What I.Saw: Outplayed At Times But Scores On The Doors!
Sunday, 25th Jan 2015 12:00 by I.Saw

Pride Park, the iPro, FA cup, "We got through".

All credit to Chesterfield.

They outplayed us at times.

Many times.

The Spirerites looked the better team, had more possession, had more shots.

But that's not the way it works is it. You have to score. We did twice.

Darren Bent an opportunistic nod after Jake Buxton headed the ball down from a corner in the first half.

Will Hughes perseverance personified as he won the ball just outside the box took it on, shrugged off a couple of challenges and finished cooler than a Carling Extra Cold.

Cooler finishing from Bent and he could have had a hat trick, one straight at the keeper, one chipped too lowly.

We played 3-5-2; we changed to 4-4-2 with a diamond none of which looked convincing.

Yet we did enough.

Scores on the doors.

I.Saw’s Player Ratings:

Roos - 7: Solid and safe only one flap.

Keogh - 5: Left side of a three at the back, the weakest too.

Albentosa - 6: Big and strong talks a lot - or at least waves and points - a good debut.

Buxton - 6: Set up the first goal and was as committed as always.

Christie - 6: Playing wing back suits but didn't create a lot.

Mascarell - 7: I'll probably get lynched but he had a good game always available to receive the ball and didn't hide.

Hughes - 8: Worked really hard great vision, deserved his goal, my man of the match.

Hendrick - 6: it's not working for Jeff right now - not decisive - too ponderous.

Forsyth - 6: See Christie.

Martin - 7: A different role had little service.

Bent - 7: Scored one, missed two, played best on the defenders shoulder, showed more than Leon Best did in half a season.

Russell - 7: Played as a central striker and looked dangerous until a hamstring forced him off.

Ward - 6: Promises much - delivers less.

Dawkins - 2: And not for effort.

Match Info / Rams Team:

Ref: David Webb

Crowd: 28,392

Derby: Roos; Albentosa (Russell 46’ / Ward 65’), Keogh, Buxton, Christie, Hendrick, Mascarell, Hughes, Forsyth; Martin (Dawkins 70’) Bent

Unused Subs: Bryson, Shotton, Mitchell, Warnock

Match Stats — Derby / Forest:

Goals: Bent (20’), Hughes (82’)

Possession: 52% - 48%

Shots On Target: 6 - 4

Shots Off Target: 7 - 15

Corners: 6 - 6

Fouls: 10 — 7

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"We knew the game would be open and we were fortunate to go 1-0 up. At half-time we had to change and we tried a lot of things but I think we've learned a lot from that game.”

"I'm just pleased that we came through the ups and downs of the game and we are in the hat."

They said — Paul Cook:

"It was always going to be a difficult game for a club from a lower tier but at the end of the day you can only look up and say, 'Did we do okay?' but as a manager I felt they did more than okay."