Can you keep a secret? Really? You’re sure, ok then I’ll whisper it quietly.

Pride Park yesterday, two minutes on the clock, we had our first shot on target with Jamie Ward warming keeper Alex Smithies’ gloves. Less than a minute later and we have another, it’s that feller Ward again.

An unprecedented start, if it had been cricket you could have expected a brief burst of “That’s Entertainment” by The Jam.

All in all the stats went on to record twenty one shots by the Rams the majority on target to my recollection. Perhaps that was down to Ward who buzzed like a bee, yet stung like a wasp time and time again.

Connor Sammon playing as a two contributed as Derby finally had a strike force rather than a solitary man up front. A proper 4-4-2, we took the game to the visitors.

In midfield we pressed on, the full backs raided the flanks and in attacking we looked assured confident and never ever like losing.

Craig Bryson, notionally on the left hand side, popped up in the middle to steer home Paul Coutts cross for our first after 25 minutes.

Ward added a second less than ten sminutes later after Sammon released Gareth Roberts and the full back’s low centre reached our diminutive number ten, a swing of the leg and the net rippled.

It wasn’t quite kids and candy but it was clinical and razor sharp.

Huddersfield also had their moments, the industrious James Vaughan in the thick of the action. One minute thunderously challenging in the air with Mark O’Brien and the next tripping over imaginary daisies in the Pride Park pitch. Overall O’Brien came out on top which for a youngster up against an ex-premiership striker is no mean feat.

Derby sat back early in the second half and the Terriers came close as Vaughan clipped the post, moments later Richard Keogh headed Ward’s free kick into the bottom corner of the net to make it three nil and effectively end the contest.

Rams Player Rating:

Legzdins 6 - A quiet afternoon which for a goalkeeper is good.

Brayford 7 - Huddersfield sat back allowing John to attack the flank at which he is very good.

Roberts 7 - Similar to Brayford, an excellent game cumulated in a shot which narrowly failed to dip enough to score with the keeper beaten, (Freeman 5 – A five minute run around).

O’Brien 7 – Shackled Vaughan well and frequently put his head were it hurts.

Keogh 6 - Mopped up behind Mark, Richard scored but a subdued game IMO.

Bryson 6 – LHS of midfield, underused yet popped up to start the scoring.

Hughes 6 – Glimpses of regaining his form which rocketed him into the £7m bracket, (Jacobs 5 – a pointless substitution).

Hendrick 7 – The engine room of the midfield, Jeff had an excellent game.

Coutts 6 – Created the first goal but capable of more penetration than yesterday.

Ward 8 – My Man of the Match, chased, fought, battled for everything, created chances and could have scored more than one. (Robinson 5 – A ten minute run around).

Sammon 7 – We benefitted from having Sammon with a strike partner, could have and perhaps should have scored yet Conor created opportunities and that is good enough for me.

Photo: Action Images

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