Eagles claw three points

Crystal Palace 1 – Derby County 0

Derby went into the clash at Selhurst Park in difficult circumstances, following 3 defeats on the bounce, none more harrowing than the 3-2 defeat to Championship strugglers Barnsley on Tuesday night.  Whilst a few disgruntled Derby fans began to mount some pressure on Nigel Clough, this seemed to be relieved midweek as the club pulled off a loan move coup bringing in Everton and England Under 21 striker James Vaughan until the New Year.  In addition to the athletic striker, Derby’s line up was bolstered by a return to fitness for centre half Dean Leacock, with Shaun Barker returning to the bench.

Derby started the first half brightly, Vaughan shooting over from just inside the penalty area and then forcing the first real opening from a free kick.  Gary Teale stepped up from close to the left hand byline and curled in a ferocious effort that was tipped round the post by Palace keeper Julian Speroni.  The free-kick was given for an intriguing hand ball outside the box by Speroni which only resulted, rather peculiarly, in a yellow card.

Crystal Palace broke the deadlock following the break after the Rams conceded a sloppy goal.  The Rams struggled to deal with a long throw into the box, Sean Derry heading the ball past a Derby defence fast asleep and Darren Ambrose applied the finish.  Things went from bad to worse as Palace almost made it two when Johannes Ertl hit the crossbar with a fine header and central pairing Addison and Leacock were forced off with injury.  Late on Teale forced a smart save from Speroni, Hulse shot wide and there was a penalty shout but Derby ended pointless. Despite the defeat Nigel Clough was pleased with the overall performance and effort applied and notably aggrieved by the penalty shouts.

The defeat to Crystal Palace brings the loss streak to a total of 4, with 3 to opposition expected to be Championship strugglers.  With this and the increasingly worrying injury list, the pressure mounts on Nigel Clough as the number of impatient Derby County fans begins to grow.  However, it is essential to maintain a sense of perspective and keep the faith in Clough.  He achieved the objective of safety last season and is in the infancy of his proper reign as manager.  There are many more points still to play for and 3 against Bristol City must be every Derby fans pressing concern, not the position of Clough.