RamZone Wrap: Will Wigan Win Resuscitate Depleted Derby?
Tuesday, 7th Apr 2015 07:05 by Daniel J Sewart

The Rams needed to win at Wigan and win they did — but it didn’t come without some heart stopping moments that threatened to sink the Rams season.

Wigan had not won at home in 17 matches and despite the fact that stat should have offered comfort, it just seemed to make my nerves worse, as Derby regularly has a habit of helping teams to break unwanted records.

Before the match had even started, the team sheet made for interesting reading. It was revealed that Bryson, Shotton and Thorne were all injured while Christie was being punished for his brain snaps on Friday night. Replacing them in the starting line up were Warnock, Albentosa, Hendrick and Ward.

With Keogh at right back and Forsyth in the centre of defence with Albentosa, McClaren fielded a 4-2-3-1. Well many had been calling for a ‘plan b’ and here it was.

From the outset Derby were not switched on as they looked nervous, perhaps the pressure of failure was overwhelming their desire for success. Whatever the case, the Lactic’s were fighting for their Championship life and could have easily been ahead after carving out some decent chances, the best from James McClean, whose on target header, was spectacularly saved by Lee Grant when he skilfully tipped it over.

Keogh did well to head Kim Bo-Kyung’s effort over the bar from a corner while Derby’s best chance fell to Ince who caught Wigan on the break and got into a great shooting position, before unleashing a tame effort straight at Lactic’s keeper Al Habsi.

HT: 0 v 1

The Rams were lucky to make it to the break all square and at half time McClaren made a change to his formation or should that read ‘plan c’. Matching Wigan’s 4-4-2 he replaced Ward with Martin to play just behind Bent in an advanced midfield / striker role.

The changes had immediate result as Derby looked like a different team. The passing, holding up of the ball and confidence in their play was far superior to anything they produced in the first 45.

It was not just the Rams football that improved, it was also the scoreline, as after only 6 minutes Derby were ahead on 51 minutes.

Johnny Russell scooted down the left and as he burst inside the area, fizzed in a great cut back to the edge of the box that found Martin (or did Martin find it!? How we have missed him!!) and with precision, the Rams top scorer smashed it home through a sea of blue, white and yellow.

Jubilation on the pitch and in the stands — had the drought finally been broken — were the Rams finally going to take 3 massive points back home in their kit bags?

Derby were handling anything the Lactic’s threw at them, as the home team desperately tried to get back into the contest. The Rams seemed to be growing in confidence as Wigan could feel their 2nd tier status slipping away.

Grant was called on again when McClean could only manage to head straight at him when he should have done far better.

Rams fans could have been excused if they couldn’t shake the feeling that any minute a moment of madness could snatch away the 3 points but instead the recent run was put to rest by their other big gun on 81 minutes.

Once again it was Russell running (as he does all game, every game) down the left and into the box. His cross very nearly found a sliding Chris Martin but when Wigan couldn’t clear, like the expert poacher that he is, Bent arrived to meet the ball and put it in the back of the net past two defenders and the keeper.

Wigan had one last chance but Kim’s low fizzing shot was well kept out by Grant who made sure of a Rams win and a much needed clean sheet.

FT: 0 v 2

The final whistle blew and it turned out that Bent’s goal not only ended Wigan’s resistance and the Rams horror run, but also the reign of Malky Mackay as he was sacked following the game after only 5 months in charge at the DW.

After the match, the worries of the Rams line-up that took the pitch had dissipated and the forward dream team of Martin and Bent had fulfilled its promise.

Lee Grant must be given special plaudits after making some crucial saves, especially in the first half when the Lactic’s were running the show. He has been kicked hard by fans in recent weeks and must be applauded this time around, as one save in particular, may have saved our whole season.

Johnny Russell must also get a nod as his attacking runs created both goals. His tireless running at times can have little result, but on this day he had two bona fide attacking targets to aim for. Makes a big difference doesn’t it!!

Amazingly Derby are now only 5 points off 2nd place following another day of interesting Championship results.

Auto promotion may now be a bridge too far but it definitely is not totally out of the question. It must remain the sole focus as the team will hopefully take renewed confidence from this result and remaining fixtures will give them a chance to climb closer if they are good enough.

It should have been an easy win on paper but after the month Derby have had and coming up against a desperate team at home, the nature of this win cannot be understated.

Now the Rams must rally and burst into the final 5 fixtures with renewed vigour and determination to take as many of the 15 points on offer as they can.

Following their massive clash with Brentford next Saturday, Derby’s final matches are against 4 teams currently in the bottom 8 including 2 who are in the bottom 3.

It will be interesting to see what players and formation Steve rolls on Saturday as a win at home on Saturday could turn a faint heartbeat into a deafening roar.

Optimistic yes…. but what’s the point of being otherwise with the finish line in site!?

Give ‘em hell Derby!!

COYR!

Match Info / Rams Team:

Ref: Simon Hooper

Crowd: 14,697

Derby: Grant, Keogh, Albentosa, Forsyth, Warnock (Christie 88’), Hughes, Hendrick, Russell, Ince (Dawkins 93’), Ward (Martin 45’), Bent.

Unused Subs: Roos, Lingard, Whitbread, Hanson.

Match Stats — Wigan / Derby:

Goals: Martin (51’), Bent (81’)

Possession: 55% / 45%

Shots On Target: 7 / 3

Shots Off Target: 12 / 6

Corners: 9 / 6

Fouls: 17 / 16

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"It was a massive win that showed huge character. We've not had the rub of the green in the last few weeks, we've been playing well and performances have been good. Today we got that in both boxes - we defended for our lives and we had the quality we have been missing at the other end.”

"We've had to be patient and wait for the likes of Darren Bent and Chris Martin to come back to fitness. Today showed how much we have missed them, and how much we'll need them for the rest of the season."

They said — Malky Mackay (before he was sacked):

"I thought we were terrific in the first half, I really did. We got 17 crosses into the box, and when you have that domination from good areas, that should bring you a return of at least two goals.”

"If that's the case, in the second half all you're talking about is game management, and seeing the game out. For all that good play, we go in 0-0 at half-time, and we know Derby will make a change because they have to.”

"I thought we showed courage and we kept going, and we had four chances in their six-yard box. To not take one of them is criminal as far as we're concerned."