Tag Archives: Top of the League

6th December – Stroll in Pride Park for Rams against Sami’s sickly Seagulls

07 Sunday Dec 2014

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6th December – Stroll in Pride Park for Rams against Sami’s sickly Seagulls

Derby County               3       Brighton & Hove Albion         0

Chris Martin 10, 20

Johnny Russell 15

The last time these two teams played each other must have seemed a different world away for the thousand or so Seagulls fans that travelled north and roosted in the top of the south east corner.

The last time, of course, Sunday – 11th May 2014, tension in the air as the south coast team tried to overturn a 1-2 first leg deficit in an attempt to reach Wembley at our expense.

That game ended in a three goal win for the Rams, just as this game did, but the Seagulls look a shadow of that team of last year, denuded of manager and key players and, apparently, any confidence and verve they may have had. One win in sixteen games must do that to you though.

Three changes for the Rams from the disappointing loss at Leeds with Bucko-baur replacing injured skipper Richard Keogh and also taking over the armband while Craig Bryson & Simon Dawkins replaced Will Hughes & Jordan Ibe.

Strange to see Darren Bent in the Brighton line up, a premier league reputation on the pitch but he had little opportunity, save from scoring from an offside position with the score at 2-0, to prove his worth, most often operating in lonely isolation against Ryan Shotton & Bucko.

Strange also not to see Craig Mackail-Smith in opposition, strange and good as he is always a nuisance to play against. Despite three goals for the Seagulls this season he is now to be found back at Peterborough on loan.

Felt like ages since our last home game, that joyful 5-0 romp against the Wolves that took us top and while I was idly waiting for the pre-match activities to wrap up one of the songs being played on the stadium tannoy caught my ear.

Kudos to whoever chose “Sheep” by the Housemartins as a pre match track – took me back nearly thirty years and made me smile. I quite liked the relevance of the chorus (with a change to one word);

 “It’s sheep YOU’RE up against…….

Not quite the meaning that Paul Heaton had in mind when he wrote it, but even so…

We came out of the blocks firing for this game and it had the feel of an attack vs. defence training exercise for the first 20 minutes. The Rams were energetic, pinning the away team in their own half and attacking with threat.

Within those 20 minutes we were 3-0 up and the game was pretty much won. A neat composed finish from Chris Martin within the penalty area and a strong header home from the same player from a superb Cyrus Christie cross came either side of the peach of the three goals.

Martin and Dawkins combined, laying the ball off to Craig Forsyth who played a beautiful incisive pass into the area cutting apart the Brighton back line to find Johnny Russell who dinked the ball over the advancing David Stockdale.

3-0 after 20 minutes and I thought we might be in for an avalanche of goals, certainly Brighton looked ragged and short of ideas, but we eased off at that point and allowed the Seagulls to get a greater foothold into the game for the remainder of the half. The tactical switch on their part to bring on Rohan Ince before the half hour gave them more of a physical presence in midfield and the fact that both Cyrus Christie and Craig Forsyth had yellow cards by the break illustrated we did not have it completely all our own way.

We controlled the second half without ever reaching the heights of those first 20 minutes. More goals could have come though with Stockdale saving well from Jeff Hendrick, fumbling a Craig Bryson shot onto the post and Jordan Ibe flashing a shot narrowly wide after he came on.

Lee Grant was untroubled throughout and at one point in the second half sold Darren Bent a dummy as he dribbled a troublesome back pass out of his area, primarily to stave off boredom probably.

Craig Bryson was energetic throughout and always a problem for Brighton and Johnny Russell continued his campaign to be the ultimate team player covering every blade of grass, harrying his opponents as well as scoring and creating for his team mates.

It was good to see Jamie Ward make an appearance from the bench following injury showing his usual bite and snap though there still feels something not quite right about our defence, not that it mattered here, but there is a sense of vulnerability about us at the back that other teams may exploit.

The importance of the win was illustrated afterwards when we saw that Ipswich, Bournemouth and Middlesboro had all won.

We’re still top, it is a fierce fight, but we have the stomach for it, it seems.

 

 

 

29th November – Unlucky 13 for the Rams as Leeds knock us off our stride…but not top

30 Sunday Nov 2014

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Leeds United               2       Derby County      0

Mirco Antenucci 43,50

A very 1970’s fixture as the Rams travelled to Elland Road to take on Leeds United, a game that despite the passing of the years, still has a resonance for Rams and Leeds fans of a certain age (i.e. not spring chickens)

The Rams welcomed back fit again Lee Grant in goal in the only change to the starting eleven that won so importantly at Watford. Additionally an illness that kept Leon Best off the bench meant that the highly rated Kwame Thomas took his place.

As the game got underway Leeds seemed to be channelling their 1970’s cynical predecessors in the first five minutes as Chris Martin, Will Hughes and Craig Forsyth were all on the receiving end of fouls.

The Rams did start well though with Johnny Russell in particular looking in lively form but Leeds stepped up after ten minutes and put us under some pressure winning a couple of corners without creating any clear chances

Leeds continuing the aggressive approach they opened with had three players in the book by the half hour mark. The Rams were proving much more efficient, committing only one foul in the first 30 minutes but that also attracting a yellow for Cyrus Christie from referee Mick Russell much to the consternation of the Rams players.

We didn’t cope well with the hectic bustling game that Leeds were determined to create and Omar Mascarell particularly in the first half was struggling to get into the game and was added to the list of bookings when he hacked at a Leeds player.

A regular worry amongst Rams fans, and one repeated after this game is whether we have a weakness against teams that try to rough us up. We have so many skilful touch players but needed a bit more steel in this game to earn the right to play the skilful football we excel at.

Considering the position he plays in much of this kind of thought is expressed with young Omar in mind. He is clearly learning the English game rapidly coming on in leaps and bounds from the start of the season and it may well be that Steve McClaren sees the longer term benefit for us this season in allowing Mascarell to develop further in that crucial defensive midfielder role.

The loss of George Thorne to injury in pre season was a big loss for us and I think we sometimes forget that we are having a good season without, arguably, one of our most influential players of the back end of last season who showed how he could control a game as well as creating chances for us with his excellent passing. If he does end up playing at all for us this season that will be a big bonus.

Leeds won this game with goals either side of half time, their striker Mirco Antenucci being one of three unmarked Leeds players when the ball fell to his feet in the box on 43 minutes and half time optimism was extinguished with a kick in the guts early in the second half as Stephen Warnock’s gallop down the left and cut back from found an again unmarked Antenucci who put away his second of the game on 50 minutes

Derby had more of the ball after Leeds inevitably sat back after the second goal and particularly so after a triple substitution replacing Jordan Ibe, Johnny Russell and Omar Mascarell with Craig Bryson, Simon Dawkins and Kwame Thomas for his debut.

For all of the possession though we did not create a clear cut chance until 82 minutes when Bryson broke free the ball falling eventually to Kwame Thomas who fired over from close range.

This was a well below par Rams performance when despite having more than our share of possession we could not control the game and our precise and pacy passing was not to the fore. It looked like Richard Keogh picked up a hamstring injury towards the end of the game though no word as yet on that.

So our long glorious unbeaten run against Leeds comes to an end after 12 games. As the game ended we found that we were still top despite the result – mainly due to two late goals from Milwall at Bournemouth to peg back the Cherries from 2-0 to 2-2. Football eh?

22nd November – Bryso’s blockbuster bags the points for table topping Rams

23 Sunday Nov 2014

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22nd November

Watford      1                           Derby County      2

Gianni Munari 67                       Jordan Ibe 39

                                                 Craig Bryson 81

It’s often said that the sign of a good team is that they find a way to win even against the tide. Well, this team of ours showed more signs of being a good team after Craig Bryson’s thundering effort into the top corner nine minutes from time sealed an excellent away win for the Rams.

Thanks to the international break it felt an age since “proper” football had been played. This international break, though, has been more interesting than many from a Derby fan’s point of view.

Will Hughes & Jack Butland played for England U-21, Chris Martin started his first game for Scotland against England, Johnny Russell made his debut in the same game creating Scotland’s goal, Jeff Hendrick, Richard Keogh & Cyrus Christie all played for the Republic of Ireland while Simon Dawkins played three games as Jamaica lifted the Caribbean Cup.

Dawkins return only on Friday from his travels led to the one change for the Rams from the wonderful performance against Wolves two weeks ago as Jordan Ibe took his place in the team.

Derby kept possession well at the start of the game and following early corners Jeff Hendrick came very close to putting us into the lead, a shot from the edge of the area being turned by Jonathan Bond’s fingertips onto the post and away.

Watford took a defensive, players behind the ball, approach probably mindful of the Rams threat as they played a deep and less aggressive game than typical from the Hornets at home. There was still danger in their play, though, and it took a terrific challenge by Ryan Shotton to prevent Fernando Forestieri breaking through, a fine save from Jack Butland to keep out a drive from Troy Deeney and on the half hour and a tremendous tackle from Craig Forsyth to deny Forestieri when he looked clean through.

Derby’s patience and persistence paid off with a wonderful goal from Jordan Ibe as the first half drew to a close, taking the ball on his chest from assist master supreme Johnny Russell on the corner of the area; he cut away and curled in a beautiful shot to give the Rams the lead

 Matys Vydra’s introduction at half time for Watford signalled a change of intent from the home team and Derby struggled to hold onto the ball as the game moved into the second half, Omar Mascarell unable to influence the game as he has shown he can do and Will Hughes being starved of the ball. There was, however, a great chance for Chris Martin to put the game beyond Watford’s reach when he found himself clear against the goalkeeper but was unable to fashion a clinical strike.

The increasing sense of the game shifting solidified in 67th minute when Watford equalised through a smart move that cut through the Rams back line and saw Gianni Munari fire into the roof of the net.

At this point the game had a similar feel to the Brentford match as we lost control of a winning situation and saw less and less of the ball as the game drew on, Watford piling on the pressure and Jack Butland being increasingly busy.

A different outcome today though. Sometimes you see a player shaping for an effort from way out and you think…..”naaah”…..but on this occasion with nine minutes to go sub Craig Bryson on for Will Hughes smashed in a terrific shot to grab the three points. Watford did put us under some pressure before the final whistle but we defended well and played out the last minute or so at the Watford end of the pitch which is always the best way to see out a win.

A terrific win then, inflicting Watford’s first home defeat of the season and moving us 3pts clear at the top. Good to see how increasingly at home and solid Ryan Shotton is looking at the back, providing a good mixture of pace and strength which bodes well. Next up that always eye catching game….Leeds United.

8th November – Five star Rams rocket to the top of the League

08 Saturday Nov 2014

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Derby County      5                           Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

 Ryan Shotton 16                                                       

Jeff Hendrick 28 & 55

Johnny Russell 42 & 61

The rain poured down during this game but nothing could dampen the fireworks on the pitch or indeed the spirits of the Rams fans as Derby County romped to a 5-0 win against Wolves and ended the day on top of the Championship.

This was a terrific performance from the Rams, on top throughout, sharp and pacey, incisive and energetic and against a Wolves team, let us remember, that started the day in 6th place with a chance to go joint top had they won.

As Johnny Russell slotted in the fifth goal as the rain poured down it reminded me of something…

Mid day kick-off……game on Sky Sports…..rain bucketing down ….Rams win 5-0…when was the last time that happened….oh yes…March 22nd 2014 when we hammered the neighbours …happy days…

Back to the present and the Rams made one change to the team that beat Huddersfield on Tuesday with Simon Dawkins restored to the starting XI as Jordan Ibe missed out.

You can tell a lot by how we start a game – we came out of the blocks quickly for this game, looked energetic and up for it, and the forensic quick passing game that is so effective was working well.

A so far season’s best attendance of 30,398 (bolstered by a loud and good natured 2,700 from Wolves), was treated to three first half goals, Ryan Shotton getting ahead of his defender at a free kick to force home a header after 16 minutes, Jeff Hendrick accepted a the ball from Simon Dawkins in midfield, ran on and fired home from 20 yards on 28 minutes and Johnny Russell, freed from corner taking duties by the presence of Omar Mascarell loitered with intent on the edge of the penalty area for a corner on 42 minutes, controlled the loose ball, slalomed into the area and slotted home from 12 yards.

In the midst of a whole host of excellent performances Omar Mascarell caught the eye, being a regular and reliable presence in breaking up budding Wolves moves as well as orchestrating our attacks. He is looking more at home with each game played and if we are only just starting to see his potential we are in for some treats for the rest of the season.

Wolves had one good chance to score when the margin was still 1-0 , Sam Ricketts’ cut back finding George Saville unmarked near the penalty spot, his shot, though, was wide and little else that Wolves did troubled us while the game was still competitive.

A delicious move early in the second half saw Chris Martin and Will Hughes release Jeff Hendrick who made it 4-0 and then on the hour Johnny Russell connected with a characteristic Craig Forsyth cross across the box firing high into the net to make it 5-0 and also unveiling an acrobatic goal celebration in the process.

Johnny is rightly a favourite of the crowd, receiving yet another standing ovation when replaced by Ivan Calero today, his work rate is huge and his will to win obvious. It seems that the benefit of his starting in six successive games now is being reflected in his goal scoring with today’s two goals taking his tally to five for the season so far. If JR manages to hit 12-15 goals this season it will bode very well for us.

I treated a Wolves supporting friend to the game today though as the goals rattled in I think he would have objected to the term “treated”. When Jeff Hendrick’s first goal flew in he turned to me and said we were going to beat them 5-0. I shook my head doubtfully, partly out of not wishing to gloat….but how right he was.

The Championship table is looking good tonight and while it is annoying that the international break is upon us again just as we roll out such a good performance we have two blank weeks to admire the table at leisure.

25th October – A chore, like a visit to the dentist

02 Sunday Nov 2014

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25 October 2014

Derby County           1              Wigan Athletic          2

 John Eustace 45                           James McClean 69, 83

Welcoming Wigan Athletic as visitors is proving to be as pleasurable as a chore, a visit to the dentist or sitting a particularly tricky maths exam.

 Following on from their 1-0 win on New Years Day Uwe Rosler’s Wigan arrived and again made themselves at home imposing their physical strength on the Rams and winning the least welcome guests of 2014 award hands down.

 Wigan appeared to have mastered the art of shutting us down and closing off all of the avenues that we can exploit so well. They are a big physical team who worked exceptionally hard to prevent us having any time and space on the ball. It is difficult to comprehend their league position on this showing though clearly playing at the Ipro is to their taste.

The start to the game did not bode well – Wigan were quick out of the blocks and spent the first five minutes dominating possession and pinging the ball around our penalty area.

Wigan’s pressing made it increasingly difficult for us to play the ball out from the back, something that clearly unbalanced our play, they also allowed Zak Whitbread to take the lions share of possession from Jack Butland and exploited his difficulties in getting play moving.

 This was not solely down to the centre half, who made a number of important tackles and interventions in the game, as Will Hughes & Craig Bryson were completely crowded out in the first half while Jordan Ibe flickered and only Johnny Russell played with any verve and in such a way to pose any questions.

 It was an unusual game in many ways, for long periods Scott Carson’s howitzer like clearances from the Wigan goal were their only creative outlet and for a while a cat & mouse games developed at goal kicks as most of the Wigan players would drift over to one side of the pitch only for Carson’s mortar shell to be launched to the other side trying to isolate a defender one on one – which nearly worked at least once.

For all of the lack of flow and attack Jordan Ibe had one decent chance to put us ahead as he wriggled into the penalty area but fired into the side netting.

Uwe Rosler was a constant and loud presence in the technical area – managing to mix up angry barks at officials and players with winning smiles when it looked like he was about to receive a reprimand. His position close to the touchline lead to what looked like it was going to be the most notable incident in the first half when Johnny Russell battling for the ball with Figueroa was sent flying straight into the Wigan manager, sending him clattering to the ground like an upended skittle….much to the hilarity of the fans, and to be fair, the man himself.

Just as the first half was winding down referee Robert Madley awarded Wigan what looked to me a highly dubious penalty for handball. Step forward Jack Butland to round off an excellent first half for him at the Ipro by saving Tavernier’s penalty and a minute later John Eustace was stabbing into the Wigan net from short range following an excellent Russell free kick. We were 1-0 at half time and that felt good (and unexpected)

Derby swapped Ibe & Hughes for Dawkins and Hendrick at half time and this seemed to be recognition of Wigan’s physical superiority and for the first fifteen minutes of the second half the Rams were on top, with Simon Dawkins to the fore and carved out half chances that, had one been taken, would have closed the match out as another three points.

Sadly though from approx. 65 minutes, I could sense Derby’s momentum fading away and Wigan in turn stepping up. Sure, the two Wigan goals were scrappy with a touch of fortune but save for an injury time free kick from Chris Martin that just whistled past the post there was no real response from the Rams.

Steve McClaren’s growing frustration was clear to see on the sidelines but this was one game that our team spirit and will to win was not able to retrieve.

Still top thanks to other results it was still a thoughtful walk back to the car. Do we have a problem at home games now? – Perhaps too early to jump to that conclusion but a telling reminder that the Championship is the league that always surprises.

 

 

21st October – Bloomin’ Lovely at Bloomfield Road

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

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21st October 2014

 

Blackpool 0                             Derby County   1

                                               Chris Martin 81 (pen)

Chris Martin with his tenth goal of the season fired the Rams to the top of the Championship for the first time this season.

Our terrific run goes on and whichever way you look at it will put a smile on your face if you are a Ram.

 1 defeat in 16 games in 2014/15 

12 games unbeaten 

6 clean sheets on the trot which, as Radio Derby informed, us was the first time we have done this since 1912.

By the way ….this was the set of results 102 years ago

Derby County 2 Chelsea 0

Derby County 1 Nottingham Forest 0

Leicester Fosse 0 Derby County 1

Fulham 0 Derby County 0

Derby County 4 Gainsborough Trinity 0

Barnsley 0 Derby County 2

How we miss Leicester Fosse and Gainsborough Trinity…..

Five changes for this game on a foul and windswept night as the remnants of Hurricane Gonzalo washed over the country.

In came England U-21 keeper Jack Butland for his first game in goal since joining on loan from Stoke following the injury sustained by Lee Grant in the later stages of Saturday’s 3-0 win over Reading.

He was joined in the team by Johnny Russell who replaced the injured Jamie Ward, Jeff Hendrick who replaced Craig Bryson, Ryan Shotton who replaced Zak Whitbread and Omar Mascarell who started his first league game of the season as John Eustace joined Bryson and Whitbread on the bench.

The Rams played against the howling wind in the first half and Ishmael Miller again gave the Rams defence problems, this time in a Blackpool shirt rather than the Yeovil Town shirt we saw him in last season.

This is a Blackpool team trying to play catch up against the odds as the owners of the club have starved the team of investment and August 2014 opened with only eight players registered on the staff. Mid October finds the Tangerines not surprisingly bottom of the Championship but showing signs of life as their recent win over Cardiff showed.

Derby experienced a good test here but as the game wore on the Rams increasingly dominated both possession and play as Blackpool increasingly pulled players behind the ball.

Johnny Russell took his chance of a full 90 minutes well and was a busy and constant presence in attack, won the crucial penalty and also had a later chance to press home the margin of victory but was unable to convert. The popular Russell has created a number of goals so far this season but found the net himself only once. Clearly in the box seat to replace the injured Jamie Ward in games to come a regular start may see him recovering his scoring touch.

Cyrus Christie added to his growing list of impressive performances particularly going forward, and is proving to be an excellent addition to the team. To see how comfortably he has stepped into the gap left by Andre Wisdom is to see a difficult problem solved very well.

The selection of Omar Mascarell to start this game which may have understandably been considered to be much more of a “John Eustace” kind of game was interesting and points to his acclimatisation to the English game since his arrival from Real Madrid. He did well and had a tidy game with flashes of his eye for a killer pass.

The raucous and consistently loud 1800 Derby fans were a constant backdrop to the game as the Rams came through a potentially tricky test very well with the reward of being able to top the table tonight.

It is only October and no medals are handed out now, but it is great to be top !