Derby entered the international break on a high following an impressive 3-0 victory against Sheffield Wednesday at home.  The Rams bounced back from the 6-1 mauling against Cardiff City and looked in good form for a trip to the Walkers Stadium to face East Midlands rivals Leicester.  Injuries had looked set to disturb the Derby back four, with Leacock and Buxton still in recovery and news Barker was rumoured to be on the sidelines for a considerable length of time.  Jay McEveley was temporarily the only fit centre back in the first team squad.  Luckily, both Leacock and Barker miraculously made the starting 11 and proved to be the stars of what turned out to be a lacklustre derby.

Leicester started the first half the brightest, dominating possession and plying constant pressure on the Derby back 4.  Prolific scorer Matt Fryatt caused problems in the 10^th minute following a darting run into the Derby area but produced a tame effort easily held by Stephen Bywater.  The Foxes continued to dominate without making the crucial breakthrough, Andy King came close with a long range effort just the wrong side of the top corner.

Derby woke up in the second half and played a more offensive game.  The best chance of the match came from Derby midfielder Kris Commons who curled a stunning shot onto the cross-bar.  Controversy struck both teams late on, Derby being denied two penalty shouts for fouls on Rob Hulse.  Meanwhile Leicester fans were jubilant just before the whistle as ex-Ram Matt Oakley placed the ball into the back of the net seemingly scoring a last-gasp winner.  The linesman saved the day however, signaling offside at ensuring Derby earnt a hard earned point.

The Rams will be pleased to make the short journey back to Derby with a point.  Whilst some fans may be unhappy at the negativity of Clough’s 4-5-1 formation, given the clubs injury crisis up front (Davies, Porter et al.) and the attacking prowess of Leicester City’s front 2; Clough must be praised for his shrewd tactics.  In fact fans might feel hard done by just to leave with a single point following the penalty appeals.  The defence stability from today’s game will need to replicated on Tuesday night as Derby face Middlesbrough at the Riverside.

Derby fans entered the international break downbeat following the 3-2  defeat to local rivals Nottingham Forest and the disconcerting aftermath to which both sides have been duly fined.  Following a relatively comfortable start to the season, including a number of relegation candidates, Derby faced their sternest test of the season in the form of defeated playoff contenders Sheffield United.  Summer signing Shaun Barker replaced the quietly impressive Jake Buxton at centre-back whilst midfield pair Paul Green and Lee Croft came in for Tottenham loanee Jake Livermore and under-fire Kris Commons.

Sheffield United dominated the opening stages.  Keith Tracey, on loan from Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, looked very threatening as he fashioned a number of chances, one inches away from Bywater’s left post.  The Blades pressure culminated mid way through the first half as ex-Chesterfield striker Jamie Ward benefitted from some poor defending from Addison, forcing a smart save from Bywater.  The ball rebounded to the feet of Darius Henderson who made no mistake from just outside the 6 yard box.  The Blades celebrations were cut short as a seemingly dubious offside was called and the goal was chalked off.

Whilst the Blades had dominated play in the first half it was Derby who started the better in the second.  Gary Teale continued his notable form, playing a key role in a number of Derby chances.  Hulse failed to convert two headed opportunities whilst Teale himself hit the woodwork with a fortunate cross-come-shot.  The introduction of Kris Commons in the 72nd minute maintained the Derby momentum as the Scottish international put some threatening balls into the box.  Despite all the Derby promise it was the Blades who ended the match victorious as Kilgallon looped a header in from a Keith Treacy free kick, Barker guilty of a needless tackle close the Rams corner flag.  Jamie Ward would have doubled their lead in injury time had Bywater not superbly saved the fierce strike.

Nigel Clough was quick to highlight Shaun Barker (on his first league start) for criticism for lashing out at Stephen Quinn close to the corner flag.  Whilst Clough may feel aggrieved by the manner of the defeat and especially the goal, Derby fans maybe feeling obliged to question the team’s intentions given the 4-5-1 formation being employed by Clough at Pride Park.  The return of Chris Porter in the Winter will hopefully see a turn to more attacking styles of play, especially as the Rams seemed fixated with the long ball to Hulse.  Not only was this out of sorts for the Clough side but notably fruitless against the central partnership of Morgan and Kilgallon.

Despite a run of two losses and the first defeat at home this season, Derby fans still have reason for optimism as Dean Leacock and Steve Davies edge closer to full fitness.  The Derby faithful will expect a full 3 points come Tuesday evening as Derby face bottom club Barnsley at Pride Park.

The Rams fielded an unchanged side for the visit of Swansea City, but once again found themselves stifled in their quest for three points. 

Both sides made bright starts to the game, however it was Derby who were to take the lead. Robbie Savage was denied a repeat of his stunning free kick at Doncaster midweek by an excellent block from keeper Dorus de Vries, the rebound was met by Chris Porter who slid the ball in for his first Derby goal. 

The Rams continued to push forward and on 19 minutes counted themselves unlucky to have a penalty claim turned down by referee Phil Crossley; Rob Hulse had been charging down on goal only to be brought down by de Vries.  Within the minute Hulse was once again cursing his luck after a close range effort knocked in from the cross of Steve Davies was ruled out for offside. 

Derby were to double their lead shortly after the restart; Chris Porter grabbing his second of the game after latching onto Paul Connolly’s long clearance to coolly place the ball past de Vries following a one on one with the Swansea keeper.  

The Rams however despite all their efforts were unable to hold onto their lead. Angel Rangel pulled one back for the visitors; volleying Gomez’s free kick off the post and into the net. With Pintado scoring off the bar with two minutes left on the clock to make it all square. 

Derby still did not give up the cause, having already hit the woodwork twice courtesy of Teale and Davies the Rams went close again to sealing the tie up only to see Paul Green’s rasping volley turned over the crossbar. 

A rain soaked Pride Park crowd saw a strong performance from a Derby side who were on the night unable to overcome Swansea’s stylish play, however this certainly was not a performance to get downhearted over, and if the Rams play like this in the coming weeks then Championship survival is all but secured.  

Having finally found a winning formula in recent weeks, the Rams were brought back down to earth with a bump in this Friday evening kickoff.  

Derby were weakened with the both the influential Kris Commons and Nacer Barazite ruled out through injury and were forced to play a more traditional 442 formation; with Chris Porter making his first start for the Rams up front and a return from injury for Gary Teale on the left. 

In a first half lacking in quality from both sides it was Porter who came closest for the Rams heading onto the bar from a Connolly free kick. 

The half-time break rejuvenated both teams, but it was the Rams who came out the brightest and within 5 minutes had taken the lead. Robbie Savage was quick to take control of the free kick won after Hulse was brought down on the edge of the box.  Savage struck the ball sweetly, over the wall and into the top corner; his first in a Derby shirt. 

Derby’s lead however was short lived, as Paul Heffermen headed low past Bywater to bring Doncaster back into the game.

After failing to defend a Doncaster corner properly the Rams found themselves behind in a league game for the first time in a month. The ball fell to Mark Wilson, whose awkward shot from 25 yards dipped and swayed, bouncing in front of Bywater and up into the net. 

Whilst Bywater may have been at fault for Doncaster’s second, he was back on form to deny Hefferman ten minutes from time with an excellent reflex save. 

All in all it was a disappointing performance from the Rams after their recent run of form, but with the weekend to regroup before Tuesday night’s match against Swansea let’s hope it proves to be just a blip in an upwards trend.