The Weston Report: Super Rams Swat Hornets & Secure Third
Sunday, 27th Apr 2014 14:54 by Ryan Weston

The final home game of the season. For too long, we have been accustomed to this being an occasion to go through the motions, to blood young players, to end another season of mid-table mediocrity. Not so this year!

Instead the penultimate home game of our campaign produced one of our best attacking displays of the campaign saw us sweep past the side which arguably held claim to similar accolades last-season. With this said, there was little chance of a goalless draw and we weren’t disappointed.

After watching Craig Bryson deservedly pick up the Jack Stamps Trophy, and after questioning where Steve Howard got his, shall we say, snazzy jacket from, a different end of season feel was tangible inside the iPro.

To my left were, amongst others, a banana, an Oompa Loompa and Vicky Pollard. To my right, Sonic the Hedgehog. And no, I hadn’t been drinking…

As the unchanged Rams emerged, Macca’s mission was clear - secure third spot and let some members of the squad recline in their armchairs instead of trouncing Leeds at Elland Road next weekend. Of course, that will still be the case, just with differing personnel.

Despite the Rams starting well, it was the visitors who struck on their first attack after four minutes. Battocchio pounced on the loose ball to release Deeney in behind. With the Rams failing in their impersonation of the Arsenal back-four of the nineties, the striker was waved onside before coolly lifting over Grant to opening the scoring.

Ala waving a pie at Andy Reid, this only served to galvanise the Rams, and the supporters, who were once again making a fair racket. Within minutes, it was clear that it would be a case of when, not if, we equalised.

Our play was characteristically sharp, with Watford guilty of allowing Bryson and Hendrick far too much space to play between the lines. Despite this and Forsyth being allowed the freedom of Derby to produce many centres, the Watford goal remained intact in the first-fifteen.

A nasty clash of heads then occurred between Buxton and someone who may as well have been a brick wall, such was Jake’s reaction. Before Sully the physio could even move his considerable frame onto the pitch, Bucko beat his chest, roared a little and then waved him away.

This incident aside, Watford was doing little to dispel the theory of foreigners and play-acting, ex-Liverpool man Riera in particular showing the petulance of Dexter Blackstock in a betting shop.

Ward, looking lively once again, then skipped past his man before delivery a centre that just evaded Russell at the far-stick. Following more pressure and a couple of corners, Martin really should have found his twentieth league goal, instead of shanking wide after the ball had dropped to him following Hendrick’s cross. The big man then stabbed wide following another Forsyth cross but much like David Moyes’ P45, the goal was coming.

Just before the half-hour, it came. After yet another slick move which set Forsyth away, his deep cross evaded most but found Hendrick, who took a touch before firing low under Bond.

In an instant, we switched to overdrive as Watford were horrendously and surprisingly sloppy in simple possession. Thorne, who would surely have been the glue during his short spell with the Hornets, now set about exposing the cracks and his superb pass released Ward, who had until the play-off semi to pick his spot. His first time shot though saw Bond shaken but not stirred, standing tall to save with his legs.

The same man again went close a few moments later. As the Alamo charged towards the Hornet’s nest, this time great work from Hendrick and Martin saw Ward have a chance to shoot first-time. Instead, he delayed, and probably should have fed Russell before eventually shooting narrowly wide of the left upright. Russell’s superb back-heel then had me waxing lyrical before Bryson hesitated when he should have smashed it.

Hendrick then shot closer to the banana in the stand than the goal, as Watford were like a boxer willing for the bell. Somehow, they survived until the break, but the rousing reception served notice that there was a lot more to come.

After a harsh-dressing down from their corner, it was Watford who threatened to strike to first blow of the second-half. Deeney’s shot from range with gathered by Grant, who then did the opposite following a set-piece which was eventually scrambled away.

Keogh then almost ended up stung, as a Hornet’s centre which should have been easily cleared somehow nut-megged the skipper on the ground and only a great bit of covering from Forsyth saved his blushes.

The visitors’ brightness was then checked as Ekstrand and then McGugan were forced off with injury, with Derbyshire lad McGugan offered the usual ex-Forest player sympathy.

Perhaps it was the injuries and the subsequent intake of iPro that galvanised us, but whatever it was, we were suddenly back in the grove and back on the score-sheet.

A fantastic move, starting with Martin and involving Bryson and Russell saw the latter pair combine brilliantly. Bryson controlled well in the box before laying off to the on-rushing Forsyth on the edge. The ex-Watford man showed that the price was right for the Rams in the summer, smashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner. A goal richly deserved, too long in coming for the most-improved player of the season.

What then followed was fifteen minutes straight from the, ‘How not to defend’ DVD. My backside had barely touched my seat before I should have been up again. Cassetti showed all the casualness of an Italian on a Sunday stroll, easily dispossessed on the edge of his own area by Martin. With the goal gaping, the striker feebly shot straight at Bond with the outside of the boot. From the rebound, Martin found Russell, who dummied the defender, but shot agonizingly across the box.

Hendrick then screwed a shot wide before it really should have been 3-1. Following a corner, Forsyth’s deep cross found Ward, whose header looked to be going in before Bond’s fingertips showed he wasn’t prepared to live and let die.

From the next attack, the visitors were reduced to ten-men, although if you blinked, you probably missed it. Bryson was floored from behind by Cassetti but the referee played on. After Martin had curled wide, the visiting defender barely acknowledged his punishment before charging off.

As we all know though, ten men (we only had ten men!) can be a difficult proposition and within two minutes, somehow it was all square. A calamitous ball from Forsyth following a goal-kick saw Battocchio find Deeney, who held up before laying off to Anya. His deep cross found our centre halves unorganised and gave Ranegie the simple task of nodding in.

Our response was to introduce Dawkins and Bamford for Russell and Ward. For a few minutes, it looked as though Watford may threaten a shock lead, with Deeney firing over as our replacements were bedding in.

Just as we were looking a little leggy, we led again. Dawkins squared to Hendrick, whose first touch wasn’t the best. His second though, was out of the top drawer, a second tremendous drive in consecutive games whistling past Bond into the net. Goals that may well see Jeff get the nod for the play-offs.

Soon enough, it was four and Martin had his goal. Buxton’s clever chipped pass found Dawkins, who carried and found the ever-running Bryson. The Scot’s slipped through pass found Martin, who had no trouble in out-muscling his defender.

Picking his spot and without A Rush of Blood to the Head, the striker was in Paradise, firing a low left-footed drive into the corner. Finally, God Put a Smile upon your face, Chris! With that though, the Clocks had stopped for the striker, who was immediately replaced by Hughes, not before a standing ovation.

There was still time to threaten a fifth, something that was being very loudly willed by yours truly, stemming from my prediction of 4-2 pre-match not being backed up with any dough!

Bryson almost obliged when his curling drive from inside the box well saved by Bond. Bamford then almost brought down a difficult ball but was well blocked off.

It was hard, though, as the full-time whistle went, to feel anything but immense pride at the performance. Despite a defensive lapse and the fact that we really should have scored a bucket-load, our form shows no sign of slowing down, with likes of Hendrick and Ward seemingly coming into genuine form just at the right-time.

Queue the annual post-final home game trip to Harvester then, and the usual finger pointing and bemoaning of tactics and performances throughout the season replaced by genuine excitement.

Coupled of course, with the logistics of how we are going to get to, and get time off work for, the away leg of the play-offs. Probably somewhere south, on a Thursday night.

Can’t we just scrap them and let the top three go up automatically?!

Weston’s Player Ratings

Lee Grant - 8: Not at fault for either goal, but did deliver a couple of loose kicks and failed gathers.

Craig Forsyth - 8: Great display again despite a poor ball which led to the second goal. Well taken goal and a constant threat.

Andre Wisdom - 6: A little bit too lax in the second half for me.

Jake Buxton - 7: Seemed to relish the battle with Deeney and gave as good as he got. Brilliant waving away of the physio!

Richard Keogh - 6: A couple of shaky moments from the skipper but solid on the whole.

Jeff Hendrick — Weston’s Star Man 8: Took both goals very well. Despite going off the boil a bit in the second, still did enough to win this prestigious award.

Craig Bryson - 8: Did what he does after collecting his award. Should have bagged.

George Thorne - 7: Bet Watford wish they had kept him!

Jamie Ward - 8: Very good once again, although another one who should have scored at least one.

Johnny Russell - 8: Always a threat, links superbly and always sharp.

Chris Martin - 8: Got to the magic 20 league goal milestone. I must admit, didn’t think he was going to get us that many. I am happy to have been mistaken.

Subs

Patrick Bamford - 6: Lively without really threatening.

Simon Dawkins - 7: Good once again off the bench. Looks to be the Joker in the pack for the Playoffs.

Will Hughes - 6: Strolled around for five.

We said / They Said

Derby Gaffer - Steve McClaren:

Credit to the players, they keep getting themselves out of a hole and getting the results but in terms of the way forward we certainly need to tighten up in a few areas. We scored four but we're not ruthless enough in that and it's ruthlessness at both ends that we need. If we make those kind of mistakes in the play-offs it will make our job very difficult.”

"What we have tried to do is provide consistency, not just in results but in performance. That's what we need to get back to, making it difficult for opponents and not thinking we can just go out and outscore them."

Watford Gaffer - Giuseppe Sannino:

"I have to say sorry to everyone, all the supporters that came here today. But sometimes football is like that, you have a good performance and then straight after you have this kind of performance.”

"What is very disappointing for me is that we didn't show the right anger today to win this game. I am looking for a strong finish to have an assessment of which players can help us next season and to show a good commitment to the club and the supporters."