Jack Marriott scored his first goal of the new Championship season as Derby County lost 2-1 to Bristol City at Pride Park.
At least Jack Marriott gave Derby County supporters something to cheer during a miserable night at Pride Park.
A performance full of misplaced passes and shoddy defending was only going to end one way against an impressive Bristol City side. As such, Derby have now picked up just five points from a possible 12 under Phillip Cocu with Andi Weimann and Josh Brownhill scoring in the first half to send The Rams to slaughter.
Marriott did pull one back late on, however, and what a goal it was.
The most natural goal-scorer in Cocu’s squad had been limited to just 28 minutes of football this season thanks in part to injuries but he belatedly came to the party with a fabulous strike which fizzed into the top corner of the Bristol City net.
On this evidence, Marriott certainly deserves a chance to lead the line in the Cocu era.
“We were close to an equaliser after a fantastic goal from Jack Marriott,” the former PSV and Fenerbahce coach told Derbyshire Live.
“The second half was much better in the way we presented ourselves, the way we played, the attitude. Still we made some mistakes, but for me it was different.
“We got back in the game. I said if we can score one, it is always possible here to get a draw or maybe even a win, and I think I was right.”
A £2.5 million signing from Peterborough United in June 2018 (the Post), Marriott scored 10 goals in just 19 Championship starts for Derby in his debut season in the East Midlands. Give him a chance and he will score, usually in emphatic fashion.
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