Old One-Eye's Match Report - Rams In A Flap But Fight Back!
Sunday, 10th Apr 2011 10:43 by Old One-Eye

The Rams went down but then got back up. Four goals before half time and then none after. Two teams desperate to win and then determined not to lose. Mission accomplished by both.

Derby County 2 vs. 2 Coventry City

Saturday 9th April 2011

Pride Park - Derbyshire

Referee:

R. Booth (Mansfield)

Attendance:

25,546 (955 people no one will speak to)

The Teams:

The Rams:

Jones, Leacock (Anderson 72), Barker, Ayala, Brayford, B Davies, Savage, Bailey (Addison 90), Ward, S Davies, Bueno (Robinson 60).

Unused Subs: Atkins, Pringle, Pearson, Porter.

Goals: S Davies (41), Savage (45 - Pen)

Sky Blues:

Westwood, Keogh, Hussey, Cameron, Cranie, Clingan, Gunnarsson, Bell, McSheffrey (Baker 90), Jutkiewicz (Platt 90), King.

Unused Subs: O'Halloran, Quirke, Deegan, McIndoe, O'Donovan.

Goals: Gunnarsson (16), King (38)

Match Stats:

Possession: Derby 49% - Coventry 51%

Shots On Target: Derby 5 – Coventry 10

Shots Off Target: Derby 5 – Coventry 7

Corners: Derby 3 – Coventry 5

Fouls: Derby 9 – Coventry 16

Most Fouls: Davies 3 - King 3

Yellow / Red Cards: 0 - 0 – How often do you see that!!??

Old One-Eye’s Match Report:

Stirring comeback as Rams, Sky Blues share the spoils

There is a poem I learned as a child, entitled ‘The Budding Bronx, which starts - “Spring is sprung, Der grass is riz. I wonder where der birdies is.” Today, we found out exactly where one of ‘der birdies’ has taken up residence for this spring, at least.

Judging by the amount of flapping that went on whenever the ball came into view, it’s keeping goal for Derby.

This week’s visitors to Pride Park were fellow strugglers Coventry City, a club so uninteresting that the only thing Old One-Eye can remember about them is that they once turned up at The Baseball Ground in camouflage, wearing shirts that were exactly the same colour as the famous mud-heap of yesteryear.

On this occasion though, they wore Sky Blue in keeping with a quite glorious Spring day.

The teams were led out by the Mercian Regiment’s Mascot, the Swaledale Ram Private Derby XXIX – that’s 29 for those of you who don’t read Latin. Rammie, a magnificent specimen himself, kept his distance. The pitch looked a picture, a dazzling green that reflected the amount of fertiliser that had been served up before the faithful this season.

Derby lined up with John Brayford filling in at left back in place of the injured Gareth Roberts, The home side also welcomed back Dean Leacock and James Bailey, both making their first appearances since God-knows-when.

The formalities over, referee Russell Booth blew his whistle and we were under way – in Derby’s case, very much the wrong way.

Coventry’s slick passing in the opening moments had The Rams chasing shadows. Perhaps that’s where Derby boss Nigel Clough is getting it wrong at the moment – maybe he ought to tell his charges to chase the ball or the opposition.

Either way, the Sky Blues were having much the better of the opening exchanges with Lukas Jutkiewicz giving John Brayford a roasting before Gary McSheffrey blazed over.

The visitors’ sole tactic seemed to be knocking the ball around in midfield then fire a long cross-field pass in the general direction of the opposite touchline. Much of the time it went harmlessly out of play, but every now and again it found a Coventry player in the clear, generally goal-side of Derby’s statuesque full-backs.

One tactic it might have been, but at this stage, it was the only tactic on show from either side and it was too good for Derby.

McSheffrey was thwarted by Derby skipper Robbie Savage’s brilliant diving challenge, and twice in succession goal-bound efforts were deflected wide. It was from the third corner in as many minutes that Coventry deservedly took the lead.

McSheffrey’s delivery looked to be meat and drink for the goalie but Brad Jones, not for the first time and certainly not for the last, flapped aimlessly in the general vicinity of the ball and Aaron Gunnarsson acrobatically turned it into the net.

Derby had too few players in midfield showing for the ball and at this stage was in danger of being overrun. Savage, much to his credit, seemed to be everywhere covering for others, making tackles, prompting attacks – yes, there were one or two from the home side – and his presence forced a mistake from McSheffrey.

Alberto Bueno picked up the loose ball only to be brought down on the edge of the box. From the resultant free kick, Kieran Westwood saved well from Steve Davies.

Normal service was resumed seconds later when Richard Keogh left Brayford floundering. His cross was met by the impressive Marlon King and the ball rattled between him and Jones as if stuck between bumpers on a pinball machine. King’s third effort was decisive, finding its way under the hapless Rams keeper to put the visitors two up.

With the all-too-familiar boos beginning to sound around the stadium and many of the crowd heading for an early half-time pint of overpriced weasel pee, Ben Davies was fouled by Sammy Clingan. Ben was purchased from Notts County as a dead-ball expert, and on this occasion his free kick was perfection itself and Davies of the Steve variety nodded into the corner of the net.

After being totally outplayed, The Rams were back in the contest and Jamie Ward took on the role of the Sky Blues’ tormenter-in-chief.

Coventry’s defence began to look as shaky as Derby’s and when King felled Ward, Savage slotted the resultant penalty with some aplomb. It was breathless stuff – a real curate’s egg of a performance by both sides as the first half came to an end.

The second half started with Coventry defending desperately, unable to get near Ward who was having probably his most effective game since his temporary acquisition from Sheffield United. Steve Davies went close following brilliant work by Ward down the right, and then a Bueno free kick was deflected narrowly wide with Westwood nowhere.

It was to be Bueno’s last contribution, Theo Robinson taking his place. Bueno was last seen running up the tunnel in a manner that Old One-Eye can relate to, but seldom without several pints and a Vindaloo curry being involved.

Derby looked to be the likely winners throughout much of the second half, but they reckoned without Jones. Obviously the player’s got talent otherwise Liverpool wouldn’t have forked out the best part of two and a half million for him, but at the moment he’s keeping said talent well hidden.

During the second half, he flapped more than the average hummingbird. Perhaps The Rams ought to consider hanging a bottle of nectar from the crossbar to keep him focused.

Robinson’s first contribution was quite electric, tearing through the Coventry defence – in control of the ball, I might add – and firing narrowly wide. At the other end, Keogh nearly profited from another moment of hesitation from Jones, only for Ben Davies to scramble the ball clear, then Shaun Barker repeated the exercise when King threatened to steal all three points for the visitors.

As the minutes ebbed away, both sides appeared to settle for a point, and the referee did his bit by adding just three minutes of injury time in a half that saw five substitutions and any number of appearances by the physios.

It was left to Mrs One-Eye to sum up the afternoon’s action – “Rubbish, but entertaining rubbish” – and who am I to argue?

Old One-Eye's Man of the Match:

Marlon King – the kind of pest we could do with.

Old One-Eye’s Ram Player Ratings:

Jones(4), Brayford(4), Barker(6), Ayala(6), Leacock(5) (Anderson 72, 6); B Davies (6) Savage(7), Bailey(5) (Addison 90), Bueno(6) (Robinson 59, 6), S Davies(7), Ward(8).

Manager’s Reaction:

Nigel Clough was relieved his team dug in and fought back:

"We were overrun in the first half an hour by their system as much as anything, they were the brighter and sharper side and it took us a while to get going.”

"When we did eventually settle down, we pulled it around. It was a massive thing for us to do that, and the players showed plenty of character.”

"We have a bit of spirit in the squad and we had to show it to come back. Coventry had few opportunities in the second half and we had a few chances to go on and win the game, especially early in the half.”

"It was a nervy one again, but the other results below us meant not too much damage was done.”

"That goal got us back in the game and got us on the front foot, from there we kicked on and we didn't want half time to come. The game was a bit cagey as time went on because neither side wanted to lose.”

"Days like today - when you dig in and grind out a point - are what we should have seen a lot more of this season, instead of losing all the games we have. We showed some good patches of play today and just about deserved a point.”

"Now we can look forward to Leeds on Tuesday, which will be a great occasion."