At Easter, Jesus reportedly rose again. Sadly, the same can’t be said for our automatic promotion hopes as it was mathematically confirmed that somehow, Burnley will once again be a Premier League town next season.

Not that the likely outcome of us having to settle for the playoffs reflected in our performance in this one, as somehow, our wastefulness put a more than rose tint on what should have been a far more comfortable victory.

With the iPro gleaming in something rarer than Paul Simpson in trousers, Bank Holiday sunshine, this promised to be an attacking affair. Barnsley’s desperate need for points, coupled with our normal style, pointed to over 2.5 goals being a shoe-in on the pre-match coupon.

As predicted by yours truly (I’ve heard Man Utd are looking for a gaffer!?) Ward replaced Bamford, with Hughes also replaced by Hendrick. Our first ten minutes was what we had come to expect from a Rams home game recently-tempo, pace, our opponents chasing the shadows from the early spring sunshine.

Thorne’s delicious chip sent Russell free, his effort well saved by Steele. Ward also forced a good stop, before Hendrick, positive from the start; saw his left footed effort curl just wide.

Barnsley were like me on the golf course. They could see where they wanted to put the ball but couldn’t get it more than a few yards. No water hazards or annoying sand traps were evident though, just black and white shirts driving and chipping at will.

Forsyth was often the catalyst, his driving runs producing numerous crosses that evaded everybody in the early going. Somehow, after Martin looped a header over from Bryson’s cross, the Tykes’ goal hadn’t been breached after fifteen minutes.

Alarmingly, the side from Oakwell almost took a lead as underserved as Mumford and Sons are to music. Ex-Ram Cywka found space to drill a left-footed drive that Grant did well to turn behind at his near-post. Soon though, we were on the march again and produced our clearest opening of the half so far.

Ward and Russell combined on the right-edge of the box to see the latter skip clear. Opening his body ala classic Henry in his prime, the scot produced a finish more hmmm than va va voom, his left-footed effort lacking any curl and drifting wide.

It was then that the game threatened to settle for five minutes, as Barnsley finally got out of their own half. Funny then, that during our less-threatening spell of the half, we should open the scoring.

After another spell of sharp passing and probing outside the Barnsley box, the ball found Hendrick, who answered the crowds cries of ‘shoot’ with aplomb, albeit with a helping hand (or not as the case was) by Steele. Unleashing a fierce drive from thirty-yards, the Irishman was delighted to see the Barnsley stopper inexplicably wave the ball…into the corner.

The game opened up again and threatened to escalate quickly out of the Reds’ reach. We were offering more willing runners than today’s Boston Marathon, with Ward and Russell both just unable to catch balls in behind the defence. Everyone wanted the ball and wanted to push forwards, resulting into calls for Buxton to try his luck from thirty, an offer than was sadly refused.

After Grant had done well to collect a deflected centre from the dangerous Cywka, it was soon two-nil and almost game over.

An interchange between Forsyth and Bryson saw the ball given to Russell on the left-angle, twenty-five yards out. In good home scoring form, he lined up and let fly left-footed, only to see the ball deflect wickedly off Bryson and over the despairing Steele.

A goal very similar to the second at Birmingham away-one for the dubious goals panel…or to be settled in the dressing room over a game of cards…

The dressing room is where both sides headed soon after with the Rams in total control and making short-work of another side close to the bottom of the table, with apparently, all to play for. Not that you would know it, with the visitors showing all the menace of a four-week old kitten in the first period.

At last though, the first knockings of the second saw more of a fight from the Tykes.

Having obviously had a rollicking and a Jaffa Cake, there seemed more of a spirit and danger for the Rams as first Kennedy saw Grant smartly tip over a free-kick, before O’Grady headed an inviting cross from the right just over when well placed in-between Keogh and Buxton.

Much like the Charlton game, we had decided seemingly to coast along in first-gear, waiting for a something in the road for us to switch-up. Still, we looked more than comfortable and really should have had a free-shot at a third. Steele left his area to clear near the touchline but dallied and was well-challenged by Martin, who was then adjudged to have fouled the keeper by the linesman, with the goal gaping.

Cometh the hour and cometh two quick substitutions, with Eustace replacing the tiring Thorne, and Dawkins replacing Ward, who had produced another good hour.

Dawkins in particular seemed to galvanise the Rams, who really should have gone out of sight. The winger himself was desperately unlucky to see his foray into the box, and combination with Martin, culminate in his shot deflecting just wide.

Next, Hendrick drove forwards but this time was guilty of not pulling the trigger earlier, instead wasting the chance before laying off to Martin who shot over.

Attacking situations were coming and going more regularly than Forest managers, with promising situations wasted by a poor choice of pass when others more well-placed.

This said, we were beginning to carve Barnsley’ tiring back four open with ease again. The fantastic Forsyth then shifted into overdrive, head down and steaming through the gap into the area before lashing over.

More sharp play saw Martin felled in an inviting dead-ball position thirty-yards out. Bryson took his turn at the shooting gallery, bending an attempt just wide of the far-post. The best chance of the lot though, fell to our left-back again.

A wonderful move involving Dawkins, Martin and Hendrick saw the ball pushed wide to the big striker. His cross saw Dawkins unintentionally bring the ball down and saw Steele once again going walkabout. The winger kept his head, crossing the ball into the middle where even Bruce Forsyth would have converted. Not so Craig, whose header lacked conviction and was scrambled off the line.

With the game seemingly beyond Barnsley, Sammon was introduced to replace Martin, whose twentieth league goal would have to wait. Within a minute, the visitors had one back, although the events were unconnected.

A period of pressure saw us defending a tad deep, with Wisdom out-jumped by ex-Ram Nyantanga following an angled ball. The Welshman’s knock down was well-controlled by Proschwitz, who swivelled a shot across Grant into the corner with a touch of class. Well-taken yes, although the Rams would have been disappointed with the amount of time and space afforded to the striker.

A frantic last-ten seemed likely then and we were not to be disappointed, although most of the pressure came from us, as opposed to the side more in need of the points.

Within seconds of kicking off, a clever through ball saw Sammon felled in the area, with the ref showing no hesitation in pointing to the spot. I’m sure I saw Chris Martin kick over a crate of iPro, with the chance of his goal gift-wrapped for somebody else.

That somebody was Russell who proceeded to…miss….again.

His well-struck shot was too close to the legs of Steele and you immediately wondered if it were to be a relegation aborting fight back which was to transpire.

Unbelievably, the Scot had a chance to make amends almost straight away, Bryson’s slide rule pass seeing him clear again, only to chip his effort past the goalkeeper and just past the far-post.

In the last five, Forsyth confirmed his star-man accolade with a lung-busting run from inside his own half. Finding himself one-on-one with the last defender, he chose to burst past him on his unflavoured right-side. Entering the box, I was willing him to smash it past Steele to top a great display. Instead, he unselfishly tried to square to Sammon, only to see his pass intercepted.

As the breathless pace continued, Bryson squeezed a shot in at the near-post which was well stopped.

You could see a sucker-punch coming and it threatened with a comical faux-pas from the officials. Eustace was penalised for a handball close to his own box, only for the linesman to indicate the spot near the hip where he thought it had struck. Decision stood though and you feared the worst.

As it was, we should have instead feared for the bloke twelve rows back as the free-kick sailed high and wide…. perhaps down would be more apt, as despite late pressure, the Rams solidly held-on for what transpired to be a narrow-victory.

McClaren hit the nail on the head post-match. We have to show more ruthlessness if we are to progress in the play-offs. Despite this, the glut of chances that we are capable of creating can only be an encouraging thing.

What the gaffer now has is an interesting dilemma re - team selection. Stick and risk injury or twist and possibly lose momentum?

One thing is for certain - leave May 24th free.

Just in case.

Weston’s Player Ratings

Lee Grant — 7: Assured with what he had to do. Marshalled his area well and fielded some awkward balls confidently.

Craig Forsyth — Westons Star Man 9: Brilliant. Surging runs, good quality and defended well. Just his final ball needs work but what an improvement since the start of the season. Deserved a goal.

Andre Wisdom - 7: Caused problems by Jennings in the 2nd half but did well.

Jake Buxton - 7: Good, solid and relieable as ever.

Richard Keogh - 8: Did very well, particularly in the second half. Got out of some compromising situations very confidently.

Jeff Hendrick - 8: Best display for a whil. Back to his strength of running with the ball and causing problems. Good goal too!

Craig Bryson - 7: Too much energy for Barnsley — although he was uncharacteristically poor with his touch on occasions.

George Thorne - 6: The odd flash of what he can do but quiet compared to recent games.

Jamie Ward - 7: More encouraging minutes for him. Looked sharp again.

Johnny Russell - 7: Scored one (at the moment!!) but should have had 3 or 4. Don’t think he’ll be taking many more penalties.

Chris Martin - 7: Did what he does.

Subs

John Eustace - 6: A reliable half hour or so.

Simon Dawkins - 7: Very lively and unlucky not to score. Getting him back at the right time.

Conor Sammon - 6: Did well to win the penalty.

We said / They Said

Derby Gaffer - Steve McClaren:

“The last 10 minutes were very unnecessary and shows we still have a bit to do with this team. When we control a game like that, play the football we do and create the chances we do, we need to be more ruthless and it nearly cost us in the end. So what could have been a harsh lesson was in the end just a lesson that we need to carry forward and take into the play-offs.”

"To create that many chances and only score two was unbelievable. I couldn't fault the performance and the attitude, the only thing I could fault was we didn't get the third goal. When you are on top and you've got them down, you have to make sure you finish them. But we didn't, we let them back up and gave them a chance, and against different opponents that might have cost us."

Barnsley Gaffer — Danny Wilson :

“It doesn't really change anything, we've always needed to win games and the next two games we've got to win. It's as simple as that. Everyone will be writing us off, we are down in everybody's eyes and that's understandable. But we have six valuable points to play for and who knows what twist of fate is waiting on the last day of the season?”

"We have to genuinely believe we can be the recipient of a good result on that particular weekend and stay up, but it will need two wins. You know from experience that on the last day of the season peculiar things happen. We've had some very good displays in recent weeks and that gives me belief, it really does. And we have some very good characters in the dressing room who will give it everything."

Match Stats: Rams / Tykes:

Possession: 58% / 42%

Corners: 7 / 7

Shots (On Target): 22 (6) / 13 (3)

Fouls: 6 / 8

Yellow Cards: 0 / 2

Match Info:

Referee: Graham Scott

Attendance: 26,046

Derby: Grant, Wisdom, Keogh (C), Buxton, Forsyth, Thorne (Eustace 63), Hendrick, Bryson, Russell, Ward (Dawkins 66), Martin (Sammon 79).

Unused Subs: Legzdins, Whitbread, Hughes, Bamford.

Goals: Hendrick (34’), Russell (42’)

Barnsley: Steele, Nyatanga, Kennedy, M'voto, Cranie, Cywka (Noble-Lazarus 68), Jennings, McCourt (Mellis 45), Lawrence (Proschwitz 72), Dawson, O'Grady.

Unused Subs: Turner, Woods, Frimpong, Hassell.

Goals: Proschwitz (80’)

Match Highlights / Reaction

Next Time:

Derby vs. Watford

iPro Stadium

3pm — Saturday April 26th

Photo: Action Images

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