I.Saw's Match Report: It's Been Donkeys Since We've Had a Poacher!
Wednesday, 28th Jan 2015 13:58 by I.Saw

When push comes to shove you must be watching Blackburn Rovers. I can't remember the last time I've seen a more physical team play against the Rams unless I go back to the Dirty, Dirty Leeds of Don Revie days.

"Arte Et Labore" a sick joke.

Off the ball blocking, pushing and shoving, grabbing of shirts, tugging of arms, actions designed to intimidate, clear fouls ignored by a referee who saw as much as a myopic train spotter on a disused railway.

Pleasingly we didn't roll over; we stood tall and took it. And after half an hour we started to push back, to give them some of their own medicine.

Eventually, Tom Cairney, limped off to be replaced by Rudy Gestede who in turn went off injured as did their number 5, animal mountain Grant Hanley a filthy elbow swinging, fouling faux footballer if ever there was who, if justice had prevailed, should have been sent off anyway.

It didn't make for an entertaining game of football. Especially when Rovers one tactic was thump the ball as far forward as you could and play on the shoulder of our two central defenders. Jake Buxton and Richard Keogh were superb last night.

Marshalling the midfield in front of them Omar Mascarell was magnificence magnified, holding, controlling, and stretching the play finding Derby shirts. One tackle in the second half when the opposition striker was clean through and about to shoot in the penalty box was worthy of the great Colin Todd, timed to perfection as he slid in and conceded a corner.

Better even than our number 33 was Will Hughes. He was unstoppable last night; the green shirted, seemingly bib wearing bullies had no way of stopping him other than kicking him. Hughes my clear man of the match. We dominated; we just couldn't find a way through.

Steve McClaren, changed it, taking the largely ineffective (but far better than Saturday) Simon Dawkins off and bringing on Villa loanee Darren Bent.

Barely had Bent been on than a long throw into the box by Ryan Shotton was nodded on twice once by a White Shirt, then a Blackburn one before our striker steered the ball home at the back post. A real poacher’s goal.

Again McClaren rings the changes; Jamie Ward who had been a constant threat retired and Mason Bennett with a point to prove came on.

Quickly Bennett's pace unlocked the visitors defence, an inch perfect pass to Chris Martin was saved by Jason Steele and as the ball bobbled, Bent reacted fastest and turned the ball home to make it two and claim his second of the game, another poachers goal.

It's been donkeys since we've had a goal poacher. It could just be the thing we need as we race to the line. Let's hope so.

"We're Derby County, Our Striker's Bent".

Match Info / Rams Team:

Ref: Andy Davies

Crowd: 26,373

Derby: Grant, Shotton, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Hendrick, Mascarell, Hughes, Dawkins (Bent 63’), Martin, Ward (Bennett 86’).

Unused Subs: Christie, Bryson, Roos, Albentosa, Warnock

Match Stats — Derby / Blackburnt:

Goals: Bent (68’, 90’)

Possession: 61% - 39%

Shots On Target: 6 - 2

Shots Off Target: 12 - 9

Corners: 8 - 3

Fouls: 9 — 16

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"Some people arrive in the box and the ball never finds them, but Darren Bent is a genuine finisher with the skill and composure to snap up chances.”

"He could have gone somewhere else and had an easy time with a guaranteed starting place. But he chose to come here and fight for a place in a good team and he has given us the different edge that we needed.”

"We had to dig deep because Rovers are a tough, strong, direct side but I thought our attitude was absolutely tremendous."

They said — Gary Bowyer:

"It was a close game settled by two bits of shocking defending and two bits of Premiership-class finishing.”

"Derby are a terrific team with a great manager and a brilliant set-up. But we matched them for most of the game and then gave it away with bad defending."