OLDHAM 1 O'Grady 21

RAMS 1 Villa 16

Matt Reeder reports from Boundary Park

The Rams can consider tonight's workout as a step up as they were held to a 1-1 draw with League 1 outfit Oldham Athletic.

What Saturday's trip to Rotherham failed to deliver this evening's tie against Oldham Athletic made up for that with a high tempo, committed 90 minutes being put in - with both teams feeling they could have taken the spoils, rather than the 1-1 scoreline.

First blood to the Rams as the lively John Oster's through-ball was mis-controlled by Latics captain Sean Gregan, allowing Tito Villa to calmly convert on 16 minutes.

Five minutes later it was all square as Craig Davies carved open  the opportunity for strike partner Chris O'Grady who struck from close range at the back-post.

As at Burton Albion Lewin Nyatanga wore the captain's armband at the heart of the Rams defence alongside Dane Martin Albrechtsen - in-front of Roy Carroll who was making his first start for the Rams since the pre-season trip to Holland.

Again manager Paul Jewell deployed another new system in which two banks of four saw trialist John Oster play just behind lone striker Tito Villa, and it was the former Reading mans trickery that carved open the first chance for the visitors, on nine minutes.

Picking up the ball 30 yards from goal jinxed twice to create an open on the edge of the box. His shot was blocked by veteran defender and captain Sean Gregan but the ball fell kindly to Jay McEveley - playing on the left of midfield - whose first time cross was snuffed out by Reuben Hazell, with Villa hustling on his shoulder.

The early exchanges were at a much higher tempo than the Rams had seen in their first three pre-season clashes - this can be put down to the higher level opposition and also playing conditions.

However the deadlock was broken on 16 minutes when again Oster picked up the ball on the edge of the Oldham box, his through ball seemed to be a tame one that Gregan would expect to deal with but he took his eye off the ball and allowed it to slip through to Villa who made no mistake with a cool side-foot finish from nine yards.

Oldham responded brightly with former Wigan attacker Andy Liddell freeing Chris O'Grady on the right, whose strike across the box was gathered low by the returning Carroll.

But shortly afterwards Oldham did make the breakthrough, on 21 minutes.

Again the Latics broke down the right, this time with Craig Davies, whose strong side-foot cross was met at the back-post by O'Grady to rifle high into an empty net.

The goal took the impetus away from the Rams - who had, had the better of the opening quarter - but on 27 minutes the Rams showed that they are a dangerous outfit on the break.

McEveley again marauded down the left flank and his intended ball to Tito Villa was swiped clear, at the expense of a corner, by Hazell - something of a carbon copy.
 
On the half hour mark Jordan Stewart showed his pace and experience as he cover the back-line to intercept the on-rushing Davies - who looked to be given a clear passage to goal.

On the stroke of half-time it was the Blues who could have taken the lead with Davies again breaking down the Rams left before rounding Carroll, but a he skipped past the Northern Ireland stopper his angle narrowed and all he could find was the side-netting.

As the half-time whistle blew both sets of fans can be happy with the showing from all 22 players in an enjoyable first 45 minutes.

The second half started with nothing between the two sides with the Rams making one change - Jordan Stewart replaced by Steve Davies - and the host making five changes, which caused confusion in the press box as several players introduced were wearing numbers not named on the team sheet.

It was the Latics who produced the first chance of the half, with the ball whipped in from the right which required a smart, sliding clearance from Nyatanga - under pressure from Davies.

Robbie Savages was brought into the fray on 57 minutes to partner Paul Green in the heart of what was turning out to be a midfield battle.

Davies again was to test the Rams goal with a right-footed curl dipping narrowly over bar on 56 minutes.

Jewell continued to make the changes as the Rams forced their way back into a game they had the better of in the first half.

Following an extended break - due to International duty with USA - Eddie Lewis replaced Jay McEveley  at left-back on 60 minutes.

Joining the prescedings on 65 were Gary Teale, Liam Dickinson for goalscorer Villa and Mile Sterjovski.

Derby's final outfield substitution came on 73 when Andy Todd replaced skipper Nyaytanga - who again impressed at the heart of the Rams defence alongside Albrechtsen.

As expected in pre-season, the amount of changes and the week's grawling training sessions started to show and the tempo dropped, as did the North West weather

The game was brought to life in the closing stages with the Latics, Lee Hughes acrobatically heading wide of Carroll left-hand post, on 81 minutes.

This was followed by a side-footed effort from Dale Stephens, which was easily gathered by Carroll.

Oldham were driving for the win and on 85 minutes Chris Taylor flashed a cross-shot across the face of the Rams six-yards box.

But it should have been the Rams who won it at the death as Liam Dickinson ran the ball down the left of the 18-yard box, drawing out substitute keeper Greg Fleming before teeing up Davies who could only see his rising effort - from 10 yards - bounce into to the Rochdale Road Stand where a small army of Rams fans were seated.

However as the Mr Moss drew time on the game the Rams can be satisfied with a stern work-out ahead of the big kick-off on August 9.

OLDHAM 1 Mark Crossley (13 Greg Fleming 46) 2 Neal Eardley 16 Sean Gregan (c) 14 Reuben Hazell (6 Stefan Stam 46) 18 Chris Taylor 22 Andy Liddell (17 Deane Smalley 46) 8 Mark Allott (5 Dale Stephens 65) 10 Craig Davies 11 Chris O'Grady (9 Lee Hughes 46) 7 Danny Whitaker (4 J P Kalala 46) 15 Demar Phillips (3 Kevin Meyer 46). SUBS 12 Kelvin Lomax 25 Lewis Alessandra.

RAMS 1 Roy Carroll 2 Tyrone Mears 3 Jordan Stewart (16 Steve Davies 46) 4 Paul Green 5 Lewin Nyatanga (c) (15 Andy Todd 73) 6 Martin Albrechtsen 7 Mile Sterjovski (17 Liam Dickinson 65) 9 Emanuel Villa (18 Gary Teale 65) 10 John Oster 11 Jay McEveley (14 Eddie Lewis 60) 12 Robbie Savage (57). SUBS 13 Lewis Price.

REFEREE Mr J Moss
ASSISTANT REF Mr D Storrie
ASSISTANT REF Mr B Madley
FOURTH OFFICIAL Mr A Madley