The RamZone Wrap: Braces Bagged As InvINCEble Rams Break Bolton
Sunday, 8th Feb 2015 12:30 by Daniel J Sewart

It was a bracing day for Rams fans at the iPro as Jeff Hendrick and new boy Tom Ince both bagged braces against Bolton - to keep Derby equal top of the Championship.

The Rams were bright from the outset as Martin, Ward and Hendrick worked well with their new team mate Ince; as Tom showed he was going to be a handful for the Trotters defence on his new home turf.

Despite their domination the Rams were finding it difficult to find the back of the net and just when it looked like they may head into the break all square — on 35 minutes Wanderers defences were breached.

All eyes were on Ince and he did not disappoint Rams retinas as he curled a free kick expertly in to the top corner to make it 1-0. Cue celebrations as Tom made himself an instant Derby hero.

Jeff Hendrick has been in average form at best of late - but from the first whistle on this day, he had come to the iPro ready to play. When he put away the Rams second goal with half time due any second — calls for him to be replaced in the starting line up before the match - were quickly forgotten.

HT: 2-0

In the second half Bolton were battling to try and find a way back into the match but when some brilliant build up work from the Rams ended with Ince making it two on debut from close range on 47 minutes— the Rams were 3-0 up and cruising to victory.

There were a few nervous moments when the Rams defence switched off for long enough for Filip Twardzik to pop one in for the visitors at the 51 minute mark.

Any worries of a Bolton comeback were put to rest when Hendrick took a brace of his own with a perfectly placed header that made it 4-1 and effectively game over with 68 played.

Ince had chances to take home the match ball on debut - and came ever so close to doing so at the death - when his shot found the post instead of net in stoppage time.

FT: 4-1

When you are pushing for promotion you have to ensure you put lower placed teams to the sword and the Rams did just that with a clinical display that extended their run of recent good form and sent a message that they don’t plan on relinquishing their place at the summit any time soon.

RamZone match reporter Ryan Weston was at the iPro to see Derby whack Wanderers and late on Sunday we will present his full report and player ratings from the victory — which always makes for entertaining reading — especially after such an emphatic victory!

The Rams have set up a mouth watering clash in Bournemouth on Tuesday night - as outright top spot will be up for grabs if either can manage to snatch a win. I don’t know about you — but I am already counting down the minutes!

COYR!!

Match Info / Rams Team:

Ref: Tony Harrington

Crowd: 30,310

Derby: Grant, Shotton, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Mascarell, Hendrick, Hughes (Bryson 80’), Hughes (Dawkins 74’), Martin (Bent 74’).

Unused Subs: Roos, Warnock, Chistie, Lingard.

Match Stats — Derby / Bolton:

Goals: Ince (35’, 47’), Hendrick (45’, 68’) / Twardzik (51’)

Possession: 55% - 45%

Shots On Target: 6 - 2

Shots Off Target: 12 - 3

Corners: 5 - 7

Fouls: 6 - 19

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"It was a beautiful goal to start off from Tom Ince. The first goal was always going to be important and it was a cracker. He's slotted into our team and he's done that in training since day one. It looked like Tom had been in the team all season.”

"The key thing is Tom can score goals, he's got that knack. He wants to score and he can handle the ball, it's a great debut for him. He just needed an opportunity and a chance to find a home and that's what we want to give him and I think with this team he can play in it."

They said — Neil Lennon:

"It was a poor performance. We were comfortable for 40 minutes, then Tom Ince scores a fantastic free-kick but we didn't deal with the reaction at all well and we shot ourselves in the foot.”

"Derby are a quality side at this level and have strength in depth but we looked a bit lightweight in the second half and I'm not happy with the performance today at all.”

"I want a reaction as quickly as possible. It's all right the players lifting themselves for Liverpool, anyone can do that but these are the games they earn their living from and we were second best for large parts of this game but you have to give Derby credit."