Paul Warne must not turn to one Derby County selection pick that hasn’t previously worked.
Derby County were held to a stalemate away from home against Millwall, with the scores ending 1-1.
The Rams managed to get their noses in front courtesy of a first Derby County league goal for Jerry Yates, who was able to respond to calls of him potentially getting dropped, and it will likely be a real relief for Paul Warne to finally get his man leading the line well involved in the action of goals.
Unfortunately, the attacking edge was not quite evident amongst other players within the ranks, and as a result the Rams boss has been left with a decision to make in one specific position on the pitch.
He previously made the bold decision to start Corey Blackett-Taylor for the first time in the 2024/25 Championship campaign over Nathaniel Mendez-Laing out wide, with the Guatemalan international getting 30 minutes at the end of the game.
Following the draw against Millwall, Warne’s next decision regarding the pair now must be clear, and therefore must be action in the upcoming clash against Oxford United.
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Paul Warne must persevere with Corey Blackett-Taylor for Derby County
Whilst Blackett-Taylor didn’t manage to get on the scoresheet last time out against Millwall, he still put in a respectable performance and proved to cause more trouble down the flank than Mendez-Laing, and the fact that he was able to do this in a Derby County side away from home must be taken into account after it was the first point they picked up this season on their travels.
The easy option would be for Mendez-Laing to return to the side solely based on his Championship experience, but Warne at this point must persevere with Blackett-Taylor after showing clear signs of promise.
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Nathaniel Mendez-Laing will benefit from spell on the sidelines
Derby County winger Mendez-Laing was crucial in the promotion winning campaign in the 2023/24 League one season, and there is no doubt that he is still a brilliant asset to have in-and-around the club.
However, Blackett-Taylor has been more than patient in waiting for his opportunity, and he most certainly deserves the platform to express his abilities for Warne’s side, as Mendez-Laing has already been handed earlier on this campaign and simply did not grasp with two hands.
The late goal against Norwich City proved that the former Charlton attacker has a certain quality and flair about him, as well as the confidence to test the goalkeeper. Particularly away from home, this is something that Derby County and Warne would massively benefit from and the Rams boss must therefore stick with him in the lineup.