Too many Rams players had a poor day as they were more out-muscled than they were out-played. A physical Leicester team broke down the Rams attempts to play football which enabled the visitors to hang on for victory.

The match was evenly balanced in the first half but poor defending resulted in Lee Grant being in the wrong place at the wrong time as the ball struck him before it richoceted back from whence it can but this time into the net.

In the second half Leicester barely registered a shot on goal as the Rams did everything to get their engine running. A massive amount of possession was followed by off-target shots and poor final balls.

Despite building pressure — Nigel Clough’s team could not create a finish to make a run for one or perhaps even all three points.

With 15 shots to 7 - including 10 off target — the Rams should have done better but instead allowed the Foxes to bully them into a scratchy version of the game they wanted to play.

In the end Derby could not find a way back into the match when all through the second 45 - it felt as if they could go on to win the match - if only they could break the bullies down and put one on the board.

But it was not to be.

A disappointing day for Derby after a good start to the season. A sign of things to come or a blip on the radar?

Hopefully the latter!

Clough’s Comment:

After the loss — Nigel Clough spoke to the official site:

“Nigel Pearson said we deserved something out of the game and when the opposition manager comes to tell you that in the tunnel, it says a lot. It’s not much consolation for us at the moment to be honest, but we’ll probably play worse on occasions this season and win. We were unlucky today and there were quite a few nearly moments for us.”

“From the hour onwards we really got into our stride and we created plenty of situations and chances, but it just wasn’t our day. Some of the quality of our play was very encouraging and the players gave us everything, which is all we can ask from them.”

“We have to remember we were up against a very good side today that will be in the promotion picture, without a doubt. We’re happy with the performance and we’re great believers that if we keep performing, the results will follow.”

“We felt a goal was coming as we chased an equaliser, we always maintained that belief and in the last ten minutes especially we had a few decent chances.”

“It was an unlucky and untidy goal to say the least and we feel a bit for Lee Grant, as it goes down as an own goal when he couldn’t do anything about it really. We were disappointed that a foul wasn’t given against Jake Buxton when the corner was awarded, but even after that we should have defended the ball into the box better. It’s an area we’ve got to do better, because it ended up costing us.”

Match Details:

Crowd: 23,437

Ref: Robert (truly, deeply) Madley

Goals: Grant 37 (og)

Total Shots: Derby 15 — Leicester 8

Shots On Target: Derby 5 — Leicester 3

Corners: Derby 7 — Leicester 4

Fouls: Derby 10 — Leicester 13

Rams : Grant, Freeman, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Hendrick, Bryson, Hughes, Coutts (Ward 71), Russell (Sammon 79), Martin. Subs not used: Smith, Jacobs, Eustace, Davies, Legzdins.

Foxes: Schmeichel, De Laet, Morgan, Moore, Schlupp, James (Dyer 71), Drinkwater, King, Nugent, Vardy (Waghorn 79), Wood (Knockaert 71). Subs not used: Whitbread, Danns, Bakayogo, Logan.

Yellow Cards: James, Moore.

Match Video Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw55_SqZUog

Next Up:

Yeovil Town vs. Derby County - 3pm Saturday August 24

Photo: Action Images

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