The RamZone Wrap: Derby 'Too Negative & Not Ruthless Enough'
Sunday, 5th Apr 2015 12:49 by Daniel J Sewart

Sometimes when you are out of form you just need a bit of luck. Derby got that bit of luck then failed to capitalise on it as they threw away 2 much needed points.

With Thorne back in the team and Martin on the bench, you couldn’t help but feel a bit more positive. That positivity continued after the whistle as the Rams looked switched on from the outset and dominated the first 15 minutes of the match with crisp passing and a high tempo.

All that was needed was a goal and they nearly got it, if it had not been for a brilliant save by Watford keeper Gomes, who kept Bent out from point blank range.

Derby didn’t score and Watford slowly turned the tide, dominating possession and looking more likely as time ticked away in the first 45.

Things got worse when Thorne had to leave the pitch injured before a half an hour had gone. He limped and our hearts sunk. We need a hero, and one of the men most likely, was once again missing from the front line.

At Wolves, Forsyth was roasted for the two goals Derby conceded, but today that honour goes to Cyrus Christie who lazily lost possession to start a Hornets move, then he got back well only to hit a weak clearance attempt straight into an attacker, the resulting deflection ended up in Matej Vydra opening the scoring.

Derby tried to up the tempo and wrestle back control and Will Hughes nearly levelled things up with a rocket that flew agonisingly wide of the upright.

That’s when that bit of luck the Rams have been craving arrived at the iPro. Russell charged into the box, only to be tripped by Motta, it was there but I have seen similar not given (see Wolves match for a perfect example), but this time it was awarded and Motta saw red for his efforts.

Bent converted the penalty with a stunning hammer blow of a spot kick and the Rams went into half time equal on the scoresheet and one player up on the pitch.

McClaren signalled his intent and obvious dissatisfaction with Christie by replacing him at half time with Lingard and sending Hendrick to right back.

Derby looked like a team who would make the numerical advantage count and eventually their dominance paid dividends, as Ince dodged and weaved through a packed defence, to score with a low curling strike.

At this stage it seemed like it could be 3 or 4 as the Rams looked like they were building in confidence and the visitors may be feeling the game slip away.

The Rams kept creating but could not add to their lead, Johnny Russell went closest and could have ended the contest, but instead shot wide of the post.

The inability to finish off the game came back to haunt Derby as they invited Watford in, and after some less than desperate defence from Shotton, things opened up far too easily for Odion Ighalo only had to place his shot neatly past Grant.

Derby turned up the heat, as did Steve McClaren who was blowing every valve in his neck on the sideline, as he could only watch his team throwing away a golden opportunity to take all 3 points.

Martin was introduced for Bryson to try and tip the scales back in Derby’s favour but it was not to be. The Rams had some good opportunities at the death as the ball found its way into the box over and over but unfortunately it could not find its way into the net.

A massive opportunity lost and once again the Rams threw away the chance to get their promotion campaign back on track.

Yes things went right — but it felt far more like it all went wrong. Despite the quality opposition Derby should have profited playing against 10 men and having by far the better chances to win the game.

Down to 6th and only just hanging onto a play-off spot, talk will now turn to hanging onto a spot in the first half dozen rather than auto promotion. The first seems achievable; the second would require a miracle.

Match Info / Rams Team:

Ref: Kevin Friend

Crowd: 31,748

Derby: Grant, Christie (Lingard 45’), Keogh, Shotton, Forsyth, Thorne (Hendrick 29’), Bryson (Martin 76’), Hughes, Ince, Russell, Bent.

Unused Subs: Roos, Ward, Lingard, Albentosa, Warnock.

Match Stats — Derby / Watford:

Goals: Bent 45’(Pen), Ince 57’ / Vydra 23’, Ighalo 75’

Possession: 64% / 36%

Shots On Target: 6 / 5

Shots Off Target: 12 / 4

Corners: 9 / 2

Fouls: 9 / 13

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"We have only ourselves to blame. We said at half-time let's be ruthless and go for it. We got the goal and then we stopped. We thought the game was over. We were too negative and not ruthless enough.”

"It kind of sums up the last three or four weeks. We are conceding two goals every game and they are poor goals. You can't go into games needing three goals to win and we needed that tonight.”

"We have nobody to blame but ourselves for the situation we are in from where we were."

They said — Slavisa Jokanovic:

“I am always confident in my team. It is good news for me because the players have started playing with confidence, they have started believing they are a good team and they believe they are good players.”

“They believe in themselves and their team-mates and my supporters believe too. This helped us change our situation in the second half.”