Sam Szmodics put Derby County ahead at The Valley after a well-worked breakaway, his composed finish sending the Rams into the interval with a 1-0 lead and the hope that an opening-day curse might finally be broken. It was not. Charlton Athletic turned the game around in the second half to win 2-1, and Derby opened another Championship campaign without a point.

A familiar collapse from a winning position

Dropping points from ahead is a pattern Derby supporters recognise all too well from last season, and seeing it surface on the very first afternoon of the new campaign stung. The frustration was sharpened by the timing of John Eustace's substitutions: the attacking changes came only after Charlton had taken control, leaving the impression that the tactical response arrived a half-hour too late.

Derby did not collapse, though. They were not overrun. Passages of composed play, particularly in the first period, showed a side capable of building something. The scoreline flattered the hosts more than the performance suggested it should.

Szmodics fires, Mowatt settles in

Szmodics is now two goals in two matches for the club. At The Valley he was a constant irritant to the Charlton defence, pressing relentlessly, feeding off Carlton Morris and finding pockets from which he could threaten. A player who appears to have returned with something to prove.

New signing Alex Mowatt made a measured debut in midfield. He progressed Derby forward on several occasions, kept things simple under pressure and was defensively solid throughout. For a player still finding his feet in a new squad, it was an encouraging opening statement.

Blackett-Taylor's case for a contract

Corey Blackett-Taylor came off the bench and, playing against his former club, was Derby's most dangerous outlet in the final ten minutes. He took on his man every time he received the ball on the left, and virtually everything the Rams created late on ran through him. With his future at the club still uncertain, the winger appears to be making his argument with his feet rather than words.

The squad depth question

The broader concern is one of numbers. Derby ran out of legs as the second half wore on, and that points directly to the thin margins of a squad that needs two or three more additions, particularly out wide. The aborted investment from Turki Alalshikh leaves the club operating on a contingency plan, and supporters are being asked to show patience while that picture clarifies.

Players such as Derry Murkin and Rhian Brewster are yet to reach full fitness. When they do, and when new arrivals begin to settle, the picture may look considerably different. The single defeat does not define what Derby can be in this division. Forty-five games remain, and the foundations, on the evidence of Saturday, are at least worth building on.

Frequently asked

What was the score in Derby County vs Charlton Athletic on opening day?
Charlton Athletic beat Derby County 2-1 at The Valley. Sam Szmodics gave Derby the lead before half-time, but Charlton turned the game around in the second half.
How did Sam Szmodics play for Derby against Charlton?
Szmodics scored Derby's goal with a composed finish and was a constant threat throughout, pressing the Charlton defence and combining well with Carlton Morris. It was his second goal in two matches for the club.
Who is Alex Mowatt and how did he do on his Derby debut?
Alex Mowatt is Derby's newest midfield signing. He had a steady debut at The Valley, progressing the Rams forward on several occasions and showing defensive solidity in a composed all-round performance.