Are Derby County already regretting sanctioning Craig Bryson’s Cardiff City loan?

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Craig Bryson scored a trademark goal for Cardiff City at Sunderland while Derby County toiled at home to Birmingham City.

Derby County were lacking any sort of creative inspiration as they struggled to a 1-1 home draw with Birmingham City in one of the most uneventful games of the Championship weekend.

In fact, Gary Rowett’s side were indebted to a timely intervention from substitute Sam Winnall, who scored with his first touch to cancel out Lukas Jutciewicz’s fine header, with The Rams struggling to open up a side without a manager.

It does not ease the frustrations, then, to see Craig Bryson doing what he does best to kick-start his loan spell at high-flying Cardiff City. The Scotland midfielder made a perfectly timed run from deep and slotted a cool finish into the far corner to set Neil Warnock’s in-form Bluebirds on their way to a 2-1 win at Sunderland.

It was the sort of goal Bryson made his trademark during that prolific, 16-goal 2013/14 season. And it was the sort of goal that may exacerbate the feeling that Derby have made a big mistake letting one of the most talented and experienced players in their squad leave – although Rowett confirmed that he would not have sanctioned a deal if he knew their move for Birmingham City’s Maikel Kieftenbeld would fall through (Birmingham Mail).

Missing Bryson?

Bryson may have scored just twice in 34 Championship games last season but, at his best, there are few more reliable goalscoring midfielders in the second tier. And, considering that Bradley Johnson is the only midfielder to register a goal for Derby so far this season, you wonder whether he could have come in handy at Pride Park.

Because he already looks to have rediscovered his form at Cardiff.

“He just rubs off on everybody and he’s not short on ability either, but it’s just his desire and will,” Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock said in quotes reported by the Derby Telegraph.

With Derby looking slow and pedestrian in the centre of the park against Birmingham, Bryson’s energy and well-timed forward runs are already looking like a big loss.