With only two away wins for the season, the Rams needed to get something against a team who would only profit should they fail. Although the game was no classic, get something they did.

Att: 21,827  ( 3000 +  Travelling Rams )

Ref: Mr. J Linington

Goals: Nil

Teams:

Sheffield Wednesday: Grant, Spurr, Purse (Hinds 58’), Miller, Tudgay, Potter, Beevers, O'Connor (Esajas 83’), Clarke (Jeffers 62’), Soares, Nolan  - Unused Subs: O'Donnell, Simek, Palmer, Gray

Derby County: Bywater, Hunt (Leacock 80’), McEveley, Barker, Anderson, Sunu (Savage 78’), Pearson, Tonge, Green, Hulse (Davies 87’), Porter – Unused Subs: Martin, Buxton, Moxey, Martin

Match Report:

The Rams' manager gave his captain a break for the first time this season, with Savage being replaced by Porter in the starting line up while Stephen Bywater returned to action wearing the captain’s armband. Liverpool stopper David Martin found a place on the bench next to resting Robbie.

As the game got underway Derby were lucky to not have conceded within 60 seconds, as an attempted clearance by Shaun Barker was charged down and ended up at the feet of Tommy Miller. The Rams stand-in captain Bywater read the situation well and produced a fine save as Miller got his shot away.

That close shave very nearly resulted in Wednesday paying the ultimate price of missing their chances, when Michael Tonge took a corner that Chris Porter latched onto powerfully. He forced a great save from former Rams' stopper Lee Grant, who tipped the danger over the bar.

On the quarter hour mark, another former Ram Marcus Tudgay only just failed to poke home a Wednesday cross while under enormous pressure from the Derby defenders.

The game was not of the highest quality but it seemed that if either side could produce a single moment of genuine quality then the other would succumb.

Jay McEveley made a good run and whipped in a quality cross which was only just knocked away, as Porter was perfectly placed to pounce had it continued its trajectory.

Tom Soares was looking bright in the Wednesday midfield, making a good run for his shot - although well struck - only managed to sting the hands of Rams' custodian Bywater.

It was at this point in the first half that the Rams should have taken the lead as number 9 Rob Hulse had a hat trick of opportunities to get his team on the board.

Chance #1: Shot sails wide from the near post after beating his defender – Chance #2: A great header only just tipped over by Grant - Chance #3: Tonge sent in a great corner only for Hulse to head wide from point blank range.

A Hulse Hat-trick!! .... of opportunities squandered.

HT: 0 – 0

The first half, while not a fast nor flowing game, had provided some entertaining moments and most would have expected to see goals as the teams tired and the pressure built.

Sadly, the match drifted into disappointing obsurity well before the final whistle, and any spark shown in the first 45 had been well and truly extinguished.

Perhaps it was the pressure of losing points with both teams looking over their shoulders, which had the players crawling back into their shells. Avoiding defeat was paramount for both clubs.

As is the case in many games between strugglers, attacking play and chance creation will often be replaced by cautious and safety-first tactics so as not to walk away from a game empty handed.

Tonge did brilliantly to keep a point in the hands of the Rams when he quickly got back to head a Beevers effort off the line; it was  a vital interception as Beevers' header was goal-bound.

Shaun Barker had been solid as a rock all day at the back for Derby and with 15 minutes to go, managed to get in front of Francis Jeffers and clear the ball from the marauding striker. A mix-up between Bywater and Anderson almost let the ex-Everton man in.

The Owls finished the final minutes the stronger as they threw caution to the wind and chucked the kitchen sink at the Rams. Barker and Anderson didn’t give a hoot for the Owl's efforts however as they stood firm time and time again to repel the best that Wednesday muster.

The final whistle eventually put an end to what had become little more than a slog, with the biggest positive for Derby being that they would take home a rare away point.

FT: 0 – 0

A mildly entertaining first half that was shaded by the Rams followed a less than inspiring second half that was bossed by the Owls. Neither team deserved to win or lose so perhaps justice was done.

Wednesday have a lot more to be nervous about than the Rams but the partnership between Barker and Anderson was a positive to come out of the game for Derby.

Scottish stopper Anderson is beginning to show signs of why he was once considered the best defender in the SPL. Some more time on the park could make a good case for making him a permanent signing for 2010-11.

Man Of The Match:

Shaun Barker – Solid as a rock and worth his weight in gold in a game such as this. Put the right players around him next season and Shaun Barker could be the player to lead the Rams to the promised land.

Rams fans have long wanted 'another Igor' and Barker has the ability to be that player. Igor had a better squad around him to follow his lead but given similar support, Shaun could make the sky the limit.

Can the DCFC board please note - if they don’t build around him and ivest, he will be snapped up by a team with genuine ambition - and that would test the most loyal fan's patience.

Managers Reaction:

Nigel Clough speaking to official site:

"It is a great clean sheet for us, I think we edged the first half and had some good chances to take the lead”.

"We were on the back foot in the second half, but for all that Stephen Bywater wasn't called into action too much. When we spoke yesterday it was about keeping the gap between ourselves and Wednesday intact, which we have managed to do”.

"We will keep battling away and I think a few more performances like today on the road and a few home wins will see us safe. If we have to battle and scrap, then so be it. I don't think anyone in that bottom six will be playing fluent football at this stage of the season”.

"We haven't had a problem scoring lately, and despite not doing that today we saw the game through which was vitally important and kept a clean sheet."

"It was lovely to have Stephen back in goal, he made two or three important saves for us in the first-half".

“In front of him, I thought Shaun Barker was absolutely outstanding, we are just lamenting the games he missed earlier in the season because I'm sure we would have had a win or two more if he had been playing."

Stand-in Captain's Reaction:

Stephen Bywater spoke to the Official site about his return to the team:

 "I think we could have won it with the chances we had early on, but it was good point and clean sheet because it is never easy getting something at Hillsborough."

"It is important we carry on where we left off today at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday."

"It is so frustrating not being able to play as I want to do my bit for the team and the supporters. The medical team has been looking after me and the gaffer was always keen to make sure I was right before I came back”.

"I trained yesterday and felt fine, so it was good to be out there again."

Next Match:

Queens Park Rangers v Derby County 

Tuesday 23rd March 2010 – 8:00pm

Photo: Action Images

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