The RZ Wrap: Weimann Strikes & Hopefully Blackman Was Taking Notes!
Tuesday, 3rd May 2016 07:15 by Daniel J Sewart

Brighton were always going to come out breathing fire considering what was on the line for them — what remained unknown was how Derby would cope and would they rise to the challenge?

What Rams fans saw exceeded expectations and proved they are more than a match for any team on their day.

With George Thorne back in the team for Butterfield and Will Hughes continuing his return to form in midfield, Derby faced a massive task if they were to take anything home from the Amex.

In front of a record crowd (about average for a Rams home game), Brighton burst out of the block looking for an early goal to set them on their way. The game was being played at a furious pace but despite the home team dominating, Derby never looked all at sea like they had many times since the start of the year, instead they were calmly hanging onto the railing as if waiting till the seas settled.

Beram Kayal and Anthony Knockaert went close for the home team with shots deflected for corner while Jason Shackell nearly scored an own goal when he glanced Jiri Skalak's corner.

Tomer Hemed headed wide and Kayal messed up a move by deciding to pass when in on goal, just as he looked poised to shoot from close range.

Unlike so many games where you felt a knot in your stomach tightening, just waiting for the inevitable goal to come, this time around Derby felt far calmer as they defended solidly and seemed to be absorbing the heat of the match while waiting for their moment to mount rear-guard action.

As the half wore on the Rams began to impose themselves on the game as the midfield trio of Hughes, Bryson & Thorne ran, passed and created for their team, attempting to wrestle some momentum back.

Brighton were fast and furious but the Rams were beginning to string together multiple passes with impressive patience as they waited for an opening in a congested midfield.

It started to feel like one moment would unlock the home side, as many times the Rams went close with Christie and Martin both in good positions, only for their feet to become tangled at the crucial moment.

Craig Bryson nearly created a brilliant goal when he pulled off an amazing lob from one side of the pitch to the other that found a free Tom Ince who pulled the trigger but unfortunately only found the side netting. After being kicked and clattered early in the half, Will Hughes remained undeterred and was growing in stature and as half time came around, the visitors were providing more than a few concerns for Brighton.

The second half was the polar opposite to the first as the Rams came out firing on all cylinders, mounting attack after attack with Hughes suddenly the puppet master pulling all the strings.

Derby were using their dominance for shooting practice as Ince, Hughes, Bryson & Russell all had powerful on target drives safely saved.

Brighton eventually found some footing on the game again, that was when they were hacking, diving and grabbing themselves on the face when hands were brushed across their chins.

While on this point, a quick aside; I would have thought a team this good, one who are obviously talented, would not have needed to resort to some of the ridiculous tactics they displayed during the match. Even Chris Martin, normally known for his calm demeanour… cough…. Took matters into his own hands when he tried to help a broken Seagull fly again, suffice to say his assistance was not welcomed.

Luckily our favourite referee Robert Madley eventually cottoned onto their routine. A card or two would have been nice earlier in the match when they were trying to cut Will in half but besides that, only once was he genuinely deceived, when George Thorne was booked for tackling thin air. But I digress…..

At this point in the match Darren Wassall usually introduces Nick Blackman, he instead introduced Andreas Weimann who had some work to do to try and find a spot for himself in the line-up. Ince had been ok and can turn a match on its head in a second but instead it was the Austrian sub who sent travelling supporters wild on 71 minutes.

A great move by the Rams resulted in Hughes delivering the type of ball Derby have been missing all season to Weimann. The attacker fired only to hit the diving keeper, luckily the deflection fell to Weimann again who showed composure in traffic to turn the ball home from close range. Like Bent last week he has sent a reminder to his gaffer that he is still an option should his services be required.

The travelling Rams went wild, the home fans hearts sank and hopefully Nick Blackman was taking notes on the bench.

Johnny Russell went close to doubling the Rams lead moments later, as the purple cladded visitors looked ready to explode such was the energy and confidence the goal brought to the team.

The home team looked as if they might totally implode when Lewis Dunk was issued a second yellow for a scything tackle, which had him sent off with 8 minutes remaining.

Despite being down to 10 men, the all-out attack mentality of Brighton clicked in as they tried to rescue something from the match. They had nothing to lose and were playing like it.

If you can level one criticism at the Rams is that they failed to put their foot on the ball and try and keep it away from their opponent. Too often then hoofed it up-field to no-one or didn’t play the percentages and the ball just came flying back.

This tactic led to a final minute corner that after a mad scramble in the box, was bundled over the line when a shot hit a sliding Butterfield and deflected over Carson, who unfortunately was in a perfect position to save if young Jacob had not been in the balls path. With only seconds to go — it was all square.

When all is said and done Brighton were good for their point as they were dominant for long periods but after the way the Rams played the match tactically, they will feel unlucky to have not stolen all 3.

Whatever your opinion on the result, the fact remains that many of us were worried Derby would be handed a thumping and all of the good vibes generated over recent weeks might be erased. Instead the Rams showed resilience, matched their opponents and played some stunning football against quality opposition.

If there was ever a sign that the team had genuinely turned things around — this was it.

Composure, poise and quality were all words that could be used to describe Wassall’s men after the match, which can be put down in no small part to the performance of Hughes, Bryson, Thorne, Keogh, Shackell and Co. who were all immense on the day.

Unbeaten now in 6 matches, barring any final day hiccups, the Rams will take massive confidence into the play-offs, especially with the bench likely to be bolstered by returning players such as Johnson & Hendrick next weekend.

With players growing in fitness and belief — nothing is impossible for this team. What once looked like a second season again slipping away, now more resembles a new dawn.

I think Darren Wassall summed it up best after the match:

“We are getting better and better and showed that we are a match for anyone, the players handled the occasion magnificently and were unlucky not to get all three points. And that wasn't a one-off. We are ready going into the playoffs.”