The Weston Report: Rams Reveal Another Style In Their Fluffy Coat
Monday, 18th Aug 2014 04:07 by Ryan Weston

A third clean sheet in succession and a point on the road were the main positives to take from another scrappy, disjointed Rams display at Hillsborough.

With no Patrick Bamford to steal the points with a wonder-goal this year, a draw was just about a fair result as both sides wrestled for any kind of supremacy throughout.

With Bucko back in the heart of defence, nearly 4,500 vocal Rams in the away end, and with the now infamous Hillsborough poll obscuring my view, we started confidently with a strike on target in the opening minute from Hendrick.

From the outset however, it was clear that Sheffield Wednesday were, as always, a strong, physical side, who would try and feed off the bits and pieces, rather than try and outplay the opposition.

In fairness though, Nuhiu was a genuine threat up-top with the tall striker was a menacing our backline throughout the first-half. A nice bit of build-up play saw him combine well with Mattock on the left, before seeing his cross partially blocked. The ball fell invitingly for ex-Burton man Maghoma, who crashed a shot into the side netting, leading some Owls fans who had clearly not visited Spec Savers recently to as they acclaimed a goal.

Struggling for fluency and with our full-backs being forced back, our wide-men were also quiet. Dawkins’ first-touch again looked worryingly ‘hot-potato’ like, while Ward had to defend too much on a ground where he is welcomed like a spider in the shower.

In a rare moment of quality, Forsyth broke down the left and his inviting cross aimed for Bryson was cut out straight to Dawkins, who could only shoot straight at Westwood.

It was the Owls who were threatening to send the hoards in the away end back down the M1 miserable though as their game-plan was working a treat.

Hughes, battling away, was being bullied by Nuhiu, on throw - ins and from a rare flowing move, we were fortunate that the big striker missed his kick inside the area. Fortune was again smiling on the team in a very fetching shade of yellow soon after.

A very dubious free-kick decision on the edge of the area presented ex-Ram Maguire with a great opportunity. His curled effort hit the yellow-wall, before agonizingly hitting the angle of bar and post before bouncing to safety. A few minutes later, recent acquisition Stevie May was sent clear, before screwing his shot wide on the angle, before Looven’s header was well cleared off the line from a corner.

With chances becoming more frequent, Martin almost broke the deadlock at the right end. A long ball from the back was latched upon, but Chris couldn’t send us to paradise as his shot also hit the side-netting. Apart from that though, it was Wednesday’s half and they would have felt the happier as the balding Mr Duncan brought the half to a close.

It would not have been a surprise to see Macca ring the changes at the break, but instead he decided to keep faith, the only change being with Hendrick somewhat surprisingly switching with Hughes in the defensive midfield role. Obviously seeking more fluidity, it was a little odd to see the Irishman positioned in a role which he has seldom looked comfortable in.

Starting in a similar pattern to the first-half, both sides fought for a foothold. We were still guilty of not getting the ball into Martin enough, with little to show as an attacking threat.

As the hour-mark approached, and with still little to show as an attacking force, the change came, with Mascarell replacing Hughes. There immediately seemed a better blend in the midfield and slowly but surely a few passes found yellow-shirts.

Moments after enjoying some light-hearted ‘banter’ with the home crowd when taking a corner, Ward was replaced by ex-Wednesday loanee Best, again employed in the wide-left role. Far from me to question McClaren, but the man on loan from Blackburn’s ‘Best’ role doesn’t look to be out wide.

Still, he gave us something different and soon we started to click. Best’s physical presence was a different proposition for the Owls’ defence and he immediately won a couple of good headers. It was still Wednesday though who were pressing with a long range strike from Maguire well pushed around the post by Grant.

The key introduction came in the form of Johnny Russell, who replaced Dawkins, somewhat belatedly. Yes, it was far from the winger’s best game, but the ironic cheers from some members of the away end were a little much.

Immediately after leaving Conor Sammon’s recently departed favourite spot, the Scotsman had the bit between his teeth. Finally, our football was back, and a lovely move involving Martin and Bryson, saw the latter play Russell through. From a tight angle, his low angled drive was well saved from Westwood, although the referee somewhat bemusingly pointed for a goal-kick. Perhaps he had also missed his Spec Savers appointment…

A half-chance followed as Wednesday failed to clear their lines from a corner but still no one could break the deadlock.

And then came the chance we were waiting for - one that would send us partying back to the iPro. All of our dogged defending laid the platform for a classic away win and I should be typing this with three points in my pocket.

More good build up play again saw Bryson realise Russell, but this time, all alone and dead centre of goal. With 4,500 about to go bananas, Johnny took a couple of touches and with enough time to nip to Bramall Lane then come back to finish, instead, after possibly getting the ball a little caught under his feet, he put it too close to Westwood’s right hand allowing the keeper to produce what was still a fine save.

With the best chance of the game gone, what remained was both sides huffing and puffing in vain for a winner. Corners were common at both ends, but there was little alarm for both goalkeepers.

A somewhat generous five added minutes saw Maghoma shoot straight at Grant, while Best almost broke through for us.

In the end though, it was a point each.

Without question, we were far from our fluent best, but another point and three successive clean-sheets are not to be sniffed at.

The battling qualities and resoluteness shown in the steel city proves we have another style in our fluffy coat. Expect another couple to come in before the end of August.

Hopefully we can keep our sheets clean until then!

Weston’s Player Ratings

Lee Grant - 7: Another clean sheet. Dealt with everything very well. A couple of wayward kicks if I’m being harsh.

Craig Forsyth — 6: Defended well. Didn’t burst forwards as much as usual and was a little wasteful at times.

Cyrus Christie — 6: Another who didn’t go forwards as much but did well at the back. Grew into the game.

Jake Buxton — 7: Very good. Solid, battling display.

Richard Keogh — Weston’s Star Man 8: Excellent from the skipper. Cut out many crosses, shepherded the back four well and looked back to his reliable best.

Jeff Hendrick — 6: Did ok at times but would not have appreciated moving positions briefly.

Craig Bryson — 7: Another quiet-ish display, until the last twenty when he provided two great assists for Russell.

Will Hughes — 6: Not allowed to dictate and control the game as he normally does.

Simon Dawkins — 5: Below his best, didn’t look threatening and was wasteful.

Jamie Ward — 6: Drifted in and out.

Chris Martin — 6: Battled away but was starved of service.

Subs:

Omar Mascarell — 7: Showed a bit during what was a very classy cameo.

Johnny Russell — 6: Lively, gave us a big spark. Should have won us the game though!

Leon Best — 6: Battled well and looks a threat. Not a winger though.

Match Stats — Wednesday / Derby:

Possession: 48% / 52%

Shots On Target: 6 / 3

Shots Off Target: 15 / 8

Corners: 9 / 4

Fouls: 12 / 10

We Said / They Said - Gaffer Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"Sheffield Wednesday are a far better team than last season, I don't think many teams will come here and collect points. I think they're tough opponents and I think, first half, we got a taste of it.”

"We were on the back foot, we stopped playing football and credit to Sheffield Wednesday, their game plan was good and they put us under pressure and they probably felt at half-time they should have gone at least one goal up.”

"We toughed it out against a physical team, defended very well, looked hard to beat and we know we just need to improve at the other end. We nearly won it, I was pleased with the way we finished the game, the last 20 minutes we were very strong. I thought we were going to win the game then."

They said — Stuart Gray:

"It was two good teams both going for the win and I'm amazed it's finished 0-0. I wanted a fast start and I just thought we nullified them really with the intensity and the hard work we put in.”

"It was an entertaining 0-0 draw, I'm just disappointed that I'm not sat here talking to you about three points. I thought we had a 20-minute period in the first half where we probably dominated the game. But that's a quality side we've just played so the players should take a lot of encouragement from it.”

"It just shows you how important goalkeepers are in your team; Lee Grant did very well for Derby and when Keiren Westwood had to pull off a save, around about the 80th minute, it was a big save for us."