The crowd at Pride Park were hoping for more from their chargers but even the most optimistic fan would not have expected this result.
The Npower Championship
Saturday, 25th September 2010, 3:00pm
Pride Park Stadium
Referee:
Mr A Bates
Attendance:
28, 258
Goals:
Bueno 14, 62
Commons 41
Green 68
Kuqi 73
Teams:
Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Leacock (Pearson), Barker, Moxey, Green, Bailey, Savage (Pringle), Commons, Bueno, Kuqi (Moore).
Substitutes: Deeney, O’Brien, Pearson, Pringle, Moore, Cywka, Doyle.
Crystal Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Davis, McCarthy, Danns, Garvan, Davids (Dorman), Djilali (Bennett), Marrow, Vaughan, Zaha (Andrew).
Substitutes: Price, Bennett, Dorman, Cadogan, N’Diaye, Andrew, Counago.
RamsFan Report by Daniel Brooks:
After stopping the rot with a solid point at Barnsley the previous week, the Rams badly needed to build on that with a first home win of this stuttering season.
The week had been once more dominated with accusations levelled at the board regarding financial input and three points would go a long way to helping the nerves of the fans.
Fortunately those fans were in luck because the Rams utterly destroyed their visitors from the capital, although perhaps without the sending off of James Vaughan it might have been a bit less one sided, but only just since the Rams were well on top before the awful challenge that saw former Ram Vaughan depart.
Two excellent goals in each half saw the Rams finally achieve that much needed home win and they could and probably should have scored more than five but one cannot complain about a five goal home win to entertain on a Saturday afternoon.
This was the game in which Alberto Bueno announced his ability to all for see and it was the Spanish playmaker who got things up and running; John Brayford, doing his best Glen Johnson impression up and down the right wing, burst forward onto Paul Greens cross field pass and when his centre fell to the Spaniard he made no mistake with a cool finish.
After that goal and Vaughan’s sending off it seemed a matter of time before the Rams opened Palace up again and they needed to before the break; the nervousness that comes from watching the QPR debacle demanded that the players scored and kept scoring until they were out of sight.
The lads clearly felt the same way and the relief was palpable when Kris Commons notched the Rams’ second before half time, playing a neat one-two with Brayford before hammering a shot past Speroni to put an exclamation point on a fine halves play from the men in white.
The message at half time is clearly to stay on the attack and remove the memories of recent disappointments; three goals in ten minutes will do that for you. Brayford, clearly armed with a jet pack, gets in behind yet again and when his cross is deflected to Bueno, he is calm and collected and picks his spot and like that the game is surely Derbys for good.
The Rams are not done though and forth soon follows from Savage’s free kick, headed in virtually unchallenged by Paul Green, whose appearance on the score sheet makes up for a shocking first half miss.
The fifth and final goal arrives straight after and I do take some delight in Claude Davis’ mistake, passing the ball into the path of Shefki Kuqi for him to slot the ball away; Kuqi deserved a goal for his hard work and determination, hopefully we will see more of the same in the weeks to come.
After the goal fest subsides it gets bit boring as the Rams pass the ball under no real pressure and Palace just want to go home. I imagine Middlesbrough will provide a sterner test on Tuesday but surely now it must be seen as a game we can win.
First Team Coach Reaction:
Andy Garner spoke to the DCFC Official site after the match:
"We're absolutely delighted with the result, it was a great win. To score five goals and keep a clean sheet is absolutely superb. We played some great football throughout, and everything came together for us".
"Having the extra man helped but we were playing well against 11 men. It can be hard against 10 men, but we were professional, stuck to our game and kept scoring more".
"A clean sheet was important too and it is great for the back four and the goalkeeper and we're chuffed for them. The only disappointing thing is we didn't score more goals today".
Speaking about Bueno:
"The boy has quality; we saw that with his goals. We know he can play; and it is just about getting him adjusted to the English game".
"With every game he is getting stronger and better. He was absolutely superb today"
Speaking about Shefki Kuqi:
"He works so hard for the team, he has stayed behind practising all week on his finishing, so I'm delighted he's got a goal".
"The focus now goes straight to Middlesbrough; we want to get another positive result".
Super Spaniards Reaction:
Bueno speaking to the Official Site:
"I am very happy because the team is very good and we played a great game, I am so happy because we won 5-0 and I scored two goals".
"It was important to win because in our latest we games we drew and lost. We deserved to win the match and we look forward to laying Middlesbrough on Tuesday."
"I was very happy with my goals, I was pleased to score goals for the team and the fans. The team have helped me over the last few weeks and the fans are wonderful".
"I am living here with my girlfriend and it is perfect in Derby, I am trying to improve my English every day".
"It is complicated for me but I am trying very hard. I try to speak to the players and staff in English, and it is no problem".
"My English is not so good but I will keep trying."
Derby County vs. Middlesbrough
Tuesday 28th September - 7:45pm
Pride Park Stadium