A solid performance from the Rams back four made sure a Foxes error was enough to secure Derby all three points. The Rams edged closer to safety while luck finally found its way to Pride Park.

Derby County 1 v 0 Leicester City
Coca Cola Championship
Pride Park, Derby
Saturday 27th March 2010 - 3:00pm

Att: 30,259 (3,055 Foxes Hunting)

Ref: Mr. C Webster

Goals: Weale (Foxes) OG 19’

Teams:

DERBY: Bywater; Leacock, Barker, Anderson, McEveley; Tonge, Savage, Green, Pearson; Davies (Hulse, 64), Porter

Unused Subs: Deeney (gk), Martin, Moxey, Sunu, Cywka, Hunt.

LEICESTER: Weale; Morrison, Brown, Hobbs, Powell; Oakley (N'Guessan, 75), Wellens, King; Dyer, Waghorn (Howard, 62), Kermorgant (Gallagher, 63)

Unused Subs: Logan (gk), Solano, Adams, Spearing.  

Match Report by Daniel Brooks:

A match not for enthusiasts of the beautiful game but three priceless points nonetheless; the gallant defenders of proud Derbyshire stood firm after some shambolic goalkeeping had given the boys something to cling to, which they did in fine fashion in the face of regular, if largely uncoordinated pressure from the visiting Foxes.

There were a few surprises in store once the teams were announced; Steven Davies made his return as did Dean Leacock, who came in for Nicky Hunt.

Davies was looking desperately out of shape for a player who be spending his every waking moment trying to earn some of the small fortune he has been paid by the club while only make a handful of appearances over the past two seasons..

Perhaps more of a shock was a familiar name on the Leicester team sheet as veteran full back Chris Powell made surely one of the final appearances of his tremendous career at Pride Park, a stadium he should never have been allowed to leave; still a hot topic for scorn even twelve years after Jim Smith decided he could dispense with the then-future England international for a pittance by football standards.

Matt Oakley captained Leicester and it would be interesting to parallel him and Rams Captain Robbie Savage, his replacement during the reign of infamy that was Paul Jewell’s spell as manager.

Oakley still seems a far better player that Savage and to suggest that the fact we actually paid more for Savage that we got for Oakley still brings a lump to my throat two years later.

But Captaincy issues aside the game began and for about fifteen solid minutes the Rams saw next to nothing of the ball as Oakley and Richie Wellens instantly took control of midfield proceedings.

The out-of-form Paul Green and out-of-energy Robbie Savage in near no-man’s land as Leicester played their way around the middle of the pitch albeit without once troubling Stephen Bywater in the Rams goal.

The winning goal came on 20 minutes (yes there really isn’t anything before that worth talking about) and there was very little in the way of involvement from the white shirts; Green and the energetic, if largely frustrating Stephen Pearson, pressured Andy King into making what seemed a simple back pass to goalkeeper Chris Weale who appeared to simply take his eye of the ball and miss it completely!

1-0 to the Rams in comedic fashion.

Incredible stuff at Pride Park and a mask for the inadequacies of the Derby performance, at least going forward; the cuprites of these problems have long since been established, the aforementioned Pearson being one of them.

A player with a tremendous engine but almost no self belief, his touch was often poor and wasted so many openings that the Rams could have exploited. He is one of the nearly boys that Nigel so often mentions in his interviews, at least when he isn’t giving pointlessly awkward answers anyway.

Something needs to be done in the summer to address the clear lack of consistent, positive application in a midfield so often bereft of Kris Commons’ talents through injury.

That’s not too say there weren’t positives; after all that’s two clean sheets against Leicester this season, hardly bad against a side who should make the playoffs this year and for all the misfiring going forward, the defence appears to be in much better shape.

Russell Anderson signed in January almost as an afterthought yet he looks calm and dependable alongside POTY certainty Shaun Barker, who gets better with each game.  

Jay McEveley’s distribution skills continue to earn derision as both he and Dean Leacock look more than capable defensively suggesting that the Rams may finally have hit upon a corps of stoppers capable to truly providing a bridge to greater success.

Should they be kept together beyond the end of the season when Anderson and McEveley become free agents and may possibly be moved on.

Chances are Nigel will have to reinforce for next season which is fine so long as Barker and Leacock are part of the equation; as a partnership they could be top class and Derby will need that dependability at their own end if we are maintain any sort of realistic push up the table in the future.

This was a great, if incident free victory that is likely to have maintained our status in the Championship for next season but the proof is there for all to see that so much needs to be done. New players are needed and the ones currently on the books need to be in better condition and ready to commit to what is required because this wasn’t it.

The season is winding down just as I have returned to the RamZone writing team and on the pitch not a great deal has changed in the year since I last wrote about the Rams.

I really hope the future will see better games than this but as Shaun Barker says, we need the points and at this late stage that really is all that matters.

Up the Rams!

Man Of The Match:

Chris Weale – For producing a moment that will make the next DVD compilation of ‘Football Fluff-Ups!”. In doing so has pretty much single footedly saved the Rams from any worries of relegation this season.

Perhaps in Leicester the spelling of a timeless saying will be changed after this incident to; “Silly as a Weale”.

Shaun Barker – The real man of the match for the Rams.

It is getting to the point that his name will be as permanent a part of this report as the column headings.

Solid and sensational while forming a very effective partnership with the improving Anderson.

Another 10 of him in the team and Clough will find his team in the top flight sooner than later.

The Fans View:

Mick McDermott – RamZone Match Previewer:

Derby played 4-5-1 with Davies in midfield supporting Porter. Hulse on the Bench - Radio Derby say he's had 'personal' problems this week. Leacock replaces Hunt.

Leacock & Davies look as if they've been dodging the salad while they've been injured.

Not a good advert for football in general but we shaded it. Leicester will have big problems if they go up.

Good to see Chris Powell, Matt Oakley and Stevie Howard all get a good reception - particularly Howard & Oakley - Indeed Oakley got a standing ovation off from the Derby fans which he responded to - much to the chagrin of the Leicester Faithful.

The goal was comedy gold. Pass back from King (I think) that didn't bobble or anything that the keeper took his eye off and missed completely.  Took a lot of stick all afternoon for that and I thought he was going to do it again in the second half.

Bywater - Made a world class save in the first half diving high to his right to push the ball around the post.

Leacock - Composed and good on the ball. Not a right back but did get forward well

Barker - Outstanding - man of the match for me. Not big but wins a lot in the air. Composed on the ball. Worried if he gets player of the season he may go.

Anderson - No nonsense and did what he does well.

McEveley - Didn't get forward much but did okay at the back

Green - Did well but kept misplacing passes. seems to have lost the ability to shoot.

Savage - Slowing down and not making enough impact. Tries and gives 100% but not good enough.

Pearson - Argghhhh! Pele with one leg. Breaks forward well with the ball but last touch always to much. You are a good player Pearo - believe it!!!

Tonge - Did okay but looks tired out. Had a few snap shots.

Davies - Overweight and ineffective IMO

Porter - Did okay without being much of a threat up front.

Hulse - Got stuck in and helped out in defence.

Not a classic but we won - three points is more useful to us the Leicester who are play off bound. If we could play as well against the lower Championship clubs, we'd be there as well.

Paul Mortimer – RamZone Columnist:

We couldn't really get it together in the first 20 minutes and didn't create much, not that the Foxes were any better. They were a bit neater as a team in the early stages.
 
When the goal went in, Derby players probably remembered how Clough had said - 1,000 times per training session - don't do anything stupid or give a soft goal away, as we became a little more cohesive and had something to hold on to.
 
Bywater's save was superb, his handling sure and his kicking mostly good enough. He gives the good new centre back pairing confidence.
 
Barker was immense, again. His 'spring' is phenomenal; he towers into headers and dominates forwards in the air. Pretty tidy, fleet-footed on the ground too when danger threatens.
 
Looks a nailed-on cert for POTY, and next season's Captain. Let's hope he keeps fit and keeps on with such tremendous performances - and that we don't get offered silly money for him in the summertime, he must be the fulcrum of next season's team! Anderson is proving a solid ally and is a better footballer than Buxton.
 
McEveley was adequate - distribution chronic as ever but some good support raids which put the Foxes on the back foot when we got more into an attacking gear in the 2nd half.
 
Leacock did well considering his lay-off, keeping quite tight as a full back and still pushing forward in the 2nd half. Has a bit of a Jordan Stewart 'wanderlust' which Cloughie won't like, roaming into the wrong positions sometimes but did not set up any danger to his team by leaving gaps.
 
Green, Tonge and Sav battled away enough to deny the excellent Matt Oakley & Co having their own way in the middle. We don't have the blend, pace or craft to take control of games, however and the 'department' needs attention in the summertime.
 
We could really do with a 24-year-old Oakley replica; he still buzzes around with little fuss knitting things together and is a very effective player for the Foxes as he was for us, even though age is now catching up with him.

Derby fans showed their appreciation to him with warm applause when he was substituted, as they also did for Steve Howard when he came on.
 
Stephen Pearson again proved one of those 'nearly' players that Clough describes - brilliant bursts forward, which mostly peter out in a delay of indecision or an incorrect, wayward delivery. He should get some hypnotherapy for self-belief!
 
He could be another Bruce Rioch with the positions he can get in allied to his running power, but at present is a long way short of realising his potential. He should have 15 goals and 30 assists to his credit with his pace and work rate!
 
Porter stuck at it without being as explosive as he's been around the goal - and should have scored in the 2nd half to seal the game. Hulse ground away at both ends of the pitch when he came on for an out-of-sorts Davies. Rob really should have put his header away, too!
 
The Foxes ran out of steam and ideas when Oakley was taken off - they resorted to mediocre hoof ball, which Barker & Anderson lapped up. they would 'do a Burnley' if they got promoted on that showing!
 
We sometimes put 8 passes together without getting anywhere nearer Leicester's goal during our better 2nd half periods - but at least we weren't often lumping it forwards in a panic style, as if collectively too worried to believe that we deserved the goal lead.
 
We are thankfully getting near the 'finish line' - as survival at 50+ points is (again) our only ambition this season. A few more solid performances like this one, with a win or three will measure a marginal improvement for Nigel over 2008-09 in the final analysis.
 
Winnable game at the Echo Stadium, Coventry next week?

Everyone but - the Managers Reaction:

Gary Crosby spoke to the official site after the match:

"I think we deserved the win for our sheer endeavour. The physical effort from our players was absolutely superb and they could not have given any more”.

"It wasn't pretty but right now it is all about getting points at this time of the season and I can't praise the lads enough for their effort."

"It was a comedy goal I suppose but it was a real slice of luck and the first we've had all season in my opinion."

"I can't remember getting anything like that all season but we will certainly take it and the three points."

"As I said it is all about points over performances and we're happy to be nine points clear of the bottom three tonight."

"We're four unbeaten now so the challenge for the players is to get the job done now and be safe as soon as possible."

"Also, why not carry on unbeaten until the end of the season? Why not?"

"Not losing is a good habit and one we want to keep for as long as possible here."

Johnny Metgod also spoke to the media after the match:

"This was a massive step in the right direction today but we have still got a bit to do”.

"I would like to be on the safe side and get to 54 points. I can't see any reason why we can't win in the next two games and then hopefully start thinking about other things after that”.

"But we are not there yet and we have to be careful not to think along those lines. This is a massive win and has given confidence to everybody."

"Today, on March 27, we had our first bit of luck this season, it's about little details in football and they win or lose you a game”.

"You have to grind, graft and work hard to get into those positions to be lucky. It's very unfortunate for him (Weale) but I am just delighted it went our way”.

"I didn't see it coming. I expected him to clear it. I don't know whether the ball bobbled or he just missed it but I couldn't care less really!"

Man Of The Match Reaction:

Shaun Barker speaking to the official site after the match:

"It is a big win for us and after two good draws away from home it was nice to follow it up with a win at Pride Park”.

"We believe we can give anybody a game here at Pride Park, and we're delighted to have beaten a good Leicester side who have been a threat all season”.

"It was nice to have a slice of luck with the goal, and after that it was about remaining strong and solid which we managed to do to keep a clean sheet and get this massive win”.

"Now we just want to get the job done and be safe in the Championship for next season”.

"We've been solid in our last few away performances so if we can replicate that at Coventry and get something it would be nice, and that is obviously followed by the Ipswich game 48 hours later”.

"In the next two weeks or so it would be great to get ourselves safe so we can all look forward to next season."

Next Match:

Photo: Action Images

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