What Nathan Jones did near the tunnel at full-time amid a 'growing concern' at Derby County

Derby County blew a lead for the second time in three days as they lost at home to relegation-threatened Charlton as their automatic promotion hopes suffered a setback.

The Rams had made a decent enough start as they looked to pen Charlton in their own half but chances were few and far between in a tense opening 20 minutes. But Korey Smith did try his luck from the edge of the box after a decent move but he just could find the power or the accuracy to trouble Harry Isted.

Charlton were struggling to create chances themselves although they did burst into life when Panutche Camara had sight of goal 20 yards out but dragged his shot wide of the upright. Derby kept plugging away in a bid to create opportunities but it was from a set-piece that handed them the breakthrough before half-time when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s corner was met by an emphatic header by Eiran Cashin.

Charlton came out fighting after the break and nearly levelled when Chuks Aneke, on as a substitute, clattered the bar with a header. And then moments later they were level when a ball down the side and into the area for Daniel Kanu tempted goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith to come off his line to commit the foul. The referee had no option but to point to the spot and that allowed Alfie May to bury from the spot.

And with 10 minutes remaining, Charlton were ahead when a mistake by Ebou Adams was pounced upon with Wildsmith making a fine save from Kanu but there was Karoy Anderson to smash in on the follow-up.

Derby got lucky again with Bolton result

The worst aspect of this dreadful second-half performance was that Charlton didn’t exactly have to work hard for their first win of 2024. One mistake from Joe Wildsmith, more of which later, and another cardinal sin of Derby playing square across midfield was all it took to turn this game on its head.

It may have been a bit more palatable if Charlton had suddenly come out and played like a budget version of Man City after half-time, but they didn’t. They simply reduced the game to a base level. Turn the defence, win second balls, and try to force errors. It might have been pragmatic football, but it was effective and was enough to capitalise on three major Derby afflictions; a lack of control, an absence of game management and, most crucially of all, no leadership.

Of more growing concern is that since James Collins has been ruled out through injury, the centre-backs have offered more of a threat than the front players in the final third which is something that needs addressing. Charlton manager Nathan Jones looked very pleased with himself afterwards and understandably so. He exchanged a few words with some Derby fans on his way towards the players’ tunnel at full-time and was clearly pumped from what was a big win in their battle to beat the drop.

The only saving grace of a poor night for Derby was that Bolton lost at Wigan meaning, somehow, they still cling onto second spot. They have got lucky with results elsewhere in recent weeks but Derby can’t keep relying on Ian Evatt’s side chucking points away or hoping that Barnsley have a wobble here or there. They’ve got to put a stop to it and it has to start with Port Vale on Saturday.

It can’t just be Mendez-Laing

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has been incredible this season and will undoubtedly contest for the player of the season award come the end of the campaign. We’ve often said that when he plays well, Derby invariably do too.

But it was hard not to feel some sympathy for him last night given it wasn’t his greatest performance by any stretch of the imagination in terms of open play. And yet he still managed to come away with an assist for Eiran Cashin’s goal in the first half with a superb corner to the near post.

We have to accept that he isn’t superhuman and his perfomance levels will dip for a game here or there. But it is imperative in those moments that others step up. And the brutal reality last night was that nobody could free him of the pressure of being Derby’s goto man in open play. It can’t just be him all the time and others have to take responsibility.

Subs didn’t work

Paul Warne has never been afraid to make changes in terms of substitutions, but the ones who came on last night barely had an impact.

Tom Barkhuizen didn’t lay a glove on the Charlton defence, Louie Sibley skied an effort into the South Stand and Martyn Waghorn, as good as it was to see him back, still looks short of match sharpness.

Corey Blackett-Taylor entered the fray with five minutes remaining of normal time, but still seems to be finding his feet after his move from Charlton back in January. All you ask from your substitutes is that make some kind of impact on the game.

But sadly none of them made Charlton sweat. In fact the biggest blow to Derby was when Korey Smith had to come off. That was a substitution forced due to his spent energy levels due to his lack of first-team minutes. As soon as he went off, Derby’s midfield just lacked cohesion and Charlton profited from it.

Wildsmith’s rash decision

It would be unfair to blame this defeat solely on Wildsmith’s shoulders because there was still enough time for Derby to have won the game after he conceded the penalty in the second half.

But there can be no dispute it was a catalyst for Charlton who, up until that point in the game, had offered very little in attack. It is not the first time that Derby’s goalkeeper has had a rush of blood this season given he committed exactly the same offence against Oxford when Derby won 3-2.

Warne said the former Sheffield Wednesday stopper had held his hands up in the dressing room and when he looks back, he will know that he should have just stayed where he was. If Daniel Kanu had been able to beat him from his position in the area, then you hold your hands up and say ‘fair play’. It would have had to be a hell of a finish to score from that angle.

Unfortunately, Wildsmith got caught up in the moment, but there were still enough minutes left for Derby to get their act together.

What did you make of the performance? Have your say right here.