The Weston Report: Bamford Overturns Owls And Lands Rams On Third Perch
Thursday, 20th Feb 2014 07:55 by Ryan Weston

When the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed come forty-six games, this will be the sort of match that we could well look back at one which is defining in the season.

This was about as pretty as Susan Boyle in the morning (sorry Suze!) but much like my weekend hangover - soothing fry-up, the content wasn’t good - but it got the job done.

On a personal note, Sheffield holds a special place in my heart. Many a poor dance move had been pulled on various dance floors during my time as a student in the steel city. Sadly, my time ‘studying’ (for friends reading this ‘studying’ = ‘drinking’) is over and thus didn’t coincide for me to showcase my moves to sobbing F*rest fans last weekend on Bramall Lane.

Nonetheless, a day off work was in order and it was mid-afternoon as I began another descent into my adopted home. Well, the Official Site did say to leave early due to road works…..

During a few pre-match orange juices, the talk was of having no pressure in the remaining fifteen games, with our realistic expectations being exceeded at the two-thirds stage. Of course, this is easier said than done but whatever the outcome, it is refreshing to be looking over our shoulders at the play-offs come March, rather than squeaky bum time and the bottom-three.

As the team news drifted in, it was no real surprise than McClaren stuck with his deck following the colossal effort against QPR. With Ward passed fit to receive some verbals from the Kop and a strong contingent of Rams fans to provide vocals of their own, the players emerged.

On first viewing, the home fans’ sponges had worked to good effect in drying out the sodden surface from the weekend. Personally, I was expecting a tight affair with Wednesday surely improved from the shower that took to the field at the iPro in November?

With my view impaired by a massive, stonking, great big blue pole which seems to be my nemesis each time I visit Hillsborough, the side in blue and white stripes immediately set about doing nothing to dispel my negative thoughts.

In saying this, the Rams were guilty of dropping to Wednesday’s level, leading to a first-half more dire than Kieron and Danny combined. For the purpose of providing a report however, I shall persevere…

Despite drying out, the pitch obviously wasn’t conducive to a good - footballing side. This didn’t apply to Wednesday, with their long ball tactics enough to make Clough Snr turn in his grave.

The Rams almost fell behind early on with Bryson clearing off the line following ex-Ram Maguire’s corner. Another long free-kick from the hosts then drifted behind, evading a couple of sprawling bodies on the way. The dead-ball seemed to be the way forward in terms of Wednesday scoring, with Grant displaying quality handling under pressure.

With the Owls looking to play off the second ball as opposed to playing any kind of football of their own, the onus was on the Rams to make their move.

Unfortunately, only Hughes and Ward looked threatening as an attacking force, with Ward’s industry providing a cross that Bamford could only head behind himself. Hughes then danced past a couple of challenges before shooting weekly at always-suspect goalie Chris Kirkland, with Ward much better placed.

Half-time soon followed, with my friend seemingly the only one who enjoyed the first forty-five, one too-many orange juices causing him quite literally to sing on his own throughout. Or perhaps it was the fact that his owl-like features found him auditioning for the role of Wednesday mascot?

The second-half, I remarked in the interval, had to get better or I wouldn’t have had anything to project to you, dear reader. At least though, if the second was to be as poor as the first, there was a change to note at the break with Ward, still struggling with his hammy, replaced by Russell.

In what was a scary similarity to the incident in the first-half, Bryson was again well-placed to divert another corner off the line on the far post. A corner which, in many ways, was identical to the one that Birmingham snatched a draw from, when we were last time out on the road.

Perhaps the better luck we had this time around would go on to give the Rams a platform on which to build…

It was the hosts though who looked the most likely as the game finally threatened to spring into life. By far and away the best player in a blue and white shirt, Antonio, fired two warning shots in quick succession.

First, the pacey winger tricked his way too easily past Wisdom, who was having a rare dodgy evening, to test Grant at the near stick. Then, following another long ball, Antonio showed his power to turn and force the Derby stopper into his best save of the evening, clawing away the effort which bounced just in front of him.

The game was crying out for Bryson to take it by the scruff of the neck (or should that be beak?). However, something seemed amiss with the Scot and prophet Weston was proved correct as our number four was soon substituted and disappeared straight down the tunnel, a definite cause for concern at this stage of the campaign. Hendrick was his replacement and he was soon thrust into the midfield battle with the game again turning untidy.

Russell was doing his best to provide his normal quality but he was thankful for the large stand in the Lepping’s Lane End following a volley, which would have ended up somewhere in Leeds without it.

For all the untidiness in the game, praise must once again be given the two-centre halves in maroon, who were dealing with everything which was tossed and literally thrown long at them.

Buxton, who has obviously still misplaced his razor, was once again playing a magnificent hand. With Martin also beginning to see more of the ball, you just sensed we would fashion a chance. Russell almost provided one for Bamford, after his centre was cleverly dummied by Hughes, with the Chelsea-loanee guilty of being caught on his heels rather than rolling the dice.

In fairness, the young-man wasn’t having his best game in a Rams shirt and with Sammon readied, all of the signs pointed to him being the one to make way. However, not for the first time, McClaren’s willingness to gamble came to the fore when he instead brought off Eustace. This move was how the day was won as leaving him out there led to a super strike from the lad.

In the lead up to the goal Martin’s misplaced pass out to the right seemed to sum up proceedings. However, Bamford retrieved and when crowded out, played the simple ball back to Wisdom. Turning his man level with the edge of the eighteen-yard box, the Liverpool man laid back to his England under-21 team-mate. With a first-touch to bring the ball inside and with a swish of the wand of his left-foot, Bamford produced an unstoppable effort which crashed in off the crossbar.

A goal out of nothing and a moment of quality which was worthy of winning any match! A moment which also saw your author fall off what he thought was a well-set folded chair!

Immediately, we retreated to a 4-5-1, with Martin dropping in to support Sammon. The atmosphere was suddenly electric, with someone evidently having tucked into Sheffield’s finest curry pre-match, as a smoke-bomb filled the away-end.

Led by Buxton and Keogh, the ten-minutes plus a ridiculous five-additional produced few alarms, leading me to suggest that they wouldn’t have scored if they’d have played until Wednesday (I thank you!).

Grant though deserves another mention for more commanding work in the final stages. It would be scandalous though if I didn’t mention that man Bucko and a superb 360 degrees pirouette in the centre circle which delighted even the most displeasing fan. Think Zidane - but better!

Full-time and somehow, we had secured three points from a game which seemingly was heading into the, ‘take the point and move on’ bracket.

This said, it would have been hard to stomach if we hadn’t have come away down the M1 with all three points in the boot, as Wednesday were still by far and away the worst side I have seen all season. Perhaps it was fitting then that the one real moment of quality in the game decided it.

Come full-time, my vocally challenged friend finally was not alone and now had nearly three-thousand backing singers.

He plays on the left - he plays on the right.

That boy Pat Bamford.

He’s more than alright!

We Said — They Said:

We said - Derby Gaffer Steve Mclaren:

“We showed bags of character tonight and a moment of quality settled the game. Patrick Bamford is a match winner and goal scorer - and that goal was absolutely sensational. As we all know he has got that type of goal in his locker and he came up with the goods. We were thinking about taking him off but you have to keep your goal scorers on.”

“He will grab the headlines but the whole team deserves credit for playing their part in a big win. We went for it in the last 15 minutes or so and took a risk by going with four forwards, but if you want to win games you have to do that.”

“On other days we might have lost but we talked about it as a staff and we felt it was right to go for it. We didn’t look like we were going to win the game anyway but the gamble paid off and we are thrilled. We’ve kept two clean sheets in a row and that’s brilliant - the defending was impeccable.”

They Said — Wednesday Manager Stuart Gray:

“There was a lot of commitment, effort, desire and enthusiasm, and I don’t think my players deserved that defeat,” added Gray. “I thought we kept their big players quiet and certainly should have had a point, but we were undone by a wonder goal.”

Weston’s Player Ratings:

Lee Grant: Commanded his box and showed superb handling all evening. Distrubution was poor at times if I’m being picky! — 8

Craig Forsyth: : Solid defensively again but wasteful in possession — 6

Andre Wisdom: A dodgy first forty-five and given real examination by Antonio. Improved in the second half — 6

Jake Buxton: : Another astounding display from Bucko. Won 99.9 of his battles, marshalled troops brilliantly. And then there was THAT piece of skill! Weston’s Star Man — 9

Richard Keogh: Brilliant again from the skipper. Showing just how much we missed him when he was injured — 8

Craig Bryson: : Quiet evening again but hampered by injury. Fingers crossed for the all-clear — 6

John Eustace: Busy in the middle of the park, the sort of game made for him — 6

Will Hughes: Bright display, always tried to keep creating despite the horrific football at times — 7

Patrick Bamford: Let’s not dwell on his 89 mins where he wasn’t ripping the top corner out!!! Wonder goal and has now scored five in last six. - 7

Jamie Ward: Looked a genuine threat but unfortunately got injured. Let’s hope it’s not a normal long one. — 6

Chris Martin: Battled well against a physical side. Had limited decent service — 6

Subs:

Johnny Russell: Looked lively again although we won’t mention that shot. — 6

Jeff Hendrick: Provided good power in the middle of the park. — 6

Connor Sammon: Did what he does-battled manfully for last ten. - 6

Match Stats: Owls / Rams

Possession: 46% / 54%

Corners: 11 / 2

Shots (On Target): 18 (4) / 9 (2)

Fouls: 21 / 11

Match Info:

Referee: Darren Bond

Attendance: 21,039

Derby County: Grant, Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Eustace (Sammon 75), Bryson (Hendrick 55), Hughes, Ward (Russell 46), Bamford, Martin

Unused Substitutes: Whitbread, Thorne, Bailey.

Goals: Bamford (78’)

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Palmer, Llera, Loovens, Mattock, Antonio, Coke, Lee (Helan 45+2), Gardner (Hutchinson 61), Maguire, Best (Afobe 70).

Unused Substitutes: Martinez, Maghoma, Lavery, Nuhiu.