RamZone Wrap: Bryson's Brilliance & Martin's Milestone Pile Pain On Pool
Wednesday, 9th Apr 2014 01:47 by Daniel J Sewart

The Rams needed to bounce back and bounce back they did. Despite going behind within a minute, led by the brilliant Bryson, Derby took recent frustrations out on Blackpool as they tore The Tangerines apart!

The Rams away form was becoming a concern as 1 win in the last 8 was not acceptable and fans, coaches, players and pundits alike agreed that Derby needed to come out firing and put their recent shaky form to rest.

On the team sheet - the always creative Will Hughes was back in the starting line up as Hendrick was a surprising omission from the trip with a hip strain.

The whistle was blown to start what was an important clash for both clubs, as they were looking to climb upwards for different reasons; it only took 20 seconds for things to look dire for Derby.

Blackpool’s David Goodwillie found himself in on goal and launched a powerful shot, the strike curled perfectly past Grant and into the net (And before you ask - no I won't list the 427 possible jokes in relation to The Rams defence not keeping Goodwillie out, hold his shot etc. - all I can say is it's lucky RamZone match reporter Ryan Weston wasn’t covering this match — or we may have had a law suit on our hands!).

1-0 down and Derby with it all to do.

As our spirits sank and it seemed another poor away performance was on the cards, The Rams pulled us all up by the collar and bundled us in the good ship Derby, for what can only be described as an absolutely brilliant 45 minutes of football.

Maybe the Rams had been up for the battle when they ran out and / or maybe the early goal had only fed the hunger for redemption, but whatever the reason, you could see McClaren’s team were ‘on’ and it only took minutes for his team to return fire.

On 3 minutes the scores were level as Johnny Russell cleverly skinned right-back Tony McMahon and as he whizzed past him delivered a low cross that was met by Chris Martin who expertly turned home his 20th goal of the season. A great achievement for any striker, especially one playing for The Rams who have not seen such a tally since the days of Deano!

The Rams were running so hard and passing with such precision that you could nearly sense the home team, who are already devoid of genuine confidence, mentally struggling to find the belief that they could beat a team playing this kind of football.

After sliding and dicing at will, The Rams allayed any fears that once again their dominance may once again prove fruitless, when on 14 minutes, Bamford profited from a pin point low cross from Bryson, only required to tap in at the near post.

Craig Bryson spoke after the Boro match about his frustration and disappointment that his team had put in such a poor shift. His desire to put things right was on display for all to see as he ran like a man who had found a way to bypass his lungs need for oxygen and dominated the opposition, pulling the strings and inspiring his team mates to not settle for the lead but to make the gap even wider.

Bryson was rewarded for his tireless efforts on 20 minutes when he darted in from the left and unleashed a curling low strike that bamboozled Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks and found its way into corner of the net.

At 1-3 it looked as if the Rams reverse fixture score line of 5-1 was in serious danger of being doubled. Blackpool’s defence was in tatters and the team looked near broken as their early hopes had been incinerated in a fireball of scintillating football.

The remainder of the half was much the same as the first 20 minutes but without the goals as The Rams played the home team off the park. Blackpool parked the bus and tried to stem the tide and despite having chances to make it 4, 5 and 6, Derby were unable to add to their tally before half time.

HT: 1 — 3

After the break Blackpool re-entered the arena looking more up to the fight and nearly struck early when Grant was called on to produce a stunning save. Andy Keogh headed on target from close range but Grant’s one handed save was top draw and ensured the pressure remained firmly on the home team.

Despite still playing neat football — The Rams seemed to be more than happy to conserve their remaining energy and soak up The Tangerines not so attacking attacks. At the same time Derby were dangerous, threatening to catch them on the counter.

Blackpool Manager Barry Ferguson was desperate to try and inspire his team to claw their way back into the contest and as the game wore on, threw on attacking players to form what looked a bit like a front 6 as the game came to a close.

The Rams defence, who from the had been excellent from the 20 second mark of the match, tightened up and had no problems dealing with the long high balls sent their way. Bread and butter for the likes of Keogh and Buxton who love nothing more than to impose themselves physically in such battles.

No more goals were to be added in a match that The Ram had won by half time but unfortunately the memory of the brilliant football played by the visitors will perhaps be pushed aside in many reports by the ugly scenes towards the end of the match off the field.

A group of Blackpool supporters were venting their frustrations at the clubs owner Karl Oyston, frustrations that eventually boiled over when some of these fans clashed with stewards as they gathered in front of the stand where Oyston was sitting.

Things were eventually brought under control off the pitch but unfortunately on it, Blackpool’s performance left them only just above the relegation places.

FT: 1 — 3

Overall it was a masterful performance by The Rams and despite the late darkness that descended by the seaside, the whole team should be applauded for a job well done.

In particular Craig Bryson who produced a truly magnificent midfield performance and Chris Martin who crossed the 20 goal mark, which for so long had seemed near unattainable for a player in a Derby shirt.

So… back up to 3rd for The Rams who meet 17th place Huddersfield at the iPro on Saturday with the chance to mathematically seal their play-off place.

Hopefully Derby will bring this type of performance home with them and start a run of form into the play-offs that will strike fear into the 3 other teams who will settle in the spots behind or around them.

Fact is, if they can produce the football from the first 45 in any match, even against better opposition, Derby are more than capable of going all the way and lifting themselves to the promised land.

With both Ward and Hendrick expected to be back for Saturday, Bennett’s loan spell ending soon and Dawkins getting closer to a return, fingers crossed, the depth and talent in The Rams squad will be soon be close to maximum at the right end of the season.

The ability and heart is there… consistency will now be the key to success.

COYR!!

We said / They Said

Derby Gaffer Steve McClaren:

“I couldn’t believe we went behind so quickly, so much so I didn’t see the goal as I was on my way up to the Directors’ Box. I thought we were going to be ready to go from the off but we had that early set-back, however we responded really well.”

“We asked for a response and a performance from the players after the defeat at Middlesbrough and I thought we were excellent. We totally dominated in the first half and it was crucial to equalise straight away. We then scored two more good goals and when Blackpool did put us under pressure, we defended very well.”

“We said beforehand it was an important game so we’re delighted with the win. We’re close to confirming our place in the top six and we want to do it as quickly as possible. We’ve got ourselves in a good position so now we just need to get ourselves over the line and even then it is about keeping momentum on our side.”

“Since we talked about the season starting with ten games to go we’ve averaged two points per game and we’re happy with that. The key thing is our performance and getting our injured players back to maintain the strong competition for places.”

Blackpool Manager - Barry Ferguson:

"The players know they must improve, the players are good enough and I don't need to go screaming and shouting. I would like to think we have enough to stay up.”

"For the first 15 or 16 seconds it was a good start, but after that it was the same old, same old," he added. We conceded three goals and after the early goal it's really frustrating. The game was probably over at half-time. It's easy when Derby sat in and just look to hit us on the counter-attack."

“I heard the protests and what the fans were singing, and I'm not going to kid anyone. I can't tell the fans what to do or what to chant. It's not a great help to the players. But they pay their money and feel they have right to say what they want.”

Match Stats: Tangerines / Rams

Possession: 44% / 56%

Corners: 7 / 3

Shots (On Target): 10 (3) / 12 (6)

Fouls: 13 / 12

Match Info:

Referee: Kevin Wright

Attendance: 13,435 (inc. 1077 Travelling Rams)

Derby County: Grant (GK); Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth; Thorne (Bailey 90'), Bryson, Hughes (Eustace 83'); Bamford (Sammon 77’), Russell, Martin.

Unused Subs:Legzdins (GK), Whitbread, Naylor, O’Brien.

Goals: Martin (3’), Bamford (14’), Bryson (20’)

Blackpool:Gilks (GK), McMahon, Cathcart, MacKenzie, Robinson, Angel (Basham 55'), Perkins, Grandin (Bishop 45’), Dobbie (Barkhuizen 68'), Keogh, Goodwillie.

Unused Subs: Halstead (GK), Osbourne, Halliday, Haroun.

Goals: Goodwillie (1’)