End of season games are often an excuse for a party; to celebrate success or more likely for Derby to forget the woes of the previous 9 months. So whilst the Rams faithful partied hard on the terraces of Vicarage Road, the team got in the mood and took to the field with a starting formation that under any other circumstances could have only been picked through a game of pin the tail on the donkey. For example Derby began the gane with leading scorer Rob Hulse  at centre back and midfielder Stephen Pearson at left back. 

Despite this, the signs looked promising for the Rams, who started brightly and came close to taking an early lead had Barry Bannan not been thwarted in his efforts by the crossbar.  But any hope that this bright start would be reflective of the rest of the game quickly drained away as Derby fell back into old habits. 

Derby gifted Watford the lead through their inability to clear the ball; Jobi McAnuff pounced upon this opportunity to put the ball past Bywater from all but ten yards.  

It wasn’t long before a familiar face doubled the Hornet’s lead.   Former Derby ace Grzegorz Rasiak made the most of a goalmouth scramble to pounce onto the loose ball push it across the line into the empty net. 

The Polish striker had the game in the bag shortly before half time; latching onto an excellent ball from Tommy Smith to fire the ball in off the post. 

With the game as good as over at half time, the Rams turned focus  away from the past season and focused firmly the future.  The second half saw first team debuts for Mark O’Brien a 16 year old defender, and Mark Dudley a 19 year old left back.  Whilst these two represent a glimpse of a future Derby side it became apparent that for several of the players on display today this would be their final appearance in the hallowed shirt.  

One of those players almost certain to bid farewell after today’s game did so by grabbing a consolation goal for the Rams; John Eustace headed powerfully past Watford keeper Loach making the most of a Gary Teale cross. 

To end the season on such a low note is always disappointing, but Rams fans will take heart in the fact that the Derby side that left the field today will be much changed when August comes. 

After all, in Clough we trust!

Another season of Championship football was finally assured for the Rams after this determined victory against already relegated Charlton. 

The first half of this affair highlighted all the reasons why these two teams have both languished in the lower half of the table for much of the season.  The problem lay not in the amount of chances created by either team, but instead in their inability to capitalise upon their efforts. 

Kris Common’s claimed the best of Derby’s chances during the first half coming closest around the 20 minute mark, when a darting run from midfield opened up the opportunity for a shot. Whilst on previous occasions the Scotland international has managed to burst the back of the net from this distance, his attempt this time fell agonisingly wide. 

The second half started much brighter than the first.  Newly crowned player of the season Rob Hulse came tantalisingly close twice, and similar chances were had through Albrechtsen and Commons. It was clear that the Rams could sense that victory was in their grasp and with it mathematical safety. 

All the pressure on display at Pride Park today, was released by a Rob Hulse goal on 70 minutes. Gary Teale’s corner was cleared but only as far as Bannan who returned it back in to the box to be headed in by Hulse. 

With the season now all but over, the Ram’s can finally begin to look towards August and the start of the new Clough era in earnest.

With a long list of players on the treatment table it was always going to be a lacklustre afternoon for the Rams.  

Fielding an unchanged side Clough’s boys managed to impress little during the first half, failing to get a single shot on target.  Barnsley faired little better; however the Tykes did come close through Michael Mifsud; who when through one on one with Bywater was unable to guide the ball past the Derby shot stopper. 

The second half was a slightly brighter affair, with Barry Bannan coming on to replace the frankly disappointing Barazite. 

Derby’s best chance came through John Eustace, who after over 60 minutes of play forced Barnsley keeper Muller into his first proper save of the match.  

Gary Teale came close for the Rams as well, with a well struck shot from the edge of the area; however it proved to be an easy save for Muller, summing up Derby’s afternoon. 

Barnsley too had their chances.  In one ‘heart in mouths’ moment for all Derby fans, Tyke substitute Mounir el Haimour swung a cross/shot/miss kick (delete as appropriate) into the box from the far left, thinking it was harmless enough Bywater left it only to watch helplessly as the ball struck the inside of post and away past the ready to pounce Jon Macken. 

Bywater was able to redeem himself with a wonderful save deflecting Macken’s shot wide from close range. 

Overall the Rams found themselves outplayed by Barnsely; however they can take heart from a rare clean sheet and hopefully return from the international break rejuvenated for the busy run in to the end of the season.    

Derby’s defence frailties were ripped open at Bramall Lane as the Blades scored four. 

Despite early attacking flourishes the Rams found themselves behind on seven minutes. David Cotterill found himself with the ball on the wing and under no pressure his pass across to Kyle Naughton  also in acres of space set the youngster up to shoot across the goal and past Bywater to give United the advantage. 

Just 14 minutes later the Blades doubled their lead with a Darius Henderson header from 6 yards. Once again Cotterill had been able to find space on the wing to put in the necessary cross. 

It took Derby until the second half to conjure up any sort of reply. On 52 minutes Gary Teale’s shot had Kenny beaten only for Chris Morgan to clear off the Sheffield United line; his clearance fell straight to Hulse who will face few easier chances as he fired home from close range. 

The ray of light offered by Hulse’s goal was soon cancelled out by another act of absent defending.  Cotterill again found space down to play in Henderson who easily turned Albrechtsen to shoot low into the goal. 

As if highlight the differences between this Derby team that of earlier in the season the Rams did not give up and kept their heads high continuing to attack.  This perseverance paid off just six minutes later with a goal from new boy Barry Bannan.  A darting run from Davies into the box gave him the opportunity to pull the ball back to Bannan who buried the ball high into the roof of Kenny’s net.  

With Derby continuing to attack it would not have been unexpected had they succeeded in grabbing an equaliser; but any late celebration went the way of the Blades as late into injury time as Craig Beattie took United’s tally to four driving low past Bywater. 

Ultimately the result may have been harsh on a Derby side who attacked well throughout the game; however this only serves to highlight the frailties in the Rams’ defensive line something which must be seriously addressed before next weeks visit of Barnsley.