The Weston Report: Rams Add Pipped Cherries To McClarens Cake
Thursday, 2nd Oct 2014 06:45 by Ryan Weston

Exactly one year to the day since the controversial arrival of our new head coach, the Rams made sure there were squashed Cherries on top of the gaffers’ cake - after leaving it late to see off a stubborn Bournemouth side.

This was a game that will be most remembered for a refereeing decision which caused chaos, leading to the exit stage-left of a returning pantomime villain, and another late show to continue Steve’s terrific home record.

I’ll start at the beginning though and after opening his cards (maybe), McClaren made one change from our cigars-out victory over Bolton, with Shotton surprisingly, considering the clean sheet, taking the place of Whitbread.

Bournemouth arrived as arguably the sternest test at the iPro so far, and so it proved in a first-half full of huff and puff, but not enough to blow Camp’s tent down.

Yes indeed, everyone’s favourite goalkeeper Lee Camp was once again back to strut around the area like an irritable peacock. After taking the obligatory stick from the South Stand, his first half was, in comparison to other visiting goalies this season, quite uneventful. Still, it was the Rams who were the better side.

With Bournemouth sitting deep and content to play on the counter, the Rams were tasked with trying to break them down. Ward sent the first real dangerous moment of the night fizzing across the area without a touch before Bryson blazed over when well placed in the area. Ibe again looked to be the main threat but was shackled much better than against Reading last week.

Both sides were playing the sort of football that would have delighted Clough Snr. up in the clouds. There was though, limited end product, with Bryson and Hughes working hard in midfield.

After some typical surging work from Christie, the move ended with a ball smashed across the box which evaded everyone, it was the visitors who fashioned the guilt edge chance.

After Keogh and Grant had previously ended up in a tangle, this time it was Shotton who gifted possession away. Stanislas pounced and drove towards the box, before feeding Wilson in the left channel of the box. Previously in hot form, perhaps he saw something ghastly in the North Stand, as his scuffed shot straight at Grant was not characteristic of a man in form.

This seemed to galvanise the troops into testing the peacock. First, Bryson benefited from a quick throw and good work from Martin to drive low to Camp’s right, producing the first ruffle of feathers. Next, after three short corners which, in fairness, almost came good with the skills of Hughes, Ibe and Bryson who finally got one into the mixer for Keogh who only managed to head over.

Our tails were up and we were almost ahead with five first half minutes left. Christie embarked on yet another driving run, twisting this way and that, making me feel quite dizzy. Breaking into the box, he was unlucky to see his low drive skid wide.

Bournemouth then showed their more than able capabilities, making us chase the ball all over until the interval. Harte’s disappointing free-kick from well-placed was a poor end to the half.

0-0 at the break and sadly a strutting, unscathed peacock.

Russell replaced Ibe at the break, with the Liverpool youngster apparently suffering from a stomach bug, presumably having eaten too-much anniversary cake pre-game.

Disappointingly, the game was threatening to bring little reason for cheer based on the proceeding hour. Our football was good, up until the final ball, where a combination of poor touches and organised Bournemouth defending, led by former Rams target Francis who was particularly impressive in keeping us out.

Pleasingly, the visitors’ attacking threat was few and far between, Ritchie’s deflected strike and a whipped ball across the box was the closest our goal came to being breached.

Perhaps the biggest cause for consternation was the return of a few spectators intent on holding up the light from their mobile phones. I’ve said it before and I’ll say again…it’s a football match, not a One Direction concert!

Back on the pitch and you had the feeling it was going to take something special or out of the ordinary to deliver the points. Cometh the sixty-seventh minute, cometh the chaos!

A long punt from Grant caused alarm in the Bournemouth ranks and Ward smelt blood. Bearing down on the area, he was greeted by Camp rushing out of the box. Ward got there first and tried to lob the advancing peacock but Camp handled before the ball ricocheted off the winger and untidily rebounded into the unguarded net.

A very poorly defended, route one style goal then...

Well, not quite.

As Ward and a couple of his compatriots celebrating, and with the referee having seemingly pointed to the centre spot to signal a goal, madness then ensued.

Surrounded by players from both sides, confusion reigned before a cheer erupted. Had the goal finally and correctly been given? No again, as Camp emerged from the group towards the showers. Handball and a red card the verdict.

Free kick. No goal. Cue furious protests from players and fans alike.

When the commotion finally calmed down, Martin stood over the free-kick in very close proximity to that where he scored against the Cherries last season. Sure enough, he went for the same corner, only to see his effort crash back off the post.

Would justice ultimately prevail? We had twenty minutes to make sure it did.

McClaren, who had come raging down from above to his technical area, sent on Best and the returning Hendrick for Ward and Eustace to find a winner. Somewhat surprisingly, Jeff got the nod ahead of Dawkins on the right. The plan though was soon made clear. Pass, pass and pass again, until we finally got it in.

Just as time ticked below ten to play, with Bournemouth employing a 4-5-0 formation which left me wondering if our slow-ish tempo would be enough to break them down, my worries were soon gone.

Having kept the ball for what seemed an age, Hughes tried to manoeuvre a shot at the edge of the box. Instead he slipped in Martin in the left-channel before the striker cleverly played a return pass. Taking a touch to steady himself, Hughesy then smashed his effort into the top right hand corner from just inside the box.

Relief. Justice was done.

That finally led Bournemouth to press out and they almost caused a shock in the 90th minute, with Francis’s centre somehow missing everyone.

Entering stoppage time and we still didn’t look secure at the back, with a couple of mini-openings conceded.

Still, if Hughes’ goal was the Anniversary present for McClaren, then we still had time for the flowers to be delivered.

The ball dropped into midfield where Bryson hooked a gorgeous first time ball out to Russell on the left. Taking his time and moving towards the area, Johnny looked up before delivery a superb low cross, right on the money for the arriving Martin, who couldn’t miss from inside the six-yard box.

Game over and maybe time for Steve and co. to take the bubbly off ice.

Full-time - another good victory with a solid performance, results elsewhere confirming that it had taken us to a single point off the summit.

Next up we welcome Millwall, who were the last team to (somehow) beat us on our own patch. To say we owe them one for that, and for the way they handled themselves, would be downplaying it somewhat.

It wouldn’t be fair though to close this report without a nod to Steve, Eric and Paul. Two games lost out of twenty-four at home. Including 100 goals scored under their tenure.

Happy 1st Anniversary and may the next year bring more of the same!

Weston’s Player Ratings

Lee Grant - 6: Not a great deal to do but did it well.

Craig Forsyth — 6: Still searching for his best for but looked solid.

Cyrus Christie — 8: Brilliant again. Running out of superlatives for him.

Ryan Shotton — 6: Overcame a couple of early wobbles to grow into the game.

Richard Keogh — 7: Looked solid once again. Will be happy with three clean sheets on the spin.

Will Hughes — Weston’s Star Man 9 Superb once again. Passed, created, tackled. Dare I say that he has found his best form without Hendrick in the squad?

Craig Bryson — 7: Typical busy performance.

John Eustace — 6: Kept the ball moving well. A couple of silly free-kicks conceded.

Jamie Ward — 7: Building a good partnership with Christie.

Jordan Ibe - 6 Lively but unwell.

Chris Martin — 7: An assist and a goal in another good performance.

Subs

Johnny Russell — 6:Huffed and puffed for 45. A great assist for the second goal.

Leon Best — 6: Held up ok but can see his lack of confidence with ball at feet.

Jeff Hendrick — 6: Good to see him back. Passed the ball well.

Match Info / Teams:

Ref: Scott (Madeley in disguise) Mathieson

Crowd: 26,725

Rams: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth, Eustace (Best 73’), Bryson, Hughes, Ibe (Russell 45’), Ward (Hendrick 74’), Martin.

Unused Subs: Mitchell, Naylor, Whitbread, Mascarell.

Goals: Hughes - 81’, Martin — 90 + 2’

Cherries: Camp, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Harte, Arter (Kermorgant 86’), O’Kane, Surman, Ritchie, Wilson (Flahavan 67’), Stanislas (Pugh 56’).

Unused Subs: Daniels, Smith, Gosling, Pitman.

Match Stats — Derby / Reading:

Possession: 59% / 41%

Shots On Target: 5 / 2

Shots Off Target: 14 / 3

Corners: 7 / 3

Fouls: 8 / 9

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"Bournemouth came and dropped deep and made it very compact but we kept our patience. We said at half-time to keep our patience and concentration because we have players who will score and that's what happened.”

"We score goals in the last 10 minutes of games and that's big advantage for us. Teams know that and we just have to keep knocking at the door and hopefully it will come down and it did in this game."

They said — Eddie Howe:

"We frustrated Derby and made it difficult. I thought they shaded it in terms of possession but I thought we were comfortable and had some good counter-attack opportunities ourselves first half.”

"We feel hard done by because the way Derby keep the ball it was going to be tough to hang on and although we battled on, they eventually got the goal with a great finish."