The Reds were edged out by Derby County this afternoon, despite a spirited performance.

In a game of two halves, it was the hosts who left Pride Park with all three points thanks to a better opening 45.

It ended up being a case of 'what might have been?' as Michael Duff's side fell to a 2-1 defeat on a scorching August afternoon.

Recalled to the starting XI, James Norwood nearly gave the Reds the lead within the opening minute, after a fine team move allowed the striker to receive the ball inside the area, but his fierce shot was deflected out for a corner. 

It was Derby who took the lead, however, on eight minutes, after an in-swinging corner delivery from ex-Red Conor Hourihane wasn’t dealt with and the ball dropped in off the unlucky Conor McCarthy in the six-yard-box.

The temperatures at Pride Park meant a water break was required, and the Reds were the team on top going into the halt in proceedings. Josh Benson picked the pocket of a Derby defender high up the pitch in the 20^th minute, squared to Norwood, but Joe Wildsmith in the Rams goal smothered any attempt on goal.

The home side soon punished the Reds in the 35^th minute, after a loose pass was intercepted in midfield and distributed to Tom Barkhuizen on the left-hand side. The former Preston North End man cut the ball back to Mendez-Laing, who took a touch and fired the ball home from just inside the area, giving Brad Collins no chance.

HALF-TIME: Derby County 2-0 Barnsley

The second half saw a much more impressive Reds display.

Luke Thomas was caught with a late challenge by Eiran Cashin 30 yards out, allowing Josh Benson to swing the ball in from a set piece. The free-kick found Norwood who had cleverly peeled off his man at the back stick, he nodded back across goal towards the on-rushing Jack Aitchison, but the Scot could only side-foot over the bar from close range.

Benson - dominating the centre of the pitch now - won the ball back on the right-hand side, and a neat touch inside from Thomas allowed the midfielder to roll the ball square back to Josh, and the 22-year-old let one fly with his left peg, and via a deflection, beat Wildsmith in the Rams goal and helped get the Reds back in the game after 64 minutes. 

After the second-half cooling break, it was wave after wave of Barnsley attacks. The Reds wrestled control of the affair and had worked a flurry of half-chances. Sub Devante Cole was twice unlucky with efforts from inside the box, whilst fellow second half change Aiden Marsh then dribbled his way into a shooting position but was blocked as he pulled the trigger.

The Reds continued to push in the final 15 minutes and Mads Andersen met a Benson corner ever so well in the dying stages, but his header dropped a foot wide of the post, and it was Derby's day at Pride Park.

FULL-TIME: Derby County 2-1 Reds 

Collins (GK), Williams, McCarthy (Cundy), Andersen (C), Kitching, Styles, J Benson, Connell (Oduor), Thomas, Aitchison (Marsh), Norwood (Cole).

Unused: Walton (GK), Hondermarck, Wolfe.