Bristol, Salvatore’s Sicilian Kitchen, a piping hot bowl of Crema di Gorgonzola over Penne Pasta is hitting the spot, a couple more Derby fans come in, a father and son from Penzance.

Reluctantly I divide my attentions between the pasta and the chat. Then the phone rings. Our Oldham division can’t lock up, the keys stuck in the shutters, only one person remains and he’s talking to me. The manager’

s not there, his phone’s off and “What do I do” is the question.

The answer takes a while and by then the food is stone cold.

Dessert comes and goes before it’s another interruption - “Where Are You”? I apologise to the voice on the phone for being late, explain I’m finishing an Italian. Directions are given for a pre-match pint “But you’ll never find it – ring again when you’re at the ground”.

Sat Naving the back streets of Bristol, narrow cobbled streets, Ice Rinks, Theatres’ and real ale pubs that scream “Stop Me and Buy One” almost as strong as the ice cream vans used to do back in Perth Street, before we moved to Mickleover and had to do with Choc Ices out of the freezer.

Yes an Ice Cream is an Ice Cream but it was the choice you had to make when you reached the counter, a Purple Mivvi, a FAB, a 99 with a single flake and Raspberry Sauce to name but a few.

I feel the same excitement now faced with a selection of ales. Maybe I’ve just never grown up, anticipation of delights is the key for me at least.

Parking up, I ring for instructions. “Can You See The Team Bus”?... No!

“Are You Near The Club Shop”?... No!

We agree to walk round the ground and John will stand outside waiting. It works well until a yellow coated steward tries to stop John going back into the Supporters Club as he is wearing a Derby shirt. Protests brushed aside, up a metal staircase and we are in.

It’s a revelation, a comfortable room built into the stand, places to sit, beer served in glasses and no waiting at the bar all this for normal match day prices. There’s eight of us Rams fans and we are targeted straight away.

A massive bearded giant with teeth on loan from Shane MacGowan towers over me. “Let me smell your breath”. I shake my head staggered; I wouldn’t wish anyone to be subjected to that. “Come on I want to smell you breath, right now” he lowers his nose into my face. As welcomes go it’s the strangest I’ve ever seen.

With reservations I breathe in the face. He ponders, straightens up (thankfully) and declares “This boy’s not been to an Italian I can’t smell Garlic”. A smile and then he proceeds to sell me the longest strip of raffle tickets I’ve ever bought for a pound. A swift pint and cheerio’s later and we leave one of the most friendly places we’ve visited on our travels.

Into the ground itself, “Season’s Greetings” from the club signed by the manager and others meet and greet the fans.

It’s 4-5-1, Conor Sammon the sole striker with Craig Bryson back into the midfield. At the back Gareth Roberts is on the left and Mark O’Brien replaces the injured Jake Buxton.

Twenty five minutes of standing with only a clever Michael Jacobs flick to show for our midfield domination without penetration we and those around us sit.

Barely had we sat than Jacobs flights a cross into the box, the defence is static, the keeper is rooted and Jeff Hendrick follows the ball and steers it into the back of the net to open the scoring for us Rams.

Jubilant we stand and cheer, the game recommences and we sit.

It works again. Jacobs frees Roberts who in turn whips another cross into the box and this time Bryson glances a header home. Two nil, job done.

A quick chorus of “We are Winning Away. How s**t are Bristol. We are winning away” was swiftly taken up by the home fans on our left with “You’ve only scored Two. How s**t are Derby. You’ve only scored two”. Match day banter at its best!

We try standing and sitting but we can’t add to the score.

Half time and Steve Davies (to a warm welcome from the travelling fans) is brought into the fray he looks dangerous. As does Andy D’Urso who starts the second half with a booking and looks a man on a mission.

We sit deep and soak up the pressure, it’s not pretty but it works. Adam Legzdins in our goal stands firm, he blunts everything Bristol throw at him, a man of the man performance.

We return to our chant “We Are Winning Away” with slightly different words. A deserved away victory if the truth be known.

One hundred and sixty eight miles later we celebrate our victory properly with a well deserved drink.

Rams Player Ratings:

Legzdins 8 – Four or five fantastic saves my man of the match.

Brayford 7 – Again a good understanding with Coutts.

O’Brien 6 – Fearless. With youth on his side - definitely one for the future.

Keogh 6 – Looked to be carrying a knock at times but solid nonetheless.

Roberts 7 – Created the second goal and looked comfortable on the ball.

Coutts 6 – Lacking creativity he is capable of but still a good performance.

Hendrick 7 - Back to a dominating role in midfield, ran at the opposition, scored a goal yet still broke up the play when the opposition had the ball.

Bryson 6 – Controlled and ran the midfield despite seeming less than 100% fit, you miss him when he’s not there you don’t always appreciate his movement off the ball, a good game.

Hughes 5 – An off the pace performance for our starlet, marked out of the game and struggling towards the end with injury.

Jacobs 7 – Created a goal, nearly scored himself and was often found back beyond Roberts defending.

Sammon 7 - A sole destroying role, this time he had support from those around him.

Substitutes:

Davies 6 - Replaced Bryson and made his presence known, could have added a third goal near the end.

Freeman 5 – On for O’Brian with Brayford moving into the centre a strange substitution.

O’Connor 5 – Into midfield as Hughes limped off.

Photo: Action Images

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