Both teams scored, both teams had goals disallowed - on a pitch that would be lucky to pass for a ploughed field. Rams fans took away two positives - their team kept a clean sheet and one more point than Forest.

Scunthorpe United 0 vs. 0 Derby County

Glanford Park, Scunthorpe   The Championship  

19th February 2011 - 15:30pm

 

Referee:

S. Mathieson

Crowd:

5,696 (1,332 Travelling Rams)

Teams:

The Irons:

Lillis, A. Wright, Nelson, Reid, Gordon, Duffy (Ibrahim 82), Togwell, J. Wright (Collins 68), Hughes, Garner (Grant 78), Miller.

Unused Substitutes: Slocombe, Raynes, Mirfin, Godden.

Yellow Cards: Grant

The Rams:

Bywater, Brayford, Barker, Ayala, Roberts, Green, Savage, Addison, B Davies, Ward (Cywka 71), S Davies (Porter 77).

Unused Substitutes: Deeney, Doyle, Bueno, Pringle

Match Stats:

Possession: Irons 49% - Rams 51%

Shots On Target: Irons 5 – Rams 4

Shots Off Target: Irons 4 – Rams 2

Corners: Irons 4 – Rams 3

Fouls: Irons 13 – Rams 11

I.Saw’s Match Report:

Ah... the life of a football fan on the road.

A Scunthorpe Saturday. The Berkeley an Art Deco Camra Heritage Pub. Good Company, Ramsnetters abound.

£1.98 for a pint of stout and no Entertainments Licence.

On to Glanford Park and whilst I'm sure they have an entertainment licence it's pretty well hidden.

Rams in yellow and blue line up, the whistle blows, and the games underway.

Ayala, left centre, zonal marking, standing in space. Barker, right centre, up close and personal. Man mountain Miles in the centre of midfield. Davies of the Steven variety wide left and new signing Jamie Ward in the centre, the pair playing as if they were wanting a divorce from a civil partnership.

The Iron target Savage. Clarets fall over every time he goes near, arms raised skyward demanding retribution. For what? A reverse wind up? That's Robbie's job surely.

Bywater busy, a low save, a tip over the bar.

It's sparse entertainment.

Eyes wander as the call of the advertising hoardings is great.

What use for example, on a pitch devoid of green stuff and more suited to a local park, is “Scunthorpe Lawnmowers” to you.

Perhaps solicitors “Bradbury, Roberts & Raby” could advise on possible breaches of the Trades Description Act in the Entertainment business.

Roberts is brought down in the box, the home fans bay for a penalty. Great expectations, fantasies more like.

Orange and white, Pukka Pies. Pizza King free deliveries seven days a week, tempting, always wanted to see if you could get your half time snack, “Hawaiian back row AMS Stand 'M' seat 49 and a side of garlic Bread please”.

It's half time, you can tell by the lack of players on the pitch.

Second half and we hit a purple patch.

Really.

Green has the ball in the back of the net. Clearly offside.

Our patch, like Purple Sprouting Broccoli, it doesn’t last long.

The Clarets regain control.

Ward lacking service comes off and Cywka is introduced to yet again the biggest cheer of the day.

Ben Davies, brought for the pin point passes meanwhile stays on. One could be forgiven for thinking that Ben's pins come from the same supplier they used in the maps looking for the Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Slightly off centre “Johnmorrismotors.co.uk” sounds ok for a test drive. During the match. Whilst “Wilson & Co” are the place to go if you fancy a Vauxhall.

Judging by the Stretcher in front of the hoarding you might assume “Hetts Solicitors” handle personal accident claims.

Thoughts turn to money and the lack of investment.

Perhaps “S Smith & Co” accountants can help. Or do “Betts Fencing” know anything about rings?

Should we build the Plaza maybe “Andy Urry” builders can help, 01724 840152 should anyone want to pass the number on.

Meanwhile Scunthorpe has the ball in the back of the net twice, both offside. So for disallowed goals they are clear winners as are the Scunthorpe Telegraph who proclaim to be “Champions Of The Community”.

In the stands it's continual support. “ Everywhere We Go, It's The Derby Boys, Making All The Noise, Everywhere We Go”. Communal singing, good job they have that entertainment license after all.

As the final whistle blows, this match can be consigned to “Bell Skip Services” along with this report but before we all head off to “Garners Pharmacy” for relief, a word about my man of the match.

Step forward referee Scott Mathieson from Cheshire. A solid sound performance, he got all of the major decisions right in my eyes and kept the game flowing so much you hardly noticed him.

Excellent refereeing by all three officials, well done guys.

The score? Ah sorry thought you could tell.

0-0.

Manager’s Reaction:

Nigel Clough was happy to walk away with a point as his team ended the match as the walking wounded:

"John Brayford and Gareth Roberts had back strains and Shaun Barker was on one leg as normal, so we were patched up at the back." 

"In those circumstances, it was a great clean sheet for us and a very good, solid away performance." 

"We should have had a clean sheet a few weeks back at Portsmouth (drew 1-1), so it was nice to get one today." 

"We have produced two good, solid away performances in the last few weeks at two difficult places to go to, now we need to sort our home form out at Pride Park." 

"It wasn't a negative 0-0 today; there wasn't much in it but I thought we shaded it, especially in the second half, we played as well as we have done for some time."

 "It was difficult for both teams today because the pitch wasn't the best, so it was about making good, sensible conditions on the ball and not taking any chances. But we feel as if nothing is dropping for us in the penalty area right now to get a goal." 

"Other than almost getting caught in possession a few times early on, I thought it was a very impressive debut from Daniel in defence, he got better as the game went on and showed why we were so keen to bring him in.” 

"Jamie did well too and we saw on a few occasions he will bring something we've not had up front. He is a nuisance to defenders and he is nippy around them." 

"We're building back up again and it is important, first of all, we don't lose at home after a run of defeats at Pride Park”. 

"It is important we remain nice and solid again on Tuesday, and try to nick one when we go forwards."

Left Full Back Reaction:

Gareth Roberts braved a strained back to speak to the official site:

"We have been working hard in training about being better and more solid as a backline, so it was good to get a clean sheet today.” 

"Now we've got one, it would be nice to get a few more and get some results too to move up the league. We've been giving away too many goals lately so we needed to address that.”  

"It was hard work out there, but a good point for us. The pitch wasn't great but I didn't think we did too badly on it.” 

"We will go again on Tuesday and hopefully get another result because the fans deserve a win at home, hopefully we build on this point and get three points against Hull, because we we're overdue a home win."

Next Match:

Derby County vs. Hull City

7:45pm - Tuesday 22nd February

Pride Park Stadium, Derbyshire

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