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RamsWeek 12 - Running in the Family
RamsWeek 12 - Running in the Family
Sunday, 18th Mar 2012 21:33 by Paul Mortimer

Derby County staged their biggest game of the season, the postponed game at home to struggling Nothingham Forest on Tuesday, after which they visited Doncaster Rovers.

Rams fans hoped for a brighter week with the chance of a League ‘double’ over Forest before the visit to Doncaster. Derby manager Nigel Clough was expecting his team to start matches more brightly, having surrendered the early initiative to the opposition consistently over the last month.

Derby also needed to end to a run where his side is conceding on average two goals a game.

Rams fans were unsure how the ‘derby’ clash would go, given Derby’s tendency to lapse into topsy-turvy form and their frequent slow start to games; Trees fans were optimistic after recent results had hauled them out of their residency of the Championship’s bottom three.

The Brian Clough Trophy - held by the winners of Rams-Trees clashes - was in safe keeping at Pride Park Stadium after Derby’s thrilling 2-1 victory at the City Ground last September. In case you didn’t know, Derby only had ten men that day (goalie Frank Fielding had been sent off in the first moments).

With promises of a top-six challenge for Derby fading to optimistic spin, defeat against Forest was unthinkable. The Trees were desperate to move up the league table.

Derby fans would consider their season effectively over in defeat; Forest risked being sucked back into the relegation mire. Local ‘derby’ clashes are of course big games and if Forest succumbed to relegation, their absence would deplete the fixture list for both clubs.

Both sets of fans, though, would still want their biggest games of the season to be top-of-the table clashes in promotion and play-off deciders as those rewards are bigger than local bragging rights and three points.

As ever with the stretched, small Derby squad, there were fitness issues ahead of the big clash with Nothingham on Tuesday night. Jamie Ward was ruled out and of course John Brayford is out for the season; Craig Bryson remains less than 100% with his foot injury; Ben Davies was carrying ankle and hamstring strains.

Left-back Gareth Roberts recovered from his illness and regained his place so Jake Buxton had to drop to the bench. Ex-Tree Nathan Tyson led Derby’s attack alongside Theo Robinson, whilst Nothingham had three ex-Rams in their line up - goalie Lee Camp and forwards Marcus Tudgay and former loanee Dexter Blackstock. Defender Danny Higginbottom was sidelined with injury.

Manager Nigel Clough had told his players that they needed to be on their game right from the off - and they were. Derby started strongly and set the pattern for the game, winning possession and always trying to drive forward.

It was hectic and frenetic and the pace hardly let up throughout the game, though neither team showed enough quality or incisiveness to inflict telling damage on their foes. Derby forced more of the attacking play and the Trees had to concede plenty of free kicks and corners. Lee Camp was the busier goalkeeper but there was no Derby breakthrough in the first period.

Tyson and Steve Davies flitted about and plagued the beleaguered Forest defenders; Theo Robinson threatened but his control and decision-making often let-him down at crucial moments. Ben Davies put plenty of tasty balls into the Forest penalty area but half-chances evaded all of the white-shirted bodies as the Trees fought hard to contain Derby’s territorial advantage.

The Rams were playing in a spirited and committed style and the 33,000 crowd set up a memorable atmosphere. The temperature increased yet further in the second period, with Rams fans waiting for the breakthrough.

There were a couple of melees after feisty clashes; Blackstock was booked for hacking Tyson down. Derby’s Steve Davies had been booked early on but Guedioura and Moussi had also been yellow-carded for Forest in the first 15 minutes.

The Rams lost Shaun Barker after a lengthy stoppage; he was stretchered off after colliding with Fielding. A dislocated kneecap was reported and sadly, it meant a further serious injury for the Derby skipper to overcome. Barker and Shackell had been imperious in Derby’s defence but “Mr 100%” Jake Buxton deputised as manfully as ever - and was destined to become a Rams’ legend.

During almost 10 minutes of stoppage time the tension increased, with Derby hungry to seal the game. Forest held on desperately; Lee Camp kept Shackell and Buxton at bay from dead-ball chances. Then Forest cracked at last. Ex-Ram Tudgay received his second yellow card and hence a nice shiny red card after another heavy foul; then it was Forest who only had 10 men!

There was to be no Forest fairytale, however, as Jake Buxton got his head to a Ben Davies free kick to force the ball in for the winner, five minutes into stoppage time. Buxton got in where it hurts to nudge the ball home, with Lee Camp shrugging helplessly as the ball trundled over the line.

Priceless! It was a roof-lifting moment at Pride Park Stadium and the much-maligned ex-Burton defender disappeared under a heap of celebrating teammates. 1-0 to the Rams and the down-to-earth Buxton had become the unlikely hero!

Derby defenders have not punched their weight in opposing penalty areas this season - as the single goal by Jason Shackell testified. Thanks to Jake - cast off by Mansfield Town a few years ago as not good enough - that changed on Tuesday night. Get in!

The Red Dogs were beaten, the Trees had been chopped down, and the Brian Clough Trophy remains at Pride Park Stadium until the next ‘derby’ clash - presumably next season, unless Trees fans have to get out their familiar League One road maps all over again in 2012-13!

Not only the local BC Trophy was retained but perhaps even a unique football ‘double’ was now “running in the family”. Derby County had last secured a League ‘double’ over Forest back in 1971-2 as the Rams marched on to their first League Championship title under Brian Clough. Now, son Nigel claimed the same splendid achievement with the Rams in the modern era.

It is unlikely that any father and son legacy has ever contributed so much to local football rivals. Given Clough senior’s astounding achievements as manager of both Derby and then Forest, followed by Nigel’s superb goal-scoring record for Nothingham.

Now, Clough Jnr’s managerial triumphs with Derby can be added to the family legacy at the expense of his former club. It was a satisfying birthday present for Rams boss Nigel Clough, 46 this week.

Anyone with knowledge from the archives of a Brian Clough ‘double’ over Derby as Trees’ manager, or Nigel performing that feat when a Forest player, by all means send on the info!

Next, we need Nigel to add to a formidable Clough CV by winning the ‘Second Division’ (Championship) trophy as Derby boss in order to match his dad’s achievement. That would be a somewhat bigger catch than just the BC Trophy - and we’ve already waited a long time.

A sour note was some ‘inappropriate’ chanting aimed at Trees fans about the deceased Nigel Doughty, though I only heard Forest fans sing ‘there’s only one Nigel Doughty’, perhaps in response to Derby chants.

DCFC saw fit to post an apology statement on the website in any case and all I can say is that, for any of the ‘chanters’ who read this, you’re not fit to attend any stadium.

I noticed, however, that moaners Cotterill and Dexter Blackstock, in calling Derby fans ‘an absolute disgrace’, did not condemn the Forest fans too. They aimed unsympathetic abuse and ‘let him die’ songs at Rams’ captain Shaun Barker when he was clearly badly injured and needing extended attention on the pitch before being stretchered off. Wasn’t that was shameful, too?

Some time back, a section of Trees fans also aimed sick chants at Derby’s Kris Commons after his partner had suffered a miscarriage, which shows that Nothingham also has a clique of ‘fans’ with a collectively zero-IQ.

Recently, prolonged anti-Doughty abuse, petitions and campaigns from Trees’ fans drove Nothingham’s philanthropic saviour from attending the Gun City Ground, fearing for his daughter’s safety. Soon after, he resigned. That stress might have been a factor in the failure of his health.

Condemn the Derby minority by all means - but please spare us all the self-righteous and hypocritical over-reaction. Derby hardly invented foul chanting and Trees fans subjected the Rams to it both on Tuesday and at previous ‘derbies’.

Derby moved up to 13th in the table; Forest dropped a point and a place closer to the danger zone. Shaun Barker’s injury put a dampener on the result for the Rams but Championship ‘safety’ was virtually assured with 10 games to go. The team could build on the new impetus gained from a hard-fought win over the Trees.

Rams’ captain Shaun Barker is sadly ruled out for the season with a ruptured knee cap and possible ligament damage. Who will deputise for Shaun? Local hero Jake Buxton, Tom Naylor, or will Clough be allowed to loan a player? The ‘transfer loan window’ snaps shut next Thursday and with Barker possibly out indefinitely, summer recruitment will be needed to sustain progress.

Those of us wondering why Miles Addison was cast out to Bournemouth are gritting our teeth even harder now. Miles may be sitting in Bournemouth shaking his head about ‘might-have-beens’. Another Derby squad member was lost for the rest of this season last week, albeit that it’s the marginal figure of Conor Doyle, who incurred a hamstring injury during training.

Nigel Clough expects tangible progress from last season and so do the fans. The Rams had now equalled their final points’ tally for last season (49), when they finished 19th in the Championship table. Lest anyone gets carried away with this anticipated progress, that points’ total was the lowest that Derby County has achieved since the introduction of the three-points-for-a-win system.

The ‘progress-o-meter’ has, however, been set depressingly low. Nigel Clough set a target of 60 points from the 30 points available with 10 games to go; that would represent progress - but is way short of the assault on the top-six as promised by the club. Indeed, it only seems to give players a safe haven to limit their effort and wind down quietly for the close season. Rams, or lambs?

I’d expect a Derby manager to say: “We must hit 60 points first, and then with 30 points up for grabs in total, let’s give it a real go!” What was I saying about things “running in the family?” I can’t imagine Clough Senior being so shamefully unambitious whilst fans still awaited almost a quarter of the season’s programme!

I don’t accept 60 points as a ‘fitting total’ (Nigel’s words). Perhaps the manager has been weaned off real ambition by a moribund investment group? Come on Cloughie, strike out for more!

The annual Football League Awards have again by-passed Derby County and the top-six remains a pipe-dream. Rams and Trees will both be onlookers during the climax to the 2011-12 season as other clubs celebrate lasting success. Derby will be watching from a position of comfort - but Forest still face an agonising period in which to haul themselves clear of the drop zone.

An away trip to Doncaster Rovers was to be the somewhat anti-climactic follow-up to Derby’s triumph over the Trees but manager Clough expected to build on that victory. Ex-Rams’ striker and Donny boss Dean Saunders is trying to salvage Rovers’ Championship status - and at start of play, they remained in the bottom three having won only 4 of 17 home games.

Deano has got them battling well; they were on a good run of results and hauled themselves off the bottom of the league. Ex-Rams’ teenage prodigy Giles Barnes is now at the Keepmoat Stadium plying his trade. Derby had a comfortable 3-0 home win over Rovers last August, so another league ‘double’ was possible.

Nigel Clough installed substitute hero Jake Buxton in place of the injured Sean Barker, moved Paul Green back into midfield and gave rookie Tom Naylor his debut at right-back. Tyson and Steve Davies were rested to the bench so Robinson and Callum Ball headed the Rams’ attack.

Derby started on the front foot showing positive attacking intent. Doncaster hadn’t got themselves sorted at all, as the Rams took charge. Theo Robinson chased a long pass from Jake Buxton and beat goalkeeper Carl Ikeme to the ball to notch his 10th goal of the season and put the Rams ahead after 13 minutes.

Rovers edged their way into the game but the Rams held their own comfortably and Frank Fielding was not stretched. Whilst the Rams should perhaps have underlined their advantage with another goal, it had been a competent first -half display from Derby and the 1-0 lead was comfortable. A sub-9,800 attendance at the Keepmoat included almost 1,800 Derby fans.

The second half continued in the same vein and Gareth Roberts increased Derby’s advantage after 10 minutes, when the ex-Donny man slotted the ball home after a fine passing move. 2-0! The Rams were in complete control but contrived to give the hapless Rovers hope when Diouf was allowed to spin and score just before the 70-minute mark.

Nathan Tyson replaced Callum Ball and Steve Davies came on for Theo Robinson. Derby weathered Doncaster’s late attacking spell to secure the 2-1 victory. It was Derby’s 5th away win of the season as they completed their second League ‘double’ of the week and climbed another two places up the Championship table to 11th place.

Tom Naylor had an impressive debut for Derby which will have given manager Clough some comfort given the club’s recurrent injury worries in defence. Paul Green enjoyed himself back in his energetic midfield role, whilst Jake Buxton gave a typically wholehearted defensive performance.

Green has to play a waiting game in terms of a new DCFC contract that matches his wishes but on this display, he remains an important component of Derby’s midfield. He joined on a free transfer and could leave Derby this summer as a free agent - but the club may have to spend a significant amount of money to sign a comparable player.

If we’re paying our top wages for Barker, Shackell, Fielding and Tyson, the there’s a case to say that the club should invest similarly in the dynamism and continuity that Paul Green could give.

Derby travel to Brighton’s Amex Stadium on Tuesday, looking to sustain their current impetus; the Seagulls have enjoyed a successful return to the Championship and are only a point outside the top-six.

There are two sad postscripts to RamsWeek 12 from football news elsewhere. First, there was the departure of beleaguered ex-Ram Paul Peschisolido from his managerial post at Burton Albion. 14 winless games has seen the Brewers spiral from the top six in League Two down to an unsteady mid-table berth. Best wishes to Albion and the popular Pesch for the future.

Second, I know all RamZoners will be watching and waiting on news of Bolton’s Fabrice Mwamba, after his life-threatening heart arrest during the Spurs-Bolton FA Cup tie. Like everyone else in football and beyond, RZ hopes for a full recovery for Bolton’s young international after such a rare and debilitating reversal. Get well soon, Fab.

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RamsWeek 12 last year saw Derby visit struggling Crystal Palace, whom the Rams had beaten 5-0 at Pride Park Stadium the previous November. Wandering Scottish midfielder Stephen Pearson treated Derby manager Nigel Clough to a ‘birthday special’ by scoring a rare goal to give Derby the lead.

Dean Moxey, the useful left-back than Nigel thought not good enough and sold to Palace, crashed in an equaliser for the Eagles. Jamie Ward struck again for Derby but they threw away two points in giving away an 88th-minute penalty, which Ambrose stroked home for a Palace equaliser.

The Rams were 17th in the Championship table, 9 points clear of the relegation zone. There was still work to do before safety could be reached.

Loanee defender Daniel Ayala gained an international call-up for the Spanish Under-21 squad and Derby’s American superstar Conor Doyle was selected for the USA Under-20 squad.

Paul Green was again selected for the Republic of Ireland squad whilst ex-Ram and now Tricky Tree traitor Lee Camp suddenly changed nationalities so that he could earn a Northern Ireland call-up.

 

 

 

 

Photo: Action Images



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