Wrexham 1-1 Derby County: Brereton Diaz cancels out O'Brien header

Wrexham were denied a first home league win of the season as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Derby County at the Stok Cae Ras.

Lewis O'Brien headed home his third goal of the campaign in the 59th minute from an Issa Kabore cross - the Burkina Faso international's third assist in two matches.

But Ben Brereton Diaz's stunning strike - his first since joining Derby on loan from Southampton - ensured the points were shared in north Wales.

The draw moves Wrexham on to eight points from their opening seven matches, with Derby's third league draw of the campaign leaving them on six points from the 21 on offer so far this term.

With just 15 seconds on the clock, Wrexham survived a scare as Patrick Agyemang - making his first start for the Rams - fired wide.

But that early effort did not set the tone as a scrappy and largely uneventful first half unfolded in north Wales.

On his first home start for the club, Wrexham's Ben Sheaf drove a shot at Jacob Widell Zetterström from distance.

The lack of quality in the final third was typified when Josh Windass blazed a free-kick over from 25 yards out as a low key affair remained goalless at the break.

The hosts lifted the tempo after the restart as Widell Zetterström stooped low to palm away a Windass strike as a flurry of activity at both ends sparked the contest into life.

Max Johnston turned Windass' cross against his own post, while Arthur Okonkwo denied Johnston and Carlton Morris in quick succession soon after.

It was Phil Parkinson's side who went ahead just before the hour mark as Kabore's sumptuous delivery from the right was met by O'Brien - who escaped with just a booking for a foul on Ebou Adams early in the game - who guided his header into the bottom corner of Widell Zetterström's goal.

But the visitors levelled on 72 minutes as Brereton Diaz knocked the ball past Dom Hyam before curling a sublime effort beyond Okonkwo into the top corner.

Wrexham pushed for a late second goal as the Rams looked to take the sting out of the contest, although they were unable to find the all-important breakthrough as the match ended level.

Wrexham went into the match having faced more shots and had a higher xG against them than any other team in the Championship.

But the flip side was that Derby had managed the fewest number of shots in the second tier while also registering the lowest xG of any side in the division.

Parkinson's side were also without a home league win, while the Rams had lost just one of their previous six away league games.

Clearly something had to give at the Stok Cae Ras.

Derby ended a flat opening half having had just one shot, with none on target. But while they were under the cosh for long periods in the second half, they went on to register three efforts on target, one of which saw Brereton Diaz get his Derby account up and running in stunning style.

John Eustace will certainly hope his side can continue to be clinical, particularly if they can carry more of a threat at the top end of the pitch.

As for Wrexham, this was arguably as controlled as they have been at home in the Championship this term, with Derby's late time-wasting proving they were the side happier to settle for a point.

But they were unable to celebrate a victory in front of their own supporters after being ruthlessly punished by a moment of magic from Diaz.

The overall outlook of the contest will certainly have encouraged Parkinson though, with his side now unbeaten in three matches across all competitions.

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson said:

"I thought it was a strong performance from us across the game, an improvement from the last home game (against Queens Park Rangers) which we asked for.

"I'm disappointed not to win, we scored an outstanding goal with great build-up play, a fantastic cross and a great header from Lewis (O'Brien).

"I felt at that point we had them where we wanted them. But one moment, it's a great finish by the lad (Brereton Diaz).

"Can we do better? Of course, but in terms of the structure of the team and the quality of the football at times I thought it was really good."

Derby County boss John Eustace said:

"First half I was really happy with our performance, apart from in the final third where we just let ourselves down a little bit - we got into some great areas.

"To get a point after going a goal down in difficult conditions in a difficult place to come was pleasing and the lads showed great character which they do in every game."

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