2015–16 Derby County F.C. season

The 2015–16 season was Derby County's eighth consecutive season in the Championship in their 132nd year in existence.[1] Along with competing in the Championship, the club also participated in the FA Cup and League Cup. The season covers the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.

Derby County
2015–16 season
ChairmanMel Morris
Head CoachPaul Clement
(until 8 February)
Darren Wassall
(from 8 February)
StadiumiPro Stadium
Championship5th
FA CupFourth round
(knocked out by Manchester United)
League CupFirst round
(knocked out by Portsmouth)
Top goalscorerLeague: Chris Martin (13)
All: Chris Martin (13)
Highest home attendance33,010
Lowest home attendance26,834
Average home league attendance29,378

Transfers

Transfers in

Date fromPositionNationalityNameFromFeeRef.
1 July 2015DM Chris BairdWest Bromwich AlbionFree transfer[2]
1 July 2015CF Darren BentAston VillaFree transfer[3]
1 July 2015GK Scott CarsonWigan AthleticUndisclosed[4]
1 July 2015CB Alex PearceReadingFree transfer[5]
1 July 2015ST Andreas WeimannAston Villa£2,750,000[6]
3 July 2015LW Tom InceHull City£4,750,000[7]
23 July 2015CB Jason ShackellBurnley£3,000,000[8][9]
1 September 2015CM Jacob ButterfieldHuddersfield Town£4,000,000[10]
1 September 2015CM Bradley JohnsonNorwich City£6,000,000[11]
4 January 2016LW Abdoul CamaraAngers£1,250,000[12]
6 January 2016ST Nick BlackmanReading£2,500,000[13]
20 January 2016CF Luke ThomasCheltenham TownUndisclosed[14]
20 January 2016AM Lewis WalkerIlkestonUndisclosed[14]
20 January 2016RB Jayden BogleSwindon TownFree transfer[14]
20 January 2016CF Jayden Mitchell-LawsonSwindon TownFree transfer[14]
26 January 2016LB Marcus OlssonBlackburn RoversUndisclosed[15]

Total spending: £24,250,000

Transfers out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToFeeRef.
1 July 2015CB Shaun BarkerFree AgentReleased[16]
1 July 2015RB Sam DrydenDundeeFree transfer[17]
1 July 2015GK Ross EtheridgeAccrington Stanley [a]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015DM John EustaceFree AgentReleased[16]
1 July 2015CM Luke HendrieBurnley [b]Released[16]
1 July 2015CB Josh LelanNorthampton Town [c]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015LB Lee NaylorFree AgentReleased[16]
1 July 2015CB Tom NaylorBurton Albion [d]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015CB Mark O'BrienLuton Town [e]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015LB Rhys SharpeNotts County [f]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015LW Jamie WardNottingham Forest [g]Free transfer[16]
1 July 2015CB Zak WhitbreadFree AgentReleased[16]
6 January 2016MF Simon DawkinsSan Jose EarthquakesUndisclosed[25]
3 March 2016DF Isak SsewankamboMolde FKUndisclosed[26]

Loans out

Date fromPositionNationalityNameToDate untilRef.
15 July 2015CB Farrend RawsonRotherham UnitedEnd of Season[27]
15 July 2015GK Kelle RoosRotherham United1 September 2015[a][29]
21 July 2015CB Raúl AlbentosaMálagaEnd of season[30]
25 July 2015CF Conor SammonSheffield UnitedEnd of season[31]
29 July 2015CF Kwame ThomasBlackpool2 January 2016[32]
15 January 2016CF Mason BennettBurton AlbionEnd of season[33]
28 January 2016CB Ryan ShottonBirmingham CityEnd of season[34]
1 February 2016GK Kelle RoosA.F.C. WimbledonEnd of season[35]
18 February 2016DF Chris BairdFulhamEnd of season[36]
7 March 2016LB Stephen WarnockWigan AthleticEnd of season[37]

Competitions

Pre-season friendlies

On 19 May 2015, Derby County announced Benfica would visit as part of their pre-season schedule. Also the club confirmed they would head to Netherlands for a week. Derby County will also play a number of friendlies in England.[38] On 24 May, Derby County confirmed the pre-season match against Benfica originally scheduled has been cancelled due to the Portuguese club being involved in the 2015 International Champions Cup.[39] On 16 June 2015, Derby County announced pre-season friendlies against Nuneaton Town and Alfreton Town have been cancelled and replaced by a trip to Grimsby Town.[40] On 26 June 2015, as part of pre-season preparations Derby County will host Spanish side Villarreal.[41]

10 July 2015 (2015-07-10) Friendly Belper Town 2–2 Derby County XI Belper
19:30 BSTLister 13'
Watt 48'
ReportCaspar 50', 83'Stadium: Christchurch Meadow
Attendance: 700
11 July 2015 (2015-07-11) Friendly Grimsby Town 2–1 Derby County Cleethorpes
15:00 BSTAmond 25'
Clay 28'
ReportRussell 48'Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 2,729
18 July 2015 (2015-07-18) Friendly Northampton Town 0–1 Derby County Northampton
14:00 BSTReportRussell 33'Stadium: Sixfields Stadium
Attendance: 2,542 (1,226 Away fans)
24 July 2015 (2015-07-24) Friendly Utrecht 2–3 Derby County Utrecht, Netherlands
14:00 CESTBarazite 14', 80'ReportShotton 45'
Russell 55'
Hughes 68'
Stadium: Sportpark Zoudenbalch
29 July 2015 (2015-07-29) Friendly Derby County 1–1 Villarreal Derby
19:45 BSTWeimann 64'ReportBaptistão 27'Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 17,304
1 August 2015 (2015-08-01) Friendly Burton Albion 1–3 Derby County Burton-upon-Trent
15:00 BSTThiele 59'ReportBent 11'
Weimann 29'
Russell 71'
Stadium: Pirelli Stadium
Attendance: 5,302

Championship

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsPromotion, qualification or relegation
3Brighton & Hove Albion46241757242+3089Qualification for the Championship play-offs[a]
4Hull City (O, P)462411116935+3483
5Derby County462115106643+2378
6Sheffield Wednesday461917106645+2174
7Ipswich Town461815135351+269
Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:

Results by matchday

Matchday12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
GroundAHHAHAAHAHHAAHHAHAAHHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAHAH
ResultDDDDLWWDWWWDWWWLWWDDWWWDLDLLDDLWWLWLDWLWWWWDDL
Position141514121913101197675555433432122235556555555566555555
Updated to match(es) played on 7 May 2016. Source: Statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

On 17 June 2015, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.[42]

8 August 2015 (2015-08-08) 1 Bolton Wanderers 0–0 Derby County Horwich
15:00 BSTSpearing
Wilson  16'
ReportThorne  90'Stadium: Macron Stadium
Attendance: 17,162
Referee: Andy Madley
15 August 2015 (2015-08-15) 2 Derby County 1–1 Charlton Athletic Derby
15:00 BSTMartin 68'ReportWatt 48'Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 29,045
Referee: Nigel Miller
18 August 2015 (2015-08-18) 3 Derby County 1–1 Middlesbrough Derby
19:45 BSTRussell 88'ReportKike 16'Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 30,855
Referee: Steve Martin
21 August 2015 (2015-08-21) 4 Birmingham City 1–1 Derby County Birmingham
19:45 BSTGleeson 45'ReportRussell 61'Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 18,134
Referee: Lee Mason
29 August 2015 (2015-08-29) 5 Derby County 1–2 Leeds United Derby
12:05 BSTMartin 48'ReportAdeyemi 43'
Wood 88'
Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 29,386 (2,335 away)
Referee: Darren Bond
12 September 2015 (2015-09-12) 6 Preston North End 1–2 Derby County Preston
15:00 BSTJohnson 90'ReportMartin 23', 36'Stadium: Deepdale
Attendance: 14,552
Referee: Richard Clark
15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) 7 Reading 0–1 Derby County Reading
20:00 BST  45'ReportInce 69'Stadium: Madejski Stadium
Attendance: 15,697
Referee: Andy Davies
21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) 8 Derby County 0–0 Burnley Derby
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 26,834
Referee: Dean Whitestone
26 September 2015 (2015-09-26) 9 Milton Keynes Dons 1–3 Derby County Denbigh
12:30 BSTMurphy 60'ReportJohnson 53'
Bent 89'
Ince 90'
Stadium: Stadium:mk
Attendance: 13,554
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
3 October 2015 (2015-10-03) 10 Derby County 2–0 Brentford Derby
15:00 BSTMartin 20'
Ince 44'
ReportStadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 29,467
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
18 October 2015 (2015-10-18) 11 Derby County 4–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Derby
13:15 BSTMartin 3', 28'
Johnson 45'
Russell 57'
ReportAfobe 19'
Le Fondre 64'
Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 29,063 (1,391 away)
Referee: Andy Madley
21 October 2015 (2015-10-21) 12 Blackburn Rovers 0–0 Derby County Blackburn
19:45 BSTReportStadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 12,968
Referee: Darren Drysdale
24 October 2015 (2015-10-24) 13 Huddersfield Town 1–2 Derby County Huddersfield
15:00 BSTBunn 31'ReportMartin 15'
Thorne 48'
Stadium: John Smith's Stadium
Attendance: 15,371
Referee: Tony Harrington
31 October 2015 (2015-10-31) 14 Derby County 3–0 Rotherham United Derby
15:00 GMTWeimann 7'
Butterfield 45'
Keogh 76'
ReportStadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 30,172
Referee: Scott Duncan
3 November 2015 (2015-11-03) 15 Derby County 1–0 Queens Park Rangers Derby
19:45 GMTWeimann 51'ReportStadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 28,502
Referee: Keith Stroud
6 November 2015 (2015-11-06) 16 Nottingham Forest 1–0 Derby County Nottingham
19:30 GMTOliveira 4'ReportStadium: City Ground
Attendance: 25,114
Referee: Simon Hooper
21 November 2015 (2015-11-21) 17 Derby County 2–0 Cardiff City Derby
15:00 GMTThorne 55'
Weimann 76'
ReportStadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 29,526
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
27 November 2015 (2015-11-27) 18 Hull City 0–2 Derby County Kingston upon Hull
19:45 GMTReportButterfield 18', 36'Stadium: KC Stadium
Attendance: 17,410
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
6 December 2015 (2015-12-06) 19 Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Derby County Sheffield
13:15 GMTReportStadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 19,252
Referee: Graham Scott
12 December 2015 (2015-12-12) 20 Derby County 2–2 Brighton & Hove Albion Derby
15:00 GMTJohnson 41'
Martin 88' (pen.)
ReportWilson 22'
van La Parra 75'
Stadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 30,537
Referee: Lee Mason
15 December 2015 (2015-12-15) 21 Derby County 4–0 Bristol City Derby
19:45 GMTInce 42', 63', 71'
Russell 76'
ReportStadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 27,781
Referee: Andy Woolmer
19 December 2015 (2015-12-19) 22 Ipswich Town 0–1 Derby County Ipswich
15:00 GMTReportInce 40'Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 20,161
Referee: Keith Hill
26 December 2015 (2015-12-26) 23 Derby County 2–0 Fulham Derby
15:00 GMTReam 52' (o.g.)
Butterfield 84'
ReportStadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 32,134
Referee: Scott Duncan
29 December 2015 (2015-12-29) 24 Leeds United 2–2 Derby County Leeds
19:45 GMTBamba 42'
Wood 71'
ReportHendrick 13'
Ince 78'
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 23,027
Referee: Mark Heywood
2 January 2016 (2016-01-02) 25 Middlesbrough 2–0 Derby County Middlesbrough
15:00 GMTAdomah 83'
Friend 84'
ReportStadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 32,870
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
12 January 2016 (2016-01-12) 26 Derby County 1–1 Reading Derby
19:45 GMTShackell 11'ReportWilliams 38'Stadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 28,175
Referee: David Coote
16 January 2016 (2016-01-16) 27 Derby County 0–3 Birmingham City Derby
15:00 GMTReportRobinson 59'
Gleeson 74'
Kieftenbeld 80'
Stadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 32,895 (3,097 away)
Referee: Tim Robinson
25 January 2016 (2016-01-25) 28 Burnley 4–1 Derby County Burnley
19:45 GMTKeogh 29' (og)
Gray 54' (pen.)
Vokes 58' (pen.)
Arfield 66'
ReportButterfield 30'Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 15,214
Referee: Michael Oliver
2 February 2016 (2016-02-02) 29 Derby County 0–0 Preston North End Derby
19:45 GMTReportStadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 27,252
Referee: Oliver Langford
6 February 2016 (2016-02-06) 30 Fulham 1–1 Derby County Fulham
15:00 GMTOlsson 17' (og)ReportBryson 44'Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 18,472
Referee: Darren Deadman
13 February 2016 (2016-02-13) 31 Derby County 0–1 Milton Keynes Dons Derby
15:00 GMTReportForster-Caskey 82'Stadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 30,075
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
20 February 2016 (2016-02-20) 32 Brentford 1–3 Derby County Brentford
15:00 GMTJudge 52'ReportHendrick 80'
Christie 84'
Martin 90'
Stadium: Griffin Park
Attendance: 10,627
Referee: Darren Drysdale
24 February 2016 (2016-02-24) 33 Derby County 1–0 Blackburn Rovers Derby
19:45 GMTButterfield 8'ReportStadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 27,411
Referee: Nigel Miller
27 February 2016 (2016-02-27) 34 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Derby County Wolverhampton
12:30 GMTSaville 14', 86'ReportMartin 44'Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 19,398 (1,714 away)
Referee: Graham Scott
5 March 2016 (2016-03-05) 35 Derby County 2–0 Huddersfield Town Derby
15:00 GMTMartin 31'
Russell 73'
ReportStadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 29,698
Referee: Eddie Ilderton
8 March 2016 (2016-03-08) 36 Queens Park Rangers 2–0 Derby County Shepherd's Bush
19:45 GMTChery 24'
Angella 86'
ReportStadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 14,049
Referee: Neil Swarbrick
12 March 2016 (2016-03-12) 37 Rotherham United 3–3 Derby County Rotherham
15:00 GMTMattock  6'
Ward 83'
Best 85', 90'
ReportInce 55', 65'
Martin 63'
Stadium: New York Stadium
Attendance: 11,163
Referee: David Webb
19 March 2016 (2016-03-19) 38 Derby County 1–0 Nottingham Forest Derby
12:30 GMTHanson  53'
Olsson 79'
Keogh  84'
ReportMendes  55'
Mills  84'
Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 33,010
Referee: Keith Stroud
2 April 2016 (2016-04-02) 39 Cardiff City 2–1 Derby County Cardiff
15:00 BSTEcuele 37'
Pilkington  45'
O'Keefe 68'
Whittingham  80'
ReportShackell  45'
Martin 49'
Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 28,680
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
5 April 2016 (2016-04-05) 40 Derby County 4–0 Hull City Derby
19:45 BSTJohnson 29', 38'
Martin 84'
Bryson 90'
ReportOdubajo  55'Stadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 29,078
Referee: Tony Harrington
9 April 2016 (2016-04-09) 41 Derby County 4–1 Bolton Wanderers Derby
19:45 BSTRussell 13', 77'
Ince 38'
Butterfield 69'
[1]Clough 73' (pen.)Stadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 29,674
Referee: Andy Woolmer
16 April 2016 (2016-04-16) 42 Charlton Athletic 0–1 Derby County Charlton
15:00 BST[2]Russell 60'Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 15,857
Referee: Darren Bond
19 April 2016 (2016-04-19) 43 Bristol City 2–3 Derby County Bristol
19:45 GMTKodjia 38'
Reid 44'
ReportRussell 37'
Bryson 52'
Ince 57'
Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 15,341
Referee: Andy Davies
23 April 2016 (2016-04-23) 44 Derby County 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday Derby
12:30 BSTHughes  19'
Bryson  48'
Martin  73'
Keogh  77'
Butterfield  80'
Bent 82'
ReportLee  54'
Bannan 69'
Forestieri  79'
Hélan  88'
Pudil  90+5'
Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 31,825
Referee: Lee Mason
2 May 2016 (2016-05-02) 45 Brighton & Hove Albion 1–1 Derby County Brighton
14:30 BSTDunk  42'   83'
Wilson 90+5'
ReportThorne  38'
Ince  63'
Weimann 71'
[[Cyrus Christie|Christie]]  72'
Stadium: Falmer Stadium
Attendance: 30,292
Referee: Robert Madley
7 May 2016 (2016-05-07) 46 Derby County 0–1 Ipswich Town Derby
12:30 BSTKeogh  44'
Martin  65'
ReportChambers  31'
McGoldrick 34' (pen.)
McDonnell  39'
Stadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 29,854
Referee: Tim Robinson

FA Cup

On 16 December 2015, it was confirmed that Derby County would be drawn away against League Two side Hartlepool United after they won their second round replay against Salford City.[43]

9 January 2016 (2016-01-09) Third round Hartlepool United 1–2 Derby County Hartlepool
15:00Gray 61'ReportButterfield 67'
Bent 85'
Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,860
Referee: Darren Bond
29 January 2016 (2016-01-29) Fourth round Derby County 1–3 Manchester United Derby
19:55Thorne 37'
Warnock  54'
ReportRooney 16'
Blind 65'
Mata 83'
Stadium: iPro Stadium
Attendance: 31,134
Referee: Anthony Taylor

League Cup

On 16 June 2015, the first round draw was made, Derby County were drawn away against Portsmouth.[44]

12 August 2015 (2015-08-12) First round Portsmouth 2–1 Derby County Milton
19:45 BSTMcGurk 49'
Chaplin 76'
ReportShackell 73'Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 11,573
Referee: Paul Tierney

Football League play-offs

As a result of Derby County finishing in fifth place in the Championship they qualified for the Football League play-offs. In the play-off semi finals Derby County will play against fourth placed team Hull City over two legs.

Top scorers

Last updated: 18 May 2016

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.NationalityNameChampionshipFA CupLeague CupPlay-offsTotal
9 Chris Martin1500015
23 Tom Ince1200012
11 Johnny Russell900110
18 Jacob Butterfield71008
15 Bradley Johnson50005
24 Andreas Weimann40004
4 Craig Bryson30003
34 George Thorne21003
10 Darren Bent21003
8 Jeff Hendrick20002
14 Jason Shackell10102
6 Richard Keogh10001
2 Cyrus Christie10001
29 Marcus Olsson10001
Own goals10012
TOTAL6631272

References