The RamZone Wrap: 'There Weren't No Quality About Their Goals At All'
Wednesday, 4th Mar 2015 12:50 by Daniel J Sewart

The Rams defensive troubles continued and may have reached emergency levels, as for the first time this season, Derby lost two consecutive league matches.

After a dire display on Saturday, Bryson Ward, Russell & Buxton all came into the starting line up at the expense of Lingard, Bent, Hughes and Christie.

For the most part Derby dominated proceedings for 60 minutes and should have been ahead at half time but it was a 15 minute barrage at the start of the second half, when Brighton were swamped by attacks, that the Rams should have been at least a couple up.

Derby could not score, partly due to poor finishing but partly due to unbelievable desperation by the home team’s keeper and defence, who threw everything in front of the ball to keep the Rams out. Russell, Ward, Ince, Hendrick and others all could have scored — but all did not.

If you can’t put the score on the board — often you will pay the price and after total dominance, Derby were hit on the break twice as the home team sliced open their suspect defence.

First Stephens on 69 and then Lua Lua on 77, made donkeys of the Rams rear guard as the game was effectively stolen in a matter of 8 minutes by two totally avoidable goals.

The first goal knocked the wind out of Derby and the second put the game to bed. The Rams continued to play neat football but the fire was out and the chance to bounce back after the display at Fulham was taken away not so much by Brighton but by our own defenders.

When asked after the match if he was disappointed in the quality of their goals, Steve McClaren summed up how bad his defence had been by laughing ironically and then saying; “There weren’t no quality about their goals at all”.

There will be much soul searching and you feel some changes to the line up come Saturday. McClaren has already stated to the media that Albentosa will start on Saturday and you feel a message may be sent with the likes of Warnock also looking for a chance to atone from the bench.

John Eustace, if fit, would also be a sight for sore eyes as you feel Derby need that steady, strong and reliable influence in front of the back four.

Frankly any players coming in could couldn’t do much worse as the Rams defending has been shambolic for most of the last 5 matches and nowhere near the standard that a top of the table team offers up. Sorry that should have read — second on the table as we blew top spot as well!

At the other end of the park - 19 shots to 5 says it all. Brighton took their limited chances and made them count while Derby took their ample chances and squandered them. With the quality Derby has up front - they should be burying opposition but unfortunately when they don’t — their defenders can't be relied on to keep them out either.

It’s not time to panic but in the last 2 matches Derby have been beaten by teams close to the drop zone — and yes that may make them more desperate but if your aspirations are to be promoted — these teams are the ones you must beat.

It’s back home to the comforts of the iPro on Saturday against Birmingham - which is now a must win game — otherwise the Rams risk dropping as far down as 5th, undoing all of their good work and seeing it self-destruct in a 3 matches.

Fingers crossed it’s a blip and things will get back on track - plus it wouldn’t be Derby County if we all didn’t get some kind of heart condition, from the Rams having their now traditional wobble, any time we even get close to the top of a table.

On what was a sad day for DCFC fans — you can’t help but wish we had a player of Dave Mackay’s mettle in today’s squad. I think Macca should pull out an old video of the great mans exploits - to show the boys what type of metal it takes to win the league.

Time to stand up and make it happen — as it won’t happen on its own!

COYR!

Match Info / Rams Team:

Ref: Neil Swarbrick

Crowd: 23,665

Derby: Grant, Shotton, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Mascarell (Dawkins 76’), Hendrick, Bryson, Ince, Russell (Thomas 76’), Ward (Lingard 72’).

Unused Subs: Roos, Hughes, Albentosa, Warnock.

Match Stats — Rotherham / Derby:

Goals: Stephens (69’), Lua Lua (77’)

Possession: 43% / 57%

Shots On Target: 4 / 5

Shots Off Target: 4 / 14

Corners: 2 / 12

Fouls: 10 / 12

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"We dominated the game and played the Derby way; I thought we were excellent. "Last Saturday we didn't deserve to win and tonight we didn't deserve to lose. I was pleased with what I saw; playing like that will give us results."

"We are looking (at strikers), but there is no problem to go again with Johnny Russell - he did a great job. He showed energy and a willingness to run, he is a centre-forward and he will score goals."

They said — Chris Hughton:

"We showed great character against a very good footballing team. You can see why they are in this position. Had Derby scored in the first 15 minutes of the second half it would have been very tough for us.”

"It's a very uncomfortable and nervy feeling to be only a point above the relegation zone, so certainly the feeling is more comfortable at this moment. Games come thick and fast and we must try and win some games away from home now."