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by dennisdcfc

Pilgrims Unhappy on their Travels

Sunday 23 August, 2009 in Fixtures

Derby County 2 – Plymouth Argyle 1

Following on from the much-needed clean sheet at Blackpool, Derby hosted Plymouth at Pride Park, a side who had failed to beat the Rams in their previous 6 attempts.  With the return of key players Commons and Hulse, the outlook for Derby was bright.  However, concerns about the fitness of both Commons and Hulse meant Steve Davies lead the line, the starting 11 the same as the previous home match to Peterborough with the exception of Tottenham loanee Jake Livermore who replaced the unfit Paul Green.

Plymouth started the brightest, dominating possession but crucially lacking in the final third.  It took a lunge from new signing Jake Buxton for Plymouth to make the breakthrough, chopping down Alain Judge on the edge of the area.  Whilst the penalty itself was debatable, Clough highlighting the proximity to the edge of the box in his post-game interview, the finish was resolute.

The first goal seemed to spark Derby into life.  The Rams began to create numerous openings, Miles Addison making the most of a Teale Corner only to be denied by some shrewd goal line defending.  It wasn’t until just before the break they finally drew level, Jake Buxton making amends for conceding the penalty with an astute finish from just outside the 6-yard box following a scrappy goalmouth scramble.

The second half began with a concerning leg injury to Steve Davies.  Following a promising pre-season it’s a bitter blow to lose Davies, especially given injury plagued his debutant season with the Rams.  His replacement Hulse performed well as lone striker and set up numerous chances that Derby failed to capitalise on.  The game seemed destined for a draw until the final stages.  Alain Judge missed a gilt-edged chance for Plymouth, firing over following a fast counter attack. In the final seconds Derby responded with an incredible Miles Addison header from a Gary Teale corner, yet another well worked set piece

Derby finish the opening 4 games with an impressive 7 points from a possible 12.  However, the promising start must be taken with a pinch of salt as all the opposition so far are heavily touted as relegation candidates and undoubtedly Derby face much more difficult ties ahead; none other than a trip to the City Ground next weekend.

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by jonnico

Rams held to bore draw at Blackpool

Tuesday 18 August, 2009 in Campaign

Blackpool 0 Derby County 0

Bloomfield Road has in recent years proven to be a bit of a bogey ground for the Rams, perhaps it’s the sea air, the fish & chips or the distraction of the nearby pleasure beach; whatever the reason  many Rams fans probably felt that they stood a greater chance of winning in the Pier Amusements than celebrating three points tonight.

Several changes were made to tonight’s line up; Commons and Hulse both made their first starts of the season, whilst ex-Blackpool defender Barker was on the bench poised to make his first league appearance for the Rams against his former club.

The first half was a rather dismal affair, and whilst it was nice to see the Derby defence stand resolute, the lack of offensive power from Derby’s strike force gave little hope that it would be the Ram’s who would break the deadlock.

The second half offered more promise as the Rams finally had some realistic chances on goal, but whilst Addison and Hulse both came close; neither of their attempts was on target.

Perhaps the closest we came to seeing a goal come from today’s game, came from Alex Baptiste, who’s thundering shot from 25yards was pushed away from certain glory by a fully stretched diving Steven Bywater.

For Derby today represented a vastly improved performance from Saturday’s efforts at Scunthorpe, and the clean sheet will be greatly anticipated.  The game itself will be forgotten in the depths of midweek melancholia.

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by jonnico

Season ends with defeat at Watford

Sunday 3 May, 2009 in Campaign

Watford 3 Derby County 1 

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!

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by jonnico

Derby beat Addicks to Assure Survival

Saturday 25 April, 2009 in In Brief

Derby County 1 Charlton Athletic 0 

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.

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by jonnico

Rams Royally Rumbled

Tuesday 21 April, 2009 in Campaign

Derby County 0 Reading 2 

Derby once again failed to achieve mathematical safety, leaving it instead until the penultimate weekend of the season for another chance to seal the deal. 

To say that Reading rattled Derby’s cage during the opening stages of the game would be the understatement of the season. The ball found its way to the back of Derby’s net no less than three times during the first half, however fortunately for the Rams each time defensive errors went unpunished as each goal was ruled out for offside. 

After these defensive blips the first half turned into an open game of football with both teams creating good chances.  Derby came closest eight minutes from the end of the half when a Kris Commons shot was deflected just beyond the Reading post by Duberry.

 

The second half started much like the first had finished, with both sides creating chances.  As expected though it was reading who took the first goal; a deft Kitson header from the cross of Kebe. 

Hulse almost responded immediately for the Ram’s but was unable get enough power on his header to beat Hahnemann. 

Reading proved to be too much for Derby to cope with, as highlighted when on 72 minutes a long ball fed Shane Long in to score their second of the game, and ultimately seal the three points. 

If Derby are unable to gather the necessary points for survival at home to Charlton this coming Saturday, they will be hoping that Reading can repeat tonight’s performance against Norwich on Monday, where a draw for the Royals will be enough to put Derby’s season to bed.

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Derby Left Empty Handed After Palace Trip

Saturday 18 April, 2009 in Campaign

Crystal Palace 1 Derby County 0 

Derby were left ruing missed chances as they left South London still two points short of assured mathematical safety. 

However if this was playing on the minds of the Derby players then it certainly didn’t show.  This tie had end-of-season-kick-around written all over it, and that is exactly how it was played. 

The first half produced little play of note, with its most significant moment coming in the opening seconds of the match when Nick Carle took Savage out with a late challenge. 

Derby’s best chance of the half came in its dying seconds; Pearson out on the wing, spotted Hulse waiting to pounce in the box, however his pull back to him was hit just behind the Derby hotshot and the danger soon passed. 

The second half brought a little spice to the proceedings. On the hour mark Victor Moses caught Sterjovski in a bad tackle, and having already seen yellow for a dive the referee was left with little choice but to dismiss the Palace player. 

Playing against ten men the advantage was supposed to be with the Rams, but only three minutes after the sending off Palace were one up. 

Kuqi having been played through the offside trap by Clint Hill all too easily, deftly chipped over Bywater to score what was ultimately to be the match winner. 

Derby did push forward towards the end of the game, and actually had the ball in the back of the net at one point through Tito Villa, however the offside flag ruled the goal out.

 

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