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Rams Gather Vital Points At Hillsborough

Saturday 11 April, 2009 in Fixtures, In Brief

Sheffield Wednesday 0 Derby County 1

This Easter visit to Hillsborough saw the Rams finally pass the magical 50 point barrier as they took one giant leap towards finally sewing up Championship football for next season.

The Derby side fielded today had a different feel about it, with the most noticeable absence being the rested Robbie Savage. The Rams’ keen to avoid the midweek thrashing at Cardiff bogging down their performance made an impressive start to the game.

Derby created a number of early chances keeping former Ram, Lee Grant busy. In the early stages of the game Hulse and Teale came closest for the Rams however arguably the most spectacular chance fell to Darren Potter whose free-kick for Wednesday stung the cross-bar leaving the Rams counting their luck.

As the first half was approaching its death Rob Hulse appeared to head home Gary Teale’s excellent free-kick.

Having entered half-time with the lead, the Rams emerged knowing that all they had to do was maintain a clean sheet.

For virtually the entire second half Sheffield Wednesday piled on the pressure, however despite Tudgay and Esajas both impressing they were unable to turn these opportunities.

By the end of the ninety minutes Derby’s play was beginning to appear increasingly scrappy but unlike previous games the Rams’ back line stood strong and held on for that all important victory.

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Captain Connolly Salvages Sweet Point Against Burnley

Saturday 4 April, 2009 in Campaign, Fixtures

Derby County 1 Burnley 1

It took Derby late into injury time to salvage a point from this encounter with Burnley in front of a sundrenched Pride Park.

The first half was a testy affair with end to end football. Gary Teale twice came close for the Rams, once with a long range effort forcing Brian Jensen into a diving save in the bottom left reaches of his goal, and secondly an attempt from the edge of the box which was also saved well by Jensen although this time at a more comfortable height.

Burnley came closest through a Clarke Carlisle header that rebounded off the cross bar eventually finding its way out to Rhys Williams whose powerful shot was spectacularly pushed over the bar by Bywater. 

The second half was decidedly less frantic than the first, but despite the rams having the majority of the better play during its early periods it was Burnley who took the lead through Chris Mcann just before the hour mark.  In a calamitous defensive error Bywater and Albrechtsen collided whilst going for the same ball, which in turn bobbled to the Claret man who simply rolled it into the empty net. 

From this point onwards it seemed that Derby had little left in them, and were settling for the defeat. The appearance of Tito Villa with 15 minutes left on the clock offered some hope as he injected some energy back into the Derby performance, but any attacks were proving to be less than fruitful. 

And so came injury time; thousands of the Rams faithful were already pouring out of Pride Park, when seemingly out of nowhere Villa controlled the ball on the edge of the area laying off to Teale whose tasty ball across the box was met by the diving header of Captain Connolly. 

Whilst a home draw may often seem like a particularly unremarkable result, a point snatched from the jaws of defeat tasted as sweet as any victory for many a Derby fan today.

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Rams held to stalemate by Tykes

Saturday 21 March, 2009 in Campaign, Fixtures

Derby County 0 Barnsley 0 

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.    

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Leaky Defence Costs Derby as Blades Hit Four

Saturday 14 March, 2009 in Campaign, Fixtures

Sheffield United 4 Derby County 2 

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. 

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Impressive Derby unable to overcome Swans

Tuesday 3 March, 2009 in Campaign, Fixtures

Derby County 2 Swansea City 2 

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.  

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Ram’s brought back down to earth by Doncaster

Saturday 28 February, 2009 in Campaign, Fixtures

Doncaster Rovers 2 Derby County 1 

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.

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