Putting the ghosts of last season’s capitulation to bed was never going to be easy but after 90 seconds it seemed almost impossible for the Rams. Instead the Rams dug deep and managed to produce one of the clubs greatest ever wins!
S. Mathieson
Attendance:
27,356 (4,582 Travelling Rams)
Teams:
Forest:
Camp, Chambers, Morgan, Derbyshire, Miller, Reid (McGugan 68’), Greening (Findley 61’), Cohen (Lynch 32’), Gunter, Moussi, Majewski.
Unused Substitutes: Smith, Moloney.
Yellow Cards: Gunter, Lynch, Miller
Goal Scorers: Reid (5’ Penalty)
Derby:
Fielding, Brayford, Roberts, O'Brien, Shackell, Hendrick, Bryson, B Davies, Cywka (Legzdins 4’), Robinson (Anderson 86’), Ward (Tyson 65’).
Unused Substitutes: Croft, S Davies.
Yellow Cards: Brayford
Red Cards: Fielding
Goal Scorers: Ward (29’), Hendrick (72’)
Match Stats: Forest – Derby
Possession: 54% - 46%
Shots On Target: 5 - 3
Shots Off Target: 6 - 2
Corners: 12 - 3
Fouls: 11 - 14
Most Fouls: Morgan (2) – B.Davies (3)
I.Saw’s Match Report:
What a wonderful weekend that was. The Rams overturning the odds despite playing with ten men virtually throughout, yet we still ended up the deserved victors.
The omens weren’t good though, are they ever you ask?
Pre match pints, in a sweltering sauna commonly known as the Meadow Lane Club, stewards refusing to open the windows due to “Health and Safety” issues because “someone might throw a bottle in” we were told. Eventually common sense took over and we cooled.
After cooling we soaked as a heavy downpour timed itself to imperfection when we began our walk to the City Ground.
Barely had we dried our glasses before the referee pointed to the spot, sent off Frank Fielding and we wondered exactly whom had broken the mirror, walked under the ladder and forgot to stroke the black cat.
One nil to the Forest then as Andy Reid scores from the spot. You could argue encroachment by both sets of players, you could argue substitute Adam Legzdins was off his line, you could argue that it was never a penalty.
Fielding couldn’t get out of the way, you could argue against the Red Card as Gareth Roberts cleared the ball off the line, you could, but this is football and it makes not a blind bit of difference if you do.
Now we are a man down for effectively the whole of the game. It’s a testing time for every Derby supporter. “We might as well go home then” a familiar comment even if we didn’t believe it.
How do we regain our belief? We look. It’s there, in front of us. Belief, passion and desire shine through. Every single white shirt on the pitch gives their all; slowly we come to terms with the task.
Jason Shackell stands up to Ishmael Miller, he gets knocked down, he stands up again. Splayed arms akimbo yet again and still the referee takes no action.
Chris Cohen overstretches and goes down in agony; Jeff Hendrick runs the ball forward. Forest appeal for the ball to be kicked out, “Sod that for a game of soldiers” Nigel Clough urges the team on.
Jamie Ward takes on the challenge, he avoids the lunge of one, he nutmegs another, then beauty of beauty he slots the ball inside of Lee Camp’s near post.
A majestic goal which shouldn’t be sullied by the whinges of those who wanted play stopped for an injury to Cohen’s knee. Matt Derbyshire tries to stop Ward’s celebrations with as much effort as the Forest defenders do Ward’s run.
Equal terms, plenty to go, we would accept a draw.
Camp comes in for some stick, totally deserved on previous performances.
Hendrick heads wide, we groan, the Rams players pick him up and encourage the young lad. Have we blown it? “Yes we have” is the consensus; they’ll never be a better chance.
But there is, minutes later Hendrick whips the ball off Ben Davies toes and perfectly places the ball past Camp and into the net.
We erupt, we bounce, we go mental, complete strangers hug, the air is punched and we all want Irish babies, how sweet is that?
“Sacked In The Morning” we sing to Stevie McClaren on the touchline.
Calming down we hold, we hold, we count the minutes, we dread each Forest attack, and we cheer each clearance. It is always so.
Finally, finally a whistle, we applaud as if never before; You Are My Derby.
The Red Stands empty (they were never full), we stand we wait, we support. It’s a day to remember, it’s a day never to forget.
I.Saw's Rams Man of the Match:
Both Ward and Hendrick came into consideration but for me it was just shaded by Theo Robinson, incredible effort up front by himself chasing everything, leaving nothing.
Referee Scott Mathieson:
Had a difficult decision to make early on as Miller and Fielding clashed, the ref awarded a penalty and sent the goalkeeper off, from behind the goal that seemed harsh as I’m not sure what Frank could have done other than stand his ground.
Perhaps we were lucky though as Shackell’s handball could easily have been given as a second penalty. Overall no complaints about favouritism, he refereed fairly as he saw the game.
Managers Reaction:
Nigel Clough was proud of his boys and determined to enjoy what was a great victory:
"The adversity we faced inside the opening five minutes was the last thing we wanted, I think we all thought 'here we go again' after going behind in the opening minute in our last two visits to Forest, but to lose a player as well was even worse.”
"We would have taken a point at that stage, never mind coming back to win the game. When you consider that, in a local derby as well, what we've achieved today is remarkable and it was all about the character of this squad.”
"We've done a lot off the field this season as a group, which has been talked about quite a lot, and it certainly helps towards the work ethic and belief we have amongst this group.”
"The players showed superb composure throughout today. It was a staggering performance and this result is for those supporters who saw us lose 5-2 last season.”
“It's another three points, but we know it means so much more to our fans as well."
Match Winners Reaction:
Jeff Hendrick was still floating after the match:
"Scoring the winner to get three points for the team is great but to score in a local derby makes it even better, I have to say."
"I don't remember too much about the goal really. I just recall that Ben Davies brought the ball inside and I managed to hit it first time into the bottom corner.”
"I can't remember too much after that, other than the lads on top of me in front of our fans.”
"It was a great feeling - one I can't describe - and after that miss earlier on, I'm delighted I managed to make up for it."