Ashley Cole suffered defeat in his first East Midlands Derby as Frank Lampard’s Rams lost 1-0 away at Championship rivals Nottingham Forest.
Ashley Cole was arguably one of the greatest English footballers of his generation; a decorated defender with over 100 caps and a series of medals from his trophy-laden spells at Arsenal and Chelsea.
Unfortunately for Derby County, however, he is also 38.
Cole made a shock return to English football in January, reuniting with his former England and Chelsea teammate Frank Lampard after seeing his time in MLS with La Galaxy come to an end.
But maybe a move to the Championship, a league renowned for its pace and directness, has simply come far too late for a player whose best years were almost a decade ago. He looked every day of his 38 years on Monday night as Lampard’s Rams suffered another damaging loss, away at East Midland rivals Nottingham Forest no less.
Yohan Benalouane scored the winner inside the first two minutes but it was Joe Lolley who ran the show, his speed and trickery leaving Cole choking on his dust at the City Ground.
And Forest fans have wasted no time in mocking a player who, for all his past success, looked out of his depth last night.
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