Derby County 0 Ipswich Town 1

Derby’s performance in December has been quite ropey having only beaten Watford 1-0 at home but losing most our away games so a game on home turf was in much need, hopefully giving the Rams some much needed Pride Park support against Ipswich.

Unfortunately, the game didn’t start too well.

Within 9 minutes, Nathan Ellington went off with an injury to his leg forcing Paul Jewell to replace him with Luke Varney.

Things went from bad to worse just seven minutes later when Ipswich’s Jonathan Walters managed to head in a goal for the Tractor Boys giving Ipswich the only goal of the game.

There were many long range attempts from Derby with Miles Addison, Jordan Stewart and Kris Commons all taking shots at Richard Wright but none were good enough to meet the back of the net.

This was Paul Jewell’s 50th league game as manager at Derby and probably not what he was hoping for at such a milestone. Speculation of Jewell leaving the club will really hit Derby hard with such big games coming up in the Carling Cup and FA Cup and while we’re sitting so low in the Championship table. Any manager who gives up at this stage is just not up to the job.

Here’s hoping it’s just rumours…

Tags

• 2008/9
• Championship
• home
• ipswich town
• jonathan walters
• jordan stewart
• kris commons
• loss
• luke varney
• miles addison
• nathan ellington
• paul jewell

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Preston NE 2 Derby County 0

Beating Watford last weekend was a great boost to Derby after a string of successive draws home and away (with the occasional loss thrown in the mix as well). Travelling to Preston was bound to be a difficult game for us but Derby weren’t giving up that easily.

The first half was quite a tense battle. Derby showed good determination although there were few opportunities to up the ante from away goals. Preston were also a strong side who looked extremely comfortable.

It was in the 30th minute when Sean St Ledger knocked in a goal for Preston, giving the home side the lead.

Plenty of opportunities arose for Derby with shots from Paul Green, Kris Commons and Rob Hulse challenging Preston keeper Andy Lonergan but nothing was strong enough to beat him.

Jon Parkin was the man to hit the nail in the coffin for Derby after a smash from 18 yards gave the home side two goals over Derby and, in the end, all three points.

Tags

• 2008/9
• andy lonergan
• away
• Championship
• jon parkin
• kris commons
• loss
• paul green
• preston
• preston northend
• rob hulse
• sean st ledger

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Wolverhampton Wanders 3 Derby County 0

After Saturday’s poor result against Crystal Palace, Derby had to do something to restore their Championship performance. Visiting current leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers probably wasn’t the best opportunity for this but needs must when half way through the season and those hopes are fading.

With Roy Carroll suspended for two weeks, it was Stephen Bywater who had to keep out any shots from Wolves front line. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for his chances to be squandered when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was given the responsibility of a spot kick which he easily converted for the home side after 2 minutes after an aledged handball from Darren Powell.

Five minutes before the break, Ebanks-Blake struck the post but David Edwards hit the rebound with a fine strike, taking the home side two goals up.

Ebanks-Blake finished his night off with yet another goal, connecting with a cross from Andy Keogh in the 58th minute.

It was a dismal performance from Derby, even if the penalty was a controversial decision. There is no excuse for going three goals down after such a great performance at Stoke last week. Derby need to book their ideas up and concentrate on what matters - the league.

Tags

• 2008/9
• andy keogh
• away
• Championship
• darren powell
• david edwards
• loss
• stephen bywater
• sylvan ebanks-blake
• wolverhampton wanderers
• wolves

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Derby County 1 Crystal Palace 2

Still on a high from the League Cup win over Stoke in the week, Derby had to come back to reality quickly with a clash against Crystal Palace on home turf. As mentioned previously, our home run was quite impressive but away performances not as much. Derby had to maintain that streak.

Things didn’t really pan out that way though.

Crystal Palace took the lead when Paddy McCarthy whacked in a blinding shot from 40 yards, giving Palace the edge.

Controversy came though when Luke Varney was rewarded an equaliser after Palace keeper Julian Speroni appealed to have kept the ball over the line. The referee didn’t agree - it was 1-1.

After much protesting, Palace managed to squander Derby’s chances when Shefki Kuqi connected with Craig Beattie’s cross, putting the travellers ahead 2-1 and taking all three points.

Tags

• 2008/9
• Championship
• craig beattie
• crystal palace
• home
• julian speroni
• loss
• luke varney
• paddy mccarthy
• shefki kuqi

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Burnley 3 Derby County 0

Derby’s away campaign hasn’t been that successful recently. Our home performances have returned good results but both Reading and Ipswich took all three points on our travels. Things had to change at Burnley.

It didn’t take long for Burnley to take the advantage when Kevin McDonald scored a volley in the 6th minute. Not a good start - and it only got worse.

Martin Paterson followed this up nine minutes later connecting with a cross into the box from Chris Eagles. Derby’s defence were left standing in exactly the same position eight minutes later with an identical goal for Paterson, giving Burnley the three goal lead with over an hour left to play.

Derby struggled to find anything though and the scorelines stayed that way until the end.

Derby seriously need to work on their away form. At home, Derby have had some great results but we must break the curse. Maybe we need a new tour bus?

Tags

• 2008/9
• away
• burnley
• Championship
• chris eagles
• kevin mcdonald
• loss
• martin paterson

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Ipswich 2 Derby County 0

After thrashing Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 last week, Derby were adamant to continue their impressive form on their second trip across the country top Ipswich.

Pablo Counago knocked in a low shot for Ipswich in the 27th minute, putting the home side in the lead for the first half, with both sides trying hard but failing to hit the back of the net for the first hour.

Przemyslaw Kazmierczak nearly equalised for Derby with a fine header but Ipswich keeper Richard Wright managed to tip it over the bar.

It was Jonathan Walters who finished the game off with his second goal of the season, giving Ipswich all three points while closing the gap on the top six.

Let’s hope for a better result in the week against Preston.

Tags

• 2008/9
• away
• Championship
• ipswich
• jonathan walters
• loss
• pablo counago
• przemyslaw kazmierczak
• richard wright

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