Rams are in good shape for opener and more new faces on cards

GREEK SIDE ARE DEFEATED IN FINAL PRE-SEASON GAME

- By LEIGH CURTIS

DERBY County signed off their preseason campaign with a 2-0 win over Atromitos at Pride Park Stadium.

A goal in each half - the first from Corey Blackett-Taylor and then a Kenzo Goudmijn effort - sealed victory for the Rams ahead of their Championship opener away against Stoke City on Saturday.

The Greek side had their moments early on when Peter Michorl thrashed an effort over the Rams bar before Makana Baku screwed a good chance wide of a post.

But the Rams hit the woodwork when Blackett-Taylor crossed into the box for Ebou Adams to crack the bar with a fierce volley.

The breakthrough eventually came when Blackett-Taylor ran past Quini inside the box which tempted the defender into a clumsy challenge.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Blackett-Taylor made no mistake as he found the bottom corner with the penalty.

Baku was then denied by Rams keeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom at the near post.

After the break, the Rams did not have to wait long for their second when Goudmijn scored direct from a corner.

Carlton Morris then saw a shot cleared off the line before Blackett-Taylor, who was excellent, bent a shot past the upright.

Dajaune Brown could have made it three with seven minutes remaining when Kayden Jackson charged down the right and teed up the forward but he steered his effort over the bar.

A comfortable sign off

With only one week to go before the big kickoff at Stoke, Derby signed off their preseason campaign with a comfortable win that could have yielded a bigger margin of victory.