What John Eustace told Owen Eames as Derby County ace faces pivotal January after Leeds show | Derbyshire Live

Latest Derby County news from DerbyshireLive brings you all the talking points from the 3-1 defeat to Leeds in the FA Cup

Derby County bowed out of the FA Cup as Leeds United came from behind to seal a 3-1 win at Pride Park.

After a quiet opening, John Eustace's side created a good chance when a clever ball from Oscar Fraulo picked out Ben Brereton Diaz but his got underneath his shot and Karl Darlow was allowed to claim under no pressure.

Danny Batth then glanced a header wide of the post from a Craig Forsyth free-kick which led the centre-back to look skyward in frustration that he hadn't hit the target.

Leeds' response was for Ao Tanaka to fire a lovely pass into the run of Lukas Nmecha who was stopped in his tracks by a superb tackle by Batth. However, the follow-up from Joel Piroe cannoned off the post.

The visitors then won a penalty when Nmecha was hauled down by Zetterstrom but he atoned for the error by making an outstanding save to deny Piroe's spot-kick.

And just two minutes 30 seconds later Derby were ahead when a lovely cushioned pass from Forsyth found the run of Corey Blackett-Taylor. The winger's run was halted which led to cries of a penalty, but as everybody dithered, Brereton Diaz reacted quickest to fire across goal and into the bottom corner.

Pride Park erupted but there was still work to do as Zetterstrom was forced to make another fine save to deny Piroe's strike from the edge of the box.

But after the break Leeds were level when Joel Piroe dummied for Wilfried Gnonto to hammer in the equaliser before Ao Tanaka made it 2-1 when he tapped in from close ranger after Zetterstrom had saved from Piroe.

And Leeds wrapped up the win when they broke away with Derby pushing for a third as James Justin put the finishing touches to a rapid counter-attack.

Tale of two halves

It was pretty apparent from when the teamsheets were handed in just what both managers had hoped to achieve from this game.

Leeds made eight changes, with Premier League survival their primary focus, while Derby made six in order to give some players a much-needed runout ahead of their game against Preston next week.

Patrick Agyemang and Rhian Brewster were left on the bench, Dion Sanderson wasn't risked due to a minor issue with his shins and Matt Clarke was also given a welcome rest after a hectic schedule over Christmas.

The Derby team Eustace named had a far different look to it than what we are normally used to, but by no means did they disgrace themselves, particularly in the first half.

Lewis Travis added some spite in midfield in his first start since returning from 11 weeks out. Oscar Fraulo, making his debut after his move from Borussia Monchengladbach, had an impressive first 45 minutes before he was withdrawn. Corey Blackett-Taylor was lively, and Danny Batth was excellent.

Once Ben Brereton Diaz gave Derby the lead just two minutes after a superb penalty save from Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, the neutrals watching this game perhaps smelled an upset.

Derby's problem, though, as Eustace pointed out, was that players who needed minutes began to tire. Leeds then took over and their Premier League quality eventually gave them a firm grip of the game. Wilfried Gnonto's equaliser was superbly crafted, Ao Tanaka was a second ahead of everybody else to tap in the second and James Justin punished Derby on the counter after they had thrown men forward in a bid to snatch an equaliser.

Leeds eventually bagged the result the bookmakers expected, but let's not forget that two of their starters here, Noah Okafor and Jake Bijol, both commanded eight-figure transfer fees.

In the end, their superiority told, but there were plenty of positives for Derby.

Eager Eames and Eustace's message

We have been waiting to see a glimpse of Owen Eames, who is the latest player that Derby hope will make the grade from the academy to the first team.

He has been in and around the senior squad this season, but this was his opportunity to demonstrate why there is a growing buzz surrounding the teenager.

Blessed with the fearlessness of youth, Eames entered the fray in the final 20 minutes and did not want to waste a single one of them.

He pressed, he won a couple of free-kicks, and he showed tremendous energy to make a 70-yard sprint in an attempt to stop a Leeds counter-attack.

There was a lot to like about the midfielder who made an impression during a lively cameo, one that he will hope will lead to further first-team opportunities.

Eustace's message to Eames as he got stripped and ready to come on was to enjoy himself. He certainly did that.

Zetterstrom enhances his credentials

The Sweden international is having a fine season and has undoubtedly improved under the guidance of Paul Clements, Derby's goalkeeping coach.

There are still elements of his game that need fine-tuning, such as his kicking, as one attempted pass out wide ended up sailing out for a throw-in.

But there can be no dispute about the quality of his shot-stopping as proven by a terrific penalty save in the first half to deny Joel Piroe after he had hauled down Lukas Nmecha.

In terms of the transfer fee that Derby paid for him, performances like this will only increase his value and it looks to have been an incredibly shrewd investment.

At 26, he is far from reaching his peak as a goalkeeper, which bodes well for Derby either in terms of helping them achieve their own ambitions or earning them a sackload of cash.

Either way, Derby stand to benefit handsomely.

Blackett-Taylor faces a pivotal month

The winger certainly gave Leeds something to think about in what was his first start since facing Stoke City on the opening day of the season.

It was only his eighth appearance this season, and there are question marks as to whether he can be a long-term solution for Derby on the wing.

This month will be pivotal for him in many respects, given he has one year remaining on his contract. He simply has to stay fit because Derby have been in this position before, where he has returned only to lose him to injury again.

To have only made 10 league starts in two years since signing from Charlton permanently is not a great return.

He clearly has the pace to trouble any defender and that's never been in doubt, it's his durability that's been his biggest issue.

Now that he's back, he has to make it count.

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