Derby County claimed a vital point against Portsmouth last night and Paul Warne has sung the praises of one attacking player.
Portsmouth’s clash with Derby County lived up to the billing. Destined to be a Championship fixture next season, the two teams delivered a full-blooded affair, complemented by quality goals and controversial moments.
Derby winger Joe Ward discovered that the London bus saying is true, as he waited so long to score his first goal for the club then two came along at once.
The 28-year-old hit two ferocious strikes from outside the box, with his first flying into the corner while his second took a huge deflection off Connor Ogilvie.
Ward, a signing from Peterborough United in the summer, showed his quality in an attacking sense, as did teammate Corey Blackett-Taylor.
Paul Warne hails Derby County winger Corey Blackett-Taylor
Paul Warne planned to hit Portsmouth on the counter-attack, instructing his players to stick in their regimented shape by cutting the passing lanes and breaking at speed
A game of this magnitude called for big players to step up and Blackett-Taylor – a January arrival from Charlton Athletic – duly obliged.
The 26-year-old was hailed as ‘magnificent’ for his role in Ward’s opener, demonstrating his electric pace to glide past multiple Pompey players before freeing his teammate.
Warne knew that executing a counter-attacking system was made possible by the speed of Blackett-Taylor, who popped up between the lines on several occasions and carried the baton of their attacks.
Dubbed by his manager as a “constant threat”, as per Derby’s official website, the Englishman always looked to drive forward at every opportunity, recording six attempted dribbles, two key passes and creating one big chance.
Derby knew they were getting a special talent in January, and while factors out of his control have prevented him from kicking on, Blackett-Taylor is now primed to have a huge say in the promotion race.
Blackett-Taylor is Championship quality
There’s a huge debate over which players in Derby’s squad are Championship quality.
Defender Eiran Cashin, who nearly joined Brighton last summer, is destined to thrive in the second tier, as long as the Rams win promotion and he isn’t sold.
READ MORE: Derby County star Eiran Cashin’s journey from almost released to Premier League transfer interest
Assist machine Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, who has produced 24 goal contributions this term, will want to rekindle his love affair with the Championship, having starred at that level during his time at Cardiff.
Meanwhile, fellow jet-heeled winger Blackett-Taylor is another who can flourish in the division above.
Although he’s taken a while to join the party, Blackett-Taylor is starting to show the form that saw him destroy League One at Charlton.
He was a class act in a struggling side, registering 15 goal contributions in 23/24 before moving to Pride Park.
If he can convert those numbers at Derby, especially against defences that sit back, Blackett-Taylor could be a devastating weapon in the Championship.
The Rams would likely sit back more and hit teams on the counter, which is where the fleet-footed winger is at his best.
So, as long as Derby wins promotion, Blackett-Taylor has all the tools to flourish in the second tier.