Watford, M1, variable speed cameras, hours pass by seemingly slowly. The Oddfellows Arms, cloudy beer, bits in the pipes, food in the bin made up for by the usual excellent company and friendly bar staff. Talk turns from Clough and looks forward “Where will the Rams end up”?
Playoffs are my view, others think less and having under achieved for years now their views are understandable.
Vicarage Road, Steak and Ale pies "Be carefully they’re hot” is the warning and your usual "yeah right” thought proves to be wrong as the roof of your mouth blisters from the first bite. Not only piping but also very tasty, we blow and take our time studying the three stands and building site as the players warm up in front of us.
Game underway, 4-5-1 defending 4-3-3 attacking Mason Bennett starts. We play well. Then even better. Bennett holds the ball under pressure on the left wing, he goes down, and Craig Bryson whips the ball from his feet and then powers in a cross: Back post Jamie Ward rises but so does the bloke in front.
Too old, too old, my bones won’t take it: By the time I’ve stood the ball is in the back of the net. All that’s left is to cheer clap and celebrate, I’m not too old for that yet. 1-0 to the Derby, the Mighty, Mighty Derby, less than ten gone.
The goal sparks the Hornets; beautiful swift and accurate passing reduces the Rams to a standing brief. Fernando Forrestieri waltzes past Zak Whitbread and flicks the ball with Italian Style over Lee Grant to level the scores.
Whitbread is struggling and Jake Buxton takes over, we get what we expect, non nonsense clearances solid defending and the game settles down. If end to end football can be classed as settling down that is.
Too often possession was lost, Bennett’s head dropped after one such challenge when he lost the ball but it was the Rams who ultimately worked harder.
The chants of "Barmy Army” continuously rocking the stands. Then Bryson’s vision intercepts a square pass in midfield, a one-two with Chris Martin and Bryson’s shot is turned home by Ward in injury time in the first half to restore the Derby lead.
I got to see that one because "him who stood up first” had gone for an early pit stop thankfully.
Second half and Bennett failed to appear, new boy Simon Dawkins switched places.
Watford now begin to turn on the flair, we are being overrun, free kick after free kick in and around the box, Forrstieri falling under the merest of challenges nearly up to Martin standard. Lewis McGugan takes them high and wide earning the customary abuse associated with them that have played for the Red Dogs.
It can’t last. It doesn’t. McGugan scores from free play, he wasn’t closed down but full credit for the goal, a curling shot into the top corner which gave Grant no chance.
Derby’s shape has all gone, Dawkins offering no protection to Craig Forsyth as the Spurs loanee wanders lost in space in the middle of the park contributing little and the game passes him by. Early days yet though as Dawkins possibly hasn’t played a lot of football recently.
One final change, Connor Sammon for Ward. Almost straight away "The Fish” is through one on one with Manuel Almunia, we hold our breath, and we sink our heads into our hands as Sammon hits the ball straight at the keeper.
With injury time beckoning Derby again pounce on a poor ball, this time Will Hughes races forward, Hughes and Sammon cross places and an inch perfect ball feeds the fish for Sammon to toe poke home to the delight of the team, the management and the 1,500 or so travelling fans.
Joy that remains until the final whistle as McClaren urges the players to their fans in the stands.
Well done Derby and well done Steve. Positivity has its day.