It was supposed to be a fond farewell for Robbie Savage and a thank you for the ever – loyal support of home fans. Instead an early Brad Jones howler opened the door for it to become just another sad story in a season of sad stories.

Derby County vs. Bristol City  

Saturday 23rd April 2011

Pride Park - Derby

Mr I Williamson

Attendance:

25,745 (946 visiting from Bristol)

Teams:

Derby County:

Jones, Brayford, Roberts, Anderson, Ayala, Bailey, Savage (Hendrick 85), Pearson, Bueno, Robinson (Ball 66), S Davies (Doyle 77).

Unused Substitutes: Atkins, B Davies, Addison, Porter.

Yellow Cards: Savage, Bueno

Bristol City:

Gerken, Pitman (Clarkson 71), Spence, Wilson, McAllister, Elliott, Stead (Jackson 86), Nyatanga, Skuse, Campbell-Ryce, Adomah (Woolford 77).

Unused Substitutes: James, Edwards, Johnson, Reid.

Goals: Stead (6), Skuse (66)

Match Stats:

Possession: Derby 47% - Bristol 53%

Shots On Target: Derby 7 – Bristol 3

Shots Off Target: Derby 6 – Bristol 4

Corners: Derby 5 – Bristol 3

Fouls: Derby 8 – Bristol 9

Most Fouls: Ayala (2) - Adomah (2)

I.Saw’s Match Report:

Two defensive errors, two goals, could there have been a more fitting summary of the Rams current campaign?

But in honesty this meaningless match between Derby and Bristol City was more about Robbie Savage’s final appearance before the Pride Park faithful.

Savage, a character fans love to hate, bowed out to a standing ovation in the eighty fifth minute of this encounter; rightly so, a dignified exit.

Much more fitting than the scramble that occurred when the referee blew for the final whistle at the same time as  dashing for the safety of the tunnel to avoid the expected pitch invasion.

Earlier, a single invader ran on the pitch and ambled from one end to the other without intervention “Gerroff, we want to go home”.

It was that kind of day – you felt you had to be there but you wanted it to end. Especially after a schoolboy error by Brad Jones allowed former Rams loanee Jon Stead to score, something he very rarely threatened to do when we had him.

Nigel Clough said afterwards he thought the Rams had played quite well in the first half and that he needs up to ten players in the close season.

Given the indifferent success of the thirty or forty so odd players that Clough has brought in either permanently or on loan such as Lee Croft, Dave Martin (x2), Conor Doyle, Brad Jones etc leave me with no confidence whatsoever for next season.

Even in a match that didn’t matter Clough still only gave Callum Ball twenty minutes despite over thirty goals for the Academy and Reserves.

“Ball is one for the future” said our manager; whether that is for our future under a different manager or for a team such as Norwich who seem to believe in their kids is unclear.

Nigel Clough – please resign now.

Manager’s Reaction:

Nigel was unimpressed with the way his team ended their season at home:

"It was a disappointing way to go out at home".

“For the majority of the first half I thought we played quite well. We produced some good moves and created some chances, but we didn't take them.”

"Unfortunately a mistake saw us go 1-0 down early on, and that has happened too often this season when we've been in the ascendancy. We might have been safe before kick-off from the bottom three, but we felt we owed our supporters a performance today. Sadly, it wasn't to be."

 "Eleven defeats is far too many, and a number of them have been because of goalkeeping mistakes. We have performed better at home this season compared to last year, but the results have not been as good."

"We need to marry the two of them together next season. It has been a season of ups and downs at home; we won a record six in a row at Pride Park but a lot of the games after then haven't been good enough."

"What's happened now has to stay in the past. We are genuinely excited that if we get the players we want for next season, then we feel we can build on the positives of this season and be more competitive.”

"We have got in the top six already this season; we just need to discover a formula to remain there."

Departing Captain’s Reaction:

Robbie Savage wanted to thank Rams fan who made the day memorable despite the result:

"The ovation from the fans was fantastic and it was an emotional moment. It would have been a massive occasion if we had been winning or drawing, but I couldn't do too much because we were 2-0 down.”

"What was really special to me was my father coming on the pitch with me before the game. The Club allowed me to do that, and I appreciate it so much. I can't thank the fans enough for their appreciation and support, both today and during my time here.”

"Next Saturday will be the final game of my career and I won't be playing for anyone else, so I hope it can be a good day for me and the team. I hope I have been a good ambassador for the Club, and I will continue to be in my media career."

"I was in the shower afterwards looking around thinking; I wish Derby fans could have seen me in my peak, in my time at Birmingham and my early days at Blackburn, I was at my best. I think if I had been in my peak here, it would have special."

"It was the same old story for us today, we started the game on the front foot but we conceded a soft goal early on. Brad doesn't need me to tell him it was a mistake, but we moved on and created a few chances in the first and second half.”

“The second goal came from messing about with the ball in our own box, and it turned out to be the goal that ended our hopes of getting anything.”

"It is gutting we couldn't end the season at home with a win, because the fans deserved something to cheer about."

Next & Final Match Reading vs. Derby County

12:45pm – Saturday 7th May

Photo: Action Images

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