There would have been very few Rams fans who weren't wondering which Derby County would turn out against Preston at Pride Park Stadium. Luckily, the right Rams' team turned up... unless of course you're from Preston!

Referee: Mr. C Pawson.

Attendance: 26,993

Goals:

Parkin (PNE) 10’ - Jones (PNE) OG 34’ - Commons (Der) 50’ Sedgwick (PNE) 62’ - Hulse (Der) 64’ & 77’ - Barker (Der) 68’  Brown (PNE) 90’.

Teams:

Derby:

Bywater, Hunt, Barker, Buxton, McEveley, Tonge, Savage (Porter 85’), Green, Pearson (Martin 78’), Commons (Anderson 83’), Hulse - Unused Subs: Deeney, Moxey, Pringle, Vidal, Martin.

Preston N.E:

Lonergan, Jones, Williams, Collins, St Ledger, Sedgewick (Treacy 80’), Coutts, James, Wallace, Parkin (Brown 80’), Welbeck -
Unused Subs: Henderson, Chilvers, Mellor, Hart, Carter.

Match Report:

There would have been very few Rams fans anywhere who would not have been wondering which Derby County would turn up to play Preston at Pride Park Stadium.

Would it be the Derby that had thrown everything at Championship high-fliers and rattled the cage of an in-form Premier League side? Or would it be the Derby that dashed hopes and broke hearts by capitulating in games in which they should at very worst have been competitive?

Things started brightly for the Rams when Tonge found himself on the end of a Kris Commons corner but his close range attempt was only just cleared off the line. Things were looking good!

The bright start was darkened when Jon Parkin gave the Lilywhites the lead after only eight minutes, when Tom Williams caught out Jake Buxton to found Parkin whose right footed shot found the back of the net. Things now not looking quite as good!

Nicky Hunt was getting forward as the Rams searched for a response and after a neat one-two with Commons, drove a cross into the box that somehow missed Stephen Pearson and his attempt to get something onto the end of it.

Derby was now making most of the play and were rewarded in the 33rd minute, with the sort of luck that has eluded them for most of the season.

The ever-lively Commons shot another of his trademark crosses onto the head of Hulse, who in turn flicked the ball to Paul Green as he charged into the box. The resulting shot was saved by Lilywhite 'keeper Lonergan but rebounded off Jones and found its way over the line, and the Rams were level. Things looking better again!

Both teams had opportunities to take the lead before the break as McEveley made a probing run down the left and pumped in a in a powerful cross, which crashed onto the bar with the keeper beaten.

At the opposite end, woodwork once again got in the way as Parkin managed to get clear of his defender, only for his header to smack onto the bar.

HT: 1 – 1

As the second half got underway the Rams burst out of the blocks and with blood in their nostrils, they seemed determined to hunt down their prey. It only took five minutes for the hunter to succeed.

On 50 minutes Lonergan managed to keep out a Buxton header only for Commons to latch onto the crumbs and send it rocketing back past the keeper. A deserved goal for the re-invented striker who in recent games seems to be playing every position on the pitch, such is his energy and intent.

The good work was partially undone though when against the run of play Preston responded on 61 minutes, to once again square the ledger. Sedgwick burst into the box and tucked his shot into the corner of the net after breaking clear of the Derby defence.

Rams fans could be excused for having a “here we go again” moment. Not that we want to doubt the current revival in form, instead such doubts were the product of too many false dawns, false hopes and a long standing inability to hang on to a lead. This time, this new and improved Rams unit just kicked their game into top gear with all the ease of ‘The Stig’ himself.

On 63 minutes Buxton found Hulse and from 16 yards out Rob controlled the ball down from his chest to turn and volley his crisp shot straight into the bottom right hand corner.

From then on, Derby were determined to crush any Preston resistance and ensure that they had no chance of taking any of the points home with them. That crushing blow came on 67 minutes, when a Commons free kick found Shaun Barker who gratefully headed the ball home.

It now seemed as if every time the Rams entered the Lilywhites' box that they were likely to score. The visitors were rattled and the home side used their advantage with McEveley once again producing an attacking run and cross that found Hulse - Rob finished the move by adding a 5th goal to the teams account, and his 10th for the season.

As the clock wound down and certainty had settled comfortably on the ecstatic home crowd, Brown bobbed up to add a 3rd goal to the Preston tally.

On the balance of play 5-2 was flattering to North End and 5-3 seems to indicate the game was a shoot out, when instead it was more a case of Preston being shot down.

FT: 5 - 3

Another sterling display from the Rams - although it involved them conceding goals, considering the involvement of the defence in the creation of goals, the team were likely to be stretched at the back on occasion.

Mick McDermott was at the game for RamZone & gave his opinion on the Rams players and performance:

When the Rams went forward they were brilliant.

When they tried to sit back the Rams conceded.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that Preston only had three shots on target for the match.

Bywater - Had nothing to do.

Hunt & McEveley - Great going forward and defended well. We must keep Hunt!

Barker & Buxton - did okay, but looked weak when Preston ran and passed around them.

Parkin - (who looked like OddBod from 'Carry On Screaming') was a handful for both.

Pearson - Looks good until he has the ball in the box and then seems to run out of confidence.

Savage - Did what Savage does. Be Savage.

Green - Played well as he returns to fitness, as did Tonge, up until he ran out of steam.

Hulse & Commons - Chased and held up everything - plus most importantly scored goals.

Preston is another good side that Derby has played off the park.

The score flattered them as we could and should have had more…..many more!

DanJ's Man Of The Match:

Kris Commons - Once again the boy was superb and is working hard to put to rest his reputation of being a bit-part player who can only play in bursts.

Impressive consecutive performances against very good opposition are making him the Rams most dangerous player.

Never stops running and is one of the big reasons why opposition defences are struggling with the resurgent Rams.

Reaction from the Manager:

Nigel Clough speaking to the official website after the match:

"It was a great result and we are all delighted with the players. We scored five but in all honesty we could have scored more and it wouldn't have flattered us”.

"We came out of the traps positively and created good chances, but then fell behind. The lads responded in the right way and didn't let heads drop”.

"At half time we should have been comfortably in the lead, so to be on level terms was frustrating. However, in the second half we were excellent again and got our rewards”.

"Rob Hulse deserves special praise; not just for his goals but for his all round performance under difficult circumstances. He was suffering with a stomach bug and nearly didn't play. But he said he wanted to and in the end played the entire 90 minutes, scoring two good goals”.

"It's great to finally be in the top half of the Championship and is a reward for months of hard work and battling away. This was the fourth game in a row where we have been able to name an unchanged side”.

"There were times this season, when the injuries were in double figures for weeks at a time, where we had to hang in there. Now we are producing confident, positive football and gaining results to move us up the table”.

"The important thing now is to keep our foot on the gas and not let our standards slip. We are enjoying our football at last and we go into every game looking forward to it; I hope the supporters are as well."

Next Match:

Derby County v Swansea City

Saturday 20th February - 3pm

Photo: Action Images

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