Is it a worry that before a ball has been kicked in the real season, the Rams were forced to line up against Bournemouth with Rob Hulse at Centre Back?

With Barker, Buxton, Leacock, Anderson and Mile Addison all unavailable for the match it was up to Hulse and Dean Moxey to hold firm in the centre of defence.

It seemed that the make-shift line up had done enough to secure victory until an injury time screamer from Cummings levelled the score at 3-3.

The Rams were bright and efficient and could have easily been further in front but for a dubious penalty only seconds before half time.

Derby’s first half goals came from Commons with a fabulous free kick and a cracking effort from Paul Green. James Bailey added the 3rd in the second half with a quality low shot that should have been game, set and match for the Rams. Instead two late strikes ended things on even terms.

Pre-season games mean little in the final wash up of a season but after the injury riddled mayhem of last campaign, fans will be hoping this is not a sign of things to come.

Some of the reasons players missed the match are not long term but no supporter could be blamed for fearing a sense of déjà-vu is creeping in.

On a positive note 18 year old American forward Conor Doyle who has been trialling with the Rams impressed during the game and is now being linked with a permanent move to the Rams before the season begins.

Nigel Clough spoke after the match to the official site:

"Bournemouth certainly provided a very stern test for us, we used the ball well at times, and when we did we looked very good indeed”.

"When we didn't though, we looked poor. We are still two and a half weeks away and there's plenty to work on. The highlight of the night was the quality of the goals we scored; they were all of a very high standard”.

"They came from very good build-ups and if you can do that 10-12 times in a game, you will carve out a chance and hopefully get a goal. It was entertaining, but I didn't enjoy giving 3 goals away. It is frustrating even in these games to concede."

The Rams will have a chance to shore up their defence and try to add another win to their 10/11 build up when they head to Chesterfield on Saturday for a 3pm kick off.

Russell Anderson is likely to return for that match after being unavailable with concussion but Dean Leacock will miss at least one more match while recovering from illness.

There is a very long way to go and without a loss in their pre-season so far, no matter how you do it, sometimes not losing is the most important result of all.

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