Derby’s loss to Swansea made it 4 losses in 5 for the Rams and left the club precariously close to the drop zone.  Add to that the unbelievable rise of arch-rivals Nottingham Forest and it has been a difficult few weeks for Derby fans.  Nigel Clough attempted to address Derby’s downfall by bolstering the front-line with the loan signing of DJ Campbell in mid-week as the Ram hoped to put an end to their unpleasant run.

Jobi McAnuff almost spelt disaster for the Rams in the opening minutes as the ex-Watford man fashioned a chance out of nothing from 25 yards that just missed the left post.  Derby’s first chance fell to to in-form striker Rob Hulse who fired a header straight into the arms of Federici.  Jay McEveley shot just wide just before the break to put an end to a half fairly bereft of chances; ultimately paying testament to the struggling forms of both clubs.

Brendan Rodgers half-time team talk had an immediate impact as Reading opened the second half with a goal.  A misplaced pass from Shaun Barker put Derby on the back foot and Jay Tabb found Sigurdsson on the edge of the area to squeeze home the opener.  Derby response marked the confidence of team much higher than their league position suggests as the Rams tied the game within just 4 minutes.  Gary Teale capped off a fast-paced Derby break with a sumptuous cross across the box that was duly converted by Paul Green; his second of the campaign.  Derby’s winner took an almost identical form; defender Jay McEveley providing the cross this time for Rob Hulse to slide home.  Reading did try and mount a comeback, Shaun Barker atoned for his earlier misdeeds with a last ditch block late on and McAnuff shot just wide.  However, their fate was compounded with the sending off of Shane Long late on following an ugly lunge on Derby loanee Fredrik Stoor.

Derby enter the important Christmas fixture list on the back of a promising victory; not only has the Rams impressive home form continued but the team looks rejuvenated with the return from injury of midfield duo Paul Green and Stephen Pearson.  Add to that the on loan signing of DJ Campbell and hopefully Derby fans may have a reason for some Christmas cheer this holiday season.  Still, Pride Park hosts free scoring West Brom on Saturday which will undoubtedly be the Rams biggest test at home this season.

Derby came in to Friday’s game in a run of dismal form: as if 3 straight defeats were not bad enough, the Rams became the first unfortunate victims to fall to Roy Keane’s much-maligned Ipswich Town.  Despite the recent lack of success, Derby fans had some optimism in the return to fitness of frontman Rob Hulse and midfielders Stephen Pearson and Paul Green.

Derby got off to the worst possible start as Chris Coleman’s men quickly punished some sloppy Rams defending.  Leon Best was first to react to a poor Bywater punch to volley a left footed shot drive into the net just before the 5 minute mark.  Derby fashioned the better of the other first half chances, Dean Leacock and Rob Hulse both firing just wide of the target.  Derby also had a strong penalty claim turned down as Shaun Barker was chopped down in the box.  Derby’s bad luck was compounded just before the break as on loan striker Paul Dickov astonishingly fired over from 6 yards out.

Dickov promptly atoned for his mistake however turning provider just after the restart.  Dickov curled over a sumptuous ball from the left finding Rob Hulse with space between the Coventry centre backs; Hulse made no mistake and placed the ball smartly past Konstantopoulos.  Derby completed the turnaround with some impressive play again by the forward partnership.  Paul Dickov chased what seemed like a lost cause before producing a remarkable ball from wide right that was driven in by Hulse.  The second half was not without controversy however as Coventry right back Jordan Clarke picked up a sending off following a challenge on Robbie Savage.  Replays showed little contact and some Oscar worthy theatrics from the Derby captain.  In the final stages Hulse was denied his hatrick following a penalty miss after Lee Croft was brought down In the box.

Whilst Derby fans may have felt disappointed with the lack of endeavour shown in the first half, the Rams showed a resilience in the second half notably lacking in recent defeats.  Whilst the team still looks uncomfortable at the back and often fail to retain possession with an array misplaced passes, fans can take heart in a much needed 3 points that see the Rams edge closer away from the drop zone.  Much optimism can also be found in the budding partnership of veteran Dickov and current fans player of the year Rob Hulse and the two look set to retain their places as the Rams travel to Swansea on the 20^th November.

Derby travelled to Portman Road with high hopes; after all despite Derby’s atrocious away form of late, Roy Keane’s Tractor Boys were yet to make a notch on the victory post.

Derby however proved that once again when it comes to ‘curse’ breaking the Rams are kings.  Time and time again teams desperately in need of a win need only a fixture against derby to break their duck.

The injury crisis continues to plague the club, this time claiming new victim Rob Hulse, who was ruled out of the squad by a nasty stomach bug; this meant a lone role for veteran striker Paul Dickov upfront.

Derby dominated the first half; making their intentions known early on. Livermore and Dickov linked up within the first few minutes, only for Dickov to fire into the side netting. Derby’s best chance of the half came courtesy of Robbie Savage, who’s rocket shot from distance forcing Portsmouth loanee Begovic to parry it away.

The Ipswich attack was led by former Ram and recently rumoured Clough target Jon Stead; the striker held the ball up well but despite several attempts failed to severely challenge Bywater.

The Rams continued their dominance after the break and other than a superb stop from Bywater to push away Bruce’s header were troubled little.

In true Derby style it was typical defensive errors from the Rams’ that cost them the game in the 66^th minute.  Liam Rosenior crossed a delicious hanging ball from deep on the right; whilst Derby’s defence watched the ball’s trajectory they left Wright clear to leap meeting the ball with a thunderous header that Bywater despite making contact was unable to stop from pounding the back of the net.

There is little doubt that Derby’s performance at Portman Road was a marked improvement over recent games, and the Rams can count themselves unlucky not to have left Suffolk with at least a point. With less than a week until a home tie against Coventry Derby will hope that key players continue to return from the medical room and make as big an impact as Stephen Pearson did today.

There are few matches in the modern game that are anticipated with such intensity by the fans as the East Midland’s Derby.  This encounter was no exception.

The game got off to an electric start, unfortunately for the Rams it was more of an electric shock.  With in a minute of kick off Forest’s Polish midfielder Radolsaw Majewski scored an absolute peach of goal from the edge of the box.

With any game plan completely out of the window, Derby were understandably shaky; and in a ‘lesser’ game Gary Teale would have been expected to make the most of all opportunities; but instead when Stephen Pearson played the Scot through Teale was unable to bury the ball, and instead scuffed his shot wide.

The day got worse for the Rams just before the half hour mark, as a Cohen free-kick curled into the box was met by the head of Rob Hulse and found its way into the back of the Derby net.

Derby were now no worse off than in last seasons F.A. Cup clash; so time for a comeback, right? Well almost.  Hulse eager to cancel out his earlier mistake did find the back of the Forest net, but the goal was harshly ruled out after it was judged that Hulse had pushed Wes Morgan as he went for the ball.

A poor half time result for the Rams quickly turned into a complete disaster when just minutes before the break Kris Commons capped his poor performance against his old club, by losing the ball to ex-Ram Dexter Blackstock.  Blackstock timed a perfect pass through the Derby defence into the path of the charging Tyson who rounded Bywater to finish with embarrassing ease.  The Derby defence were left watching helplessly after the offside trap had suffered complete and utter breakdown.

Thankfully the Rams side which appeared after the half time break had completely ridden itself of its earlier jitters; Croft came on to replace the poor Commons and Derby looked much better for the change.

It took just six minutes for the Rams to get back into the game.  Miles Addison attempted a bicycle kick off Jake Buxton’s flick on, rather than fly spectacularly into the Forest net the ball took a huge deflection off Wes Morgan and rolled past the helpless Lee Camp.  Whilst not the most spectacular goal, it introduce the whiff of a comeback into the air and the atmosphere within the ground changed accordingly.

Just over ten minutes later and the Rams had pulled back another one. The Forest defence failed to deal with Lee Croft’s cross in a timely manner and the ball fell to perfectly positioned Livermore whose low shot deflected off Murphey to give the Spurs loanee his first Rams goal.

The final half hour was fought like any self respecting local rivalry should be.  Derby continued to push ferociously for the equaliser and even brought veteran striker Paul Dickov out for his Derby debut, but even he could not grab that elusive goal.

The game itself ended in disarray when firstly Savage and Majewski ended up in a heap on the ground, whilst the pair helped each other up, argy bargy ensued as Savage was shoved by several Forset players.  Shenanigans continued after the final whistle as Derby players reacted to Nathan Tyson’s gloating directly in front of the travelling Derby masses.

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!

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.

After the successful game against Sheffield United at the weekend, Derby were hoping to extend their winning streak with the first of two games during their trip to Wales this week.

It was looking good for the majority of the game. Derby fought a strong game and managed to take the lead in the 63rd minute when Stephen Pearson blasted in Nathan Ellington’s cross to take Derby 1-0 up.

But those dreams of the first away win in 18 months were shattered after fifteen minutes when Ashley Williams managed to connect with Jordi Gomes’ corner, heading in the equaliser.

While it’s a shame to have lost that opportunity of two wins in a row, things are certainly picking up for Derby and we can take a lot from the last few games to improve on our ability, and actually compete with the rest of the league rather than sit at the bottom.

Next up – Cardiff!