What I.Saw - Derby Defy Villains With Davies Double Act!
Thursday, 4th Aug 2011 14:46 by I.Saw

RamZone's intrepid match reporter headed to Pride Park Stadium for the Rams hit-out against top-flight opposition. After a few ordinary pre-season results, what he saw gives us all hope for the season ahead.

Thoughts from a Pre-Season Friendly - Rams vs. Villa 2-0:

Warm day, sunshine, pitch greener than a wind farm. A minute’s applause for Frank Upton, it’s honoured by all of the eight thousand present.

Villa bring a shed load, a good three and half by half time.

Both teams, passing possession football, Derby don’t look out of place.

Fabian Delph takes less than fourteen minutes to earn a talking-to from the referee; you can take the boy out of Leeds ….

Tyson has pace; he worries the visitors, clean through he shoots directly at Guzan in the Villa goal.

Derby’s defence holds firm, Shackell a talker, a leader but way, way, way off full fitness, manages 45. Kilbane playing left-back, steady, and a good header of the ball talks also, we could do worse... and we do in the second half.

As good as the first was, the second period was as bad. We started awfully and fell off. Villa ran the show, Derby with changes disintegrated.

So, to the changes then.

Brayford, secure at right-back replaced by Croft, and Lee to be fair played some delightful and positive passes - but he’s not a full back.

Shackell, an organiser gone, Anderson his replacement a shadow of doubt; it did allow youngster O’Brien to shine in the second half though, as Anderson played his own game by himself.

Steve Davies on for Kilbane, long hoofed balls, he wanted to get forward not defend.

But it was midfield that suffered most.

James Bailey's holding midfield role was parodied by Bryson, who to be fair wasn’t fit, Bailey neat and tidy (Trademark Craig Gutteridge), Bryson more neeps and tatties, stodgy and slow.

Hendrick, the youngster, everywhere in the first gave way to Conor Doyle. Doyle asked to play in an unfamiliar central midfield role had a nightmare of a game, such that it was a relief that he went off injured after a two-footed lunge by Villa’s number 20.

But football being what it is, despite Derby being the poorer we took the lead. A blast from Ben Davies adjudged to have been handled in the box and Steve Davies after wrestling the ball off Theo Robinson (a first half substitute for the injured Tyson) took the spot kick - the keeper went the opposite way and the Rams led one-nil.

Again against the run of play, the Rams added a second. Robinson held off two challenges and ran purposely with the ball, Theo fed Ben and the ex-Notts County player smashed the sphere into the back of the net.

It was all so unlikely, a two nil lead.

We held on till the final whistle as Villa lost their rag with number 28 joining 20 in the referee’s book, a pretty hard feat for a friendly.

Of the rest -

Fielding - one good save in the first half when Kilbane was beaten on the left. Legzdins, thirty five minutes pitch time, flapped at one but otherwise okay.

Ball - on for the injured Doyle found the game bypassed him. A big target man watching the ball fizz past as the Rams remained focused on the fast and furious run at them at all costs approach.

Cywka - Tomasz to a tee - exactly the same as last season, good or bad you’ll make you own minds up, personally I reckon he had a good game.

Maguire, get down to the bookies put your money on Craig being the first Rams players to pick up five yellows. Remember you heard it here.

Jones - a youngster, left full-back, put him on the bench for Saturday Nigel, he’s a round peg in a round hole. Nuff said.

So overall, a positive result to set the scene for the Brummies - oh and the pies in the concourse were “Hollands”. What more excuse do you need?

Get yourself down to Pride Park, young man and bring that lady of yours with you too.

Teams:

Derby County:

Fielding (Legzdins 65), Brayford (Croft 46), O'Brien, Shackell (Anderson 46), Kilbane (S Davies 46), Bailey (Bryson 46), Hendrick (Doyle 46 - Ball 75), B Davies, Cywka (Jones 77), Maguire, Tyson (Robinson 36).

Aston Villa:

Guzan, Beye, Herd, Clark, Lowry, Delph, Ireland, Bannan, Alrighton, Bent, Makoun.

Subs: Marshall, Hogg, Delfounso, Gardner, Carruthers, Johnson.

Crowd:

8,974

Coach's Reaction:

Rams first-team coach Andy Garner spoke to the official site after the win about an injury that Nathan Tyson picked up in the victory:

"We'll know more today once the medical team have had chance to assess Nathan's groin.”

"Only Nathan knows how bad the injury is and how his groin feels. Nathan looked really sharp and his pace gave Villa quite few problems, so we're understandably frustrated."

"He was gutted when he came off as well and we just hope it isn't too bad."