The Rams returned from the break fresh and firing as they steamrolled Preston and put themselves a win outside the top six.
Saturday 16th October 2010 15:00
Pride Park Stadium - Derby
Referee: Mr A D'Urso
Attendance: 26,117 (919 Travelling Lillywhites)
Goals: Moxey - Derby (21), Bueno - Derby (32), Savage - Derby (90 - Pen)
Teams:
Derby County:
Fielding, Brayford, Leacock, Barker, Moxey, Savage, Bailey, Commons (Pringle 81), Bueno (Moore 72), Cywka, Kuqi (Anderson 89).
Subs: Atkins, Doyle, Martin, Roberts.
Preston North End:
Lonergan, Morgan, St Ledger, Davidson, Coutts, Treacy, Barton (Gray 79), Hume, King (Parry 79), Jones, Parkin (Hayes 85).
Subs: Mayor, Arestidou, McLaughlin, Wright.
Booked: Jones, Davidson, Treacy, Parkin
Sent Off: Treacy - PNE (90)
RamsFan Report by Daniel Brooks:
Another home game and another home win – I could get used to this.
Despite the setback of losing Paul Green to injury the Rams managed to comfortably see of PNE, thanks largely to the impressive trio of Kris Commons, Tomasz Cywka and Alberto Bueno, whose movement and ability seems to be too much for the Championship at the moment.
Whether teams will get wise to it is a matter for another day, I would prefer to savoir comfortable victories for as long as able.
There was also a welcome return to the team for Dean Leacock, which meant that John Brayford was allowed to return to right back/wing where he was again a constant torment running up and down the right hand side of the pitch; truly those early doubts about League Two signings are well out the window based on the recent form of Brayford, James Bailey and Dean Moxey.
In fact it was Moxey who would open the scoring, although he would be a liar if he said he meant it; a clever pass from Bueno put the full back in behind on the left and his miss-hit cross evaded the keeper and went in at the near post – it is a long time since we could claim to have luck like that.
Having said that the Rams deserve their sudden good fortune; the football on display is impressive and improving and with more talented players surrounding star man Commons, he appears to have the appetite to push himself harder than we’ve previously seen, which can only be good news.
The formation employed by our Nigel is working now that a real focal point is present in the rather large form of Shefki Kuqi, who may not be a great goal threat but whose willingness to run and hold the ball is allowing the aforementioned trio behind him to control the game and score the goals.
It was unsurprising therefore that one of the trio would score the next goal although I didn’t fancy Alberto Bueno to score many headers this season; the Spaniard started the move, finding the onrushing Brayford galloping down the right and whilst the ginger ninja was crossing for Kuqi to knock down the ball, no-one seemed to notice that Bueno had lounged into the penalty area just in time to direct a neat header into the left of the goal to give the Rams a formidable lead going into half time.
It was indicative of the Rams’ recent play; with Bailey and Savage holding their positions in midfield, the trio ahead of them can simply drift about where their legs take them, making them virtually impossible to pick up.
I don’t yet know if some future opposition will figure out a coping strategy but at the moment we look a force to be reckoned with since our three most influential attacking players are having free reign, at least over the course of the last few games.
In the second half Preston came back into the game but they were never on top and Rams had chances to kill them off for good; the best fell to Kris Commons when he broke the offside trap to go one on one with the goalkeeper but as has so often been the case he couldn’t hold his nerve in the pressure situation – Commons may be our best player but you just don’t fancy him in those kind of situations.
At the other end debutant Frank Fielding made a couple of smart saves to stop a comeback effort and in the final minutes a late breakout saw substitute Russell Anderson (just what was he doing that far forward?) upended by Keith Treacy, who was sent off.
Robbie Savage duly dispatched the penalty to put a stamp on his 600th career appearance and although I still don’t believe Savage brings much to the team, nor did he do much right on the day, he still deserves a round of applause for such an achievement, which he got with some enthusiasm from the home crowd, who still appear, like me, to be unsure as to whether Robbie Savage can ever be truly accepted at Pride Park.
Another three points in the bag and halfway up the table – the true test of our newfound form will come this week with trips to Doncaster and Millwall; if we can win them, who knows where we could go.
Coaches Reaction:
Derby first team GoalKeeping Coach Martin Taylor spoke to the Official Site after victory:
"At the start, results weren't quite going our way but now we are defending well and taking our chances, the main difference compared to a few weeks ago is that we are taking our chances, when earlier in the season we weren't.
"We are in a rich vein of form at the moment, playing nice simple football and it is paying dividends.
"We played some really good stuff today and deserved it.
"Preston made a real game of it and never threw the towel in, but I think we deserved what we got.
"The first goal was a bit of a freakish one, but you take goals any way they come.
"The second goal gave us some breathing space, which was important and it was another good finish from Alberto.
"At 2-0 there was always a chance for them to get back in the game, but we've had a relatively settled back four this season and that helped see us through.
"It was written for Sav to round things off as well; we're delighted for him to score and also reach 600 appearances.
"He is a true professional and he has been superb being left out at Barnsley."
"That is the nature of the Championship I'm afraid; if you can get a run together you can climb the table very quickly.
"We're building a team for the future, and we can't do it all over night.
"We have to have patience because there will be times when we're not quite on our game.
"Hopefully it doesn't happen too many times."
600 Game Player Reaction:
Robbie Savage Spoke to the Official Site after the match about his penalty kick and milestone game:
"It was my second goal at Pride Park and a great moment."
"It is easy to step up and stick a penalty away at 2-0 up at home with the last kick of the game."
"I think it (600 appearances) is a good benchmark for any young kid who is told they are not good enough for one of the biggest clubs in the world," he said.
"I went to Crewe, played in their reserves and thought I was finished.
"So to reach 600 games is a great achievement through plenty of hard work and determination.
"There have been far better players than me who haven't played 100 games, never mind 600."
I'm really enjoying my football right now and I think being left out at Barnsley in September helped me.
"I might miss Tuesday at Doncaster because I am 36 on Monday and three games in a week is difficult for me now.
"I managed it towards the end of September because needs must, but I'm not sure what the Gaffer is thinking for Tuesday.
"If the Gaffer leaves me out, I won't sulk and I'll try to be positive around the lads like I always am."
"These results have been coming, we've mixed playing well by getting in people's faces now, because at the start of the season we weren't getting in people's faces as much and playing a little too pretty.
"A year ago we would have conceded today under pressure we were put under in the second half.
"But, we're a better side now and when you look at our team we look solid and we can cope with pressure."
Doncaster Rovers vs. Derby County
Tuesday October 19th - 7:45pm