After responding to their capitulation at Cardiff in style, an undermanned Rams took on a full strength Foxes in the two teams’ first local derby for many a year. The visitors did themselves proud and were denied the win by what seemed to be a blind man holding a whistle.
One of the most anticipated fixtures of the season was finally upon us. The game had the added spice of Leicester having climbed back into the Championship with the help of two former Rams in Howard and Oakley and an old Fox in Captain Savage lining up for Derby.
The Rams welcomed back many peoples preferred back two in Leacock and Barker who replaced a very unlucky Jay McEveley who found his man of the match performance against Wednesday rewarded with a seat on the bench.
The Rams began the game brightly with Kris Commons firing a long range shot that although travelling like a rocket, landed safely in the keepers’ arms. It signalled the visitors had come to play but sadly their attacking steam fizzled after the first fifteen minutes and it was Leicester that dominated the remainder of the first half.
At one end Steve Howard was winning everything in the air and causing havoc in the Derby box. In comparison Rob Hulse was being soundly beaten in most of his attempts at winning the ball and would do well to review the tapes of the game to learn a thing or two from the Rams past master.
Robbie Savage was playing solid football defending and trying to build up the play from the centre of the park. Sadly much of his good work was wasted as Teale, Croft, Livermore and Commons were too often dispossessed when trying to launch attacks. In turn this lead to repeat counter attacks from the home side that kept Derby parked in their own half.
The home teams’ dominance did not bear fruit as a few good saves from Stephen Bywater and solid defending from the Rams back four kept the foxes from the door and managed to keep things square until half time.
HT: 0 - 0
The second half found Leicester picking up where they left off but the absorption of their repeated attacks seemed to slowly wear them down as the game began turning in the Rams favour.
As he did early in the first half, Kris Commons popped up and cut inside in an attacking move that resulted in his 20 yard shot cannoning back off the crossbar with the keeper clearly beaten. Closer for Kris but still no cigar.
The game ebbed and flowed as both teams had chances to break the deadlock but the main talking point came from two penalties that Derby had waived away by Mr Dean.
The first appeared to be well worth a shout as Rob Hulse (who was finally working his way into the game) was brought down in the box but the second was a clear foul and should have earned the Rams a spot kick. Sadly everyone in the ground except Mr Dean felt that Rob Hulse was not brought to ground as he was about to connect with a Teale cross.
Unless Hulse had installed an anchor to his shirt (which would explain his lack of leap in the first half) then it was definitely a Fox defender attached. The 3000 + travelling fans were understandably incensed and had every right to be as more additions were made to the already thick ‘Referee vs. Rams’ file of season 09/10.
The penalty debacle resulted in the injection of more energy and urgency as both teams tried to find a goal and it was Commons should have stolen the 3 points with only injury time remaining.
Charging in on goal he waited a second too long to take his shot and Hobbs, who had been resolute in defence for Leicester, raced in to make a last second challenge .
At that point you could be forgiven for feeling that it was not to be the Rams day with one of their past players certain to bob up to steal a winner. Instead a Robbie Savage free kick threatened to reverse the curse, when the ball comically bounced off a defenders head, onto the head of Hulse but unfortunately straight into the arms of the Leicester keeper.
Luckily the well worn past players curse did not rear its ugly head and the Rams held on for a deserved point and continued rebuilding the faith that had been shattered by the trip to Wales.
It may not have been entirely convincing at times but a point for their first away game after Cardiff was one thing but with nearly as many chances to win the game as their opposition, there was a lot to like about the skeleton crew Rams.
FT: 0 - 0
Although they were unable to produce a victory, a fighting performance lead to a 3rd clean sheet in 4 games, a statistic that most teams would happily accept if offered to them.
Besides the lack of quality final balls, the major negative to come from the game was more injuries being added to the already overstocked medical room in Stoor and Hendrie.
Stoor looked solid in defence and continued to impress before leaving the ground with an ankle injury. Hendrie looked bright after coming on for Croft in the second half and was an instrumental part of the Rams revival before the substitute had to be substituted with a leg complaint.
Both seem unlikely to make the trip to Boro on Tuesday night which will give the likes of Connolly, McEveley and Dickov a chance to regain their spot in the team.
Although the squad has replacements for their injured, it is the bench that will continue to be the big issue as it begins to look like Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard, with only 6 players available to sit on Saturday and even less likely for Tuesday.
It was by no means a convincing effort from Derby but definitely an important one for the psychology of the team. It is one thing to regroup at home in front of a supportive home crowd but to then travel away and absorb the pressure of a fully fit team looking to inflict a local derby defeat on you is another.
With a second away trip hot on the heels of the Leicester game, the injection of Paul Dickov may prove an important part in improving the Rams ability to trouble the scorer. His performance against Sheffield Wednesday was only second to that of McEveley in inspiring the Rams to victory.
Injuries may give both players the chance to prove they are capable of such displays on a regular basis.
Whatever the case, we won’t have to wait long for an answer.
Daniel J's Man Of The Match:
Robbie Savage (Happy 35th B'day for Sunday!)
The Game:
LEICESTER:
Weale; Morrison, Brown, Hobbs, Berner; Oakley, King, Wellens, Dyer (Kermorgant, 79); Howard, Fryatt (Waghorn, 67).
Subs: Adams, Campbell, Gallagher, Logan, McGivern.
DERBY:
Bywater; Stoor (Connolly, 76), Barker, Leacock, Moxey, Croft (Hendrie, 59 - McEveley 85), Savage, Livermore, Teale, Commons, Hulse.
Subs: Buxton, Deeney, Mills.
Referee: Mr. M Dean
Attendance: 28,875 including 3,307 travelling Rams.