Daniel J's Match Report: Derby County Vs. Mark Gillespie
Tuesday, 12th Aug 2014 14:46 by Daniel J Sewart

Just as it started to look like the goal keeping heroics of Mark Gillespie might produce a League Cup upset for Carlisle — Jeff Hendrick struck.

The Rams Republic of Ireland midfielder headed home to ensure the Rams broke a deadlock that had lasted just under an hour and was becoming more than frustrating for the visitors - who had been for the most part dominating proceedings.

It hadn’t been all one way traffic early in the match, when it was Carlisle who created a few chances despite some slick movement and passing by The Rams. Derby looked a class above but their final balls were poor while Carlisle were running hard and looking dangerous on the counter.

When the home team’s early chances amounted to nothing - due to some good work by Grant and a bit of good luck, The Rams fitness and quality began to rise to the top and by the half hour mark of the first half were in complete control.

Jamie Ward had two chances in quick succession as Carlisle keeper Mark Gillespie saved his diving header, only to watch Ward’s follow up shot slide wide of the far post.

Gillespie was enormous between the sticks and at times it felt like Derby County vs. Mark Gillespie as he was single…, sorry…, double handedly keeping the home team in the match. It could have easily 4 or 5 to The Rams if Gillespie had not dealt with everything that posed a threat to his goal.

Christie continued his good work from Saturday with probing runs and telling interceptions, while Dawkins was vastly better than his last outing as he provided a constant threat down the left. Bryson was back to his energizer bunny best and Hughes was zipping around looking to bite anyone who dared to take the ball off his yellow kitted team mates!

Just before half time a great strike from Martin struck the crossbar and cannoned out, only to further frustrate the yellow men of Derby as the game should have already been out of the visitors reach. Unfortunately it was instead all level at 0 — 0 and Carlisle left the field the happier of the two teams at the break.

Derby hit the second half hard as they looked to break down Carlisle… or should I say Gillespie… who was easily the solo star of this boy band on the day.

Despite The Rams piling on more pressure, Carlisle nearly went ahead when David Symington hit a free kick with ferocious power that forced Lee Grant into a stunning reaction save, deflecting the ball onto and then off the crossbar.

It may have been the impetus Derby needed to put the ball away - as only a few minutes later - a Bryson corner was flicked and lofted neatly by Whitbread into the path of an unmarked Hendrick at the back post, who easily headed the ball past a stranded Gillespie.

Derby looked like they would add to their tally but Gillespie was still determined to give his team every chance of levelling the score, when he saved a good shot from substitute Leon Best as he drifted in from the right.

While on Best… is it just me or does his use as a wide man seem odd? He looked slow and cumbersome compared to the likes of Ward, Russell and Dawkins, who we are used to zipping up and down the wide area. Even if he had scored I would still feel it takes away rather than adds to the formation…. but Macca is a genius and I am a writer on a football fan site…. so what do I know!?

Time wore down and despite Carlisle trying to force a goal and in turn extra time — Chris Martin popped up (and it was all Yellow!) to finish a good Rams move, with a right footed shot that beat Gillespie and sealed the away tie for the visitors.

Derby was professional and never looked like losing as they dominated for nearly the entirety of the match (as the stats below show). Defeat did not ever really seem likely but for a while it did feel a bit like that dark day at Wembley, as no matter how hard they puffed — they could not blow Gillespie down.

Luckily there was no error this time (though Grant came close at one stage) and for the second time in 24 years - the Rams bettered Carlisle in the League Cup.

A potential banana skin avoided (while wearing one as a kit!) and onto the second round now for The Rams!

Now back to the main job at hand - with The Rams once again on the road and off to Sheffield… of the Wednesday variety!

COYR!!

Daniel J’s Man Of The Match:

Mark Gillespie: This is normally awarded to a Ram (Christie or Bryson for me!) but after what was an amazing individual display — that nearly left me sorry for the blighter when he conceded (only a little!) — I give it to Gillespie. A keeper who, on that performance, deserves to be handed the gloves at a higher level! Brilliant!

Match Stats — Carlisle / Derby:

Possession: 36% / 64%

Shots On Target: 3 / 9

Shots Off Target: 5 / 13

Corners: 2 / 9

Fouls: 8 / 13

We Said / They Said - Gaffer Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

“Credit Carlisle, they gave us a game. We came through in the end, although the second goal came later than I would have liked.”

“We are pleased with the attitude and the football and I thought the back four were excellent again. We were pleased with everything apart from the final third and the final finish. Given the chances we created, we should have scored more goals.”

They said — Graham Kavanagh :

"I thought we were magnificent," he said. "On another night we probably could have taken it all the way but, in the end, Derby showed what a good side they are.”

"I thought we showed some great resilience and we were a very good match for them. We played well, created ourselves some chances and we made life difficult for them."

"They had more possession of the ball during the second half but I'm very pleased with the performance overall. We're obviously disappointed with the result but we have plenty we can take away from it.”