a need for a few more players.
Warne though may still be counting on his current first-team players to step up to the plate, and eventually get to grips with the Championship.
None more so than centre-back Eiran Cashin; the Derby County academy man featured 44 times in League One last season and started alongside Curtis Nelson on Friday night.
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Eiran Cashin performance for Derby County vs Blackburn Rovers criticised
Cashin is a very well-liked player among Derby County fans.
After making his league debut during Derby’s last 2021/22 season in the Championship, he went on to become a regular feature, and is now a nailed on starter for Warne.
Cashin is also someone who’s had links to the Premier League in the recent past, but he failed to show why on Friday night.
Derbyshire Live rated Cashin’s performance as a 4.5/10, with journalist Leigh Curtis adding: “A rash performance from the centre-back who wanted to go to ground a bit too much and the problem with the Championship is the forward players are too smart for it.”
Cashin made six defensive actions on the night; two clearances, two tackles, and two interceptions, compared to Nelson’s seven defensive actions.
But Cashin did have the most touches of any player on the pitch (94), with an 88% pass rate.
The problem that Eiran Cashin faces with Derby County this season
Cashin proved himself in League One and looks ready to take on the Championship.
But, like Curtis says, he was given a tough introduction, playing against last season’s top scorer Sammie Szmodics.
Cashin will need to adjust his game to cope with the speed and technical ability of Championship strikers and that might be easier said than done, especially now that the season’s gotten underway.
Cashin now looks set to play catch up in he Championship. But he remains a player with huge potential, and the game vs Blackburn will have taught him a lot.