They say a week is a long time in football, but how about four days?

After just about surviving hurricane Gonzalo and subsequently (gale) forcing our way to the summit of the Championship in the week, we were all reminded of what a strange league this is, with a first defeat in thirteen games.

The hair, well what’s left of it, had only just gone back into place on McClaren’s head before he was obliged to select another starting eleven. Making four changes from the gutsy (or should that be gusty) win at Blackpool, Bryson, Hughes, Eustace and Whitbread returned to face a Wigan team who were firing more blanks than an empty revolver. Or so we were lead to believe.

After a beautiful chorus of, ‘We’re Derby County, we’re top of the league,’ we were ready. Unfortunately, the man in control of proceedings had not failed a late fitness test after looking in the mirror and alas we were stuck with Mr Robert Madley as referee. More on him later…

Whistle blown and we were off. Well at least Wigan were, starting much the brighter and ready to halt the choir. Knocking the ball around well, the Lactics looked assured in midfield as the first fifteen minutes passed largely without incident. The Rams did force a couple of corners but already there seemed a spark was missing somehow-Eustace in particular giving away two poor balls.

The dangerous McManaman brought about the first real talking point. Driving into the box like his namesake used to do; he went down under a suspect looking challenge from Christie. Heart in mouth time, but this was Mr Madley in charge, so of course, no penalty and a card. For the ‘simulation’ or subsequent handbags only he knows, quite what Keogh was also booked for remains a mystery.

Still Wigan looked most likely as Fortune turned Whitbread and smashed wide before Forshaw also picked out someone in the North Stand with a long-range drive. Our passing though seemed array, with Hughes not on the ball enough and Martin starved of service. Ibe was also disappointing, running into too many cul-de-sacs when well placed. Russell was doing his best, a lung-bursting run from inside his own half finally igniting the crowd, who to this point had been curiously flat, into life.

The Lactics then produced the best chance of the opening half hour. Espinoza played a clever through-ball to McManaman, who drove powerfully at the near-post from an angle but saw his shot well-saved by the legs of home-debutant Butland.

Finally, we offered a chance of note, as Ibe showed his quality. This time cutting inside the full-back, he drove towards the centre of the Wigan defence. With options, he chose Russell on the edge-of the box, his first time curled effort leaving Carson rooted to the spot, but just wide.

There followed what was without doubt the best action of the first half and possibly the funniest moment of the season. Russell battled for the ball against the full-back on the touch-line, only to receive a nudge and go hurtling into Wigan gaffer Uwe Rosler. The force of the Scot completely cleaned out the German, who received 5.8 for his subsequent triple summersault with pike.

A brilliant comedy moment which was taken as such by both involved. The only surprise was that Madley didn’t produce a card…

This moment of hilarity finally sparked the Rams into gear. First, Forsyth crossed for Martin who headed a long way wide before Bryson surged forwards and fed Ibe. Jinking in and out, the youngster beat his man before dragging wide at the near post, with Hughes giving him and earful unmarked on the edge of the box.

With a minute to go in the first half, we experienced why we all love football. A Wigan attack saw the ball deflect off Eustace back to Espinoza who controlled and fired a shot over. Goal kick then. No, Mr Madley had spotted a handball against Eustace and decided to award a penalty that no-one was expecting or had appealed for.

After our protests had come to nought, it was left to Tavernier to put the Lactics ahead at the break. He had reckoned without a new Derby hero though as Butland dived to his right and produced a fantastic save. There was barely time for us to clear the corner and see the fourth officials board say two added minutes before somehow, we were ahead.

An interchange down the right saw Martin hit the deck. After a half of getting nothing out of his old chum Madley, it was left to the linesman to signal a foul (which was dubious!). What wasn’t a cause for debate however, was the quality of ball produced by Russell. His delicious free-kick was helped on by Whitbread and Eustace couldn’t miss from two yards.

A most unlikely goal scorer but an excellent celebration! Karma in the extreme for what had happened moments before and the celebrations continued into the interval.

It was hardly surprising to see two changes at the break, the late goal glossing over what was a disjointed half. Dawkins replaced Ibe and Hendrick replaced Hughes as we sought for greater tempo, the tempo of the league leaders no less.

The early signs were good, Dawkins immediately involved, exchanging a pass with Bryson before shooting just wide.

Next it was the other substitute who came close. Good work down the right-hand side saw the ball find Hendrick in the box, but his low curling effort was too close to Carson. Unfortunately, the Wigan goalkeeper wasn’t showing the same form as when McClaren was his manager! (Read: England 2-3 Croatia, Wembley, 2007).

Still it was the Rams who looked more likely, with Dawkins again at the heart of our good forward play. This time his burst released Martin in the left-channel of the area. Waiting for support, ‘the wardrobe’ turned and found Bryson, whose stabbed effort was just diverted onto the outside of the post by Hendrick. The width of the woodwork was to prove the turning point.

Wigan still looked busy and a threat but needed something to move them up a gear. McClean was the man, introduced on the hour and immediately giving Christie, quiet by his standards, more to worry about. You felt a second for us would kill the contest but unfortunately, we contrived to burst our own high-flying bubble.

After a couple of warning signs that Wigan could exploit our ploy of playing out from the back, so it proved with less than a quarter of the game to go. Butland hurled out to Bryson on the wing, the Scot having to head down before finding Whitbread.

Sadly, the Champions League winner (yes, really) has still yet to prove his distribution is on par with other centre-halves at the club and so it proved again, a low ball easily intercepted, when going for height instead could have moved us out of danger.

As it happened, two passes and Espinoza had run in behind Zak. To be fair, the Hondurans’ cross was partially blocked but still had enough to find McClean at the near post, who arrived just before a combination of Christie and Butland to poke in the equaliser.

Suddenly, it seemed as if there were more Lactics on the pitch than Rams. Every loose ball was falling to an opposition shirt and we were making a meal of managing to make anything stick. Butland’s long balls looking for Forsyth were in particular infuriating and not working, I counted at least four times in a row where the keeper kicked straight into touch.

The crowd was tetchy and the top of the league party was certainly off as Wigan pressed. Tavernier almost atoned for his penalty miss by angling a drive just wide of the far post, before McClaren went for it. Sensing that there was no control up top, the gaffer decided to attack would be the ‘Best’ form of defence, sending on Leon for Eustace.

Soon after though, we were behind.

McClean ran at Hendrick before the Irishman did well to get his body in the way of the winger. Irritatingly, instead of conceding a throw-in, Jeff tried something fancy and only succeeded in giving away a corner. From this, Martin headed more-or-less out of Butland’s hands to concede another.

Worse was to come. Having half-cleared, the Rams stood off Forshaw who was allowed to run and shoot from the edge of the box. The ball took an awkward bounce in front of the keeper, Butland only parrying the ball out in front of him. In an instant, four men converged on the loose ball, culminating in the ball looping up off Butland across the box. As time stood still, you’d have backed a white shirt to clear but there was just enough pace to find McClean, who scuffed into then net despite close attention from Whitbread and Bryson.

A goal which could have been avoided. Many times.

Still, we have proved already this season that late goals aren’t a problem and with a minute to go, we almost snatched a point. Arguably our best move of the entire game saw passes exchanged between Forsyth, Bryson, Dawkins and finally Best, who was up-ended right on the edge of the box.

As time ticked by, Martin placed the ball and waited. And waited. And waited until our wonderful referee had touched up his make-up and was ready. Martin stepped up and cracked to his favoured side, ala Bournemouth last season, although this time his effort whistled just wide.

And that, bar some effective keeping of the ball in the corner, was that.

Quite why some supporters felt the need to boo us off was and still is an infuriating mystery to me. Unless they were directing their anger towards Mr Madley, who was awful again, for both sides.

Yes we weren’t great but everyone is allowed an off day. It’s how we respond which is crucial. I for one wouldn’t want to be Brentford next weekend.

After all, we’re Derby County, we’re top of the league!

Weston’s Player Ratings

Jack Butland — 6: Brilliant penalty save but some will argue he was at fault for winner.

Craig Forsyth — 6: Good defensively, not a lot going forward.

Cyrus Christie — 6: Arguably his quietest game for the Rams.

Zak Whitbread — 5: Not filling me with a lot of confidence. Looks uneasy with ball at his feet.

Richard Keogh — 6: Good battle with Fortune.

Will Hughes — 6: Very quiet, couldn’t get into the game.

Craig Bryson — 6: Busy as usual but needed help in midfield.

John Eustace — 7: Started off poorly, got better, gave away a pen but gets his rating for the goal and celebration!

Johnny Russell — 6: Probably our brightest spark. Tried his best but lacked end product.

Jordan Ibe — 6: In and out and replaced at half time.

Chris Martin — 6: Didn’t get used enough.

Subs:

Simon Dawkins — 7: Looked lively during his 45 mins.

Norwich City Polls