What I.Saw - Did I Doze Off And Miss Them?
Sunday, 8th Apr 2012 16:24 by I.Saw

Saturday was a Dulux Non Drip day, watching paint dry without even the likely hood of a run, or a goal in Derby’s case.

Derby 0 vs. 0 Ipswich

Pride Park Stadium

7th April 2011

Ref:

M.Haywood

Crowd:

24,156 (679 Visiting From Town)

Derby County:

Fielding (GK); Naylor, Buxton, Shackell, Roberts; Green, Bryson, Hendrick, B. Davies; Ward (Tyson 78), Robinson.

Subs Not Used: Severn (GK), Bailey, Carroll, Bennett.

Ipswich Town:

Lee-Barrett (GK); Edwards, Smith, Delaney, Cresswell; Leadbitter, Drury, Emmanuel-Thomas (Bowyer 82), Martin (Scotland 69); Murphy, Chopra (Stevenson 85).

Subs Not Used: Wright (GK), Sonko.

Match Stats: Derby – Ipswich

Possession: 52% - 48%

Shots On Target: 4 – 8

Shots Off Target: 6 – 8

Corners: 14 – 8

Fouls: 9 - 6

Most Fouls: Ward (3) - Murphy (2)

I. Saw’s Match Report:

Saturday was a Dulux Non Drip day, watching paint dry without even the likely hood of a run, or a goal in Derby’s case.

At least Ipswich had shots on target, Frank Fielding pulling off a series of saves. But wait, what’s this?

In the stats above it says we had four shots on target!

Did I doze and miss them?

I know the beer at the Five Lamps, the Camra 2012 pub of the year in Derby, was good and the comfort food of sausage, double egg and twice cooked chips could induce a feeling on contentment that might induce sleep. But FOUR shots on target?

This needs research.

I remember one hitting the post - but is that on target?

DCFC’s own match report comes up with Jason Shackell’s header cleared off the line. D.E.T. add side netting and narrowly wide. Only one shot boys, surely you'd mention the other three.

Of the nationals, the Daily Mail seems to be straight crib from the DET; I hope somebody is not getting paid twice here.

In Ipswich the East Anglian Daily Times doesn’t mention the shot on target at all. Fanzine TWTD had a very balanced and well written report but still only one shot on target.

In the end I gave up looking for the three shots on target I missed and put it down to “Lies, damn lies and statistics”.

As one fan said on leaving, “watching this won’t exactly encourage renewals will it?”

So a single shot on target, Ben Davies rasping shot hitting the post and Theo Robinson a joy to behold, apart from this the game had end of season written all over it. Derby even attempted to play like Swansea and retain possession and pass to feet.

Unfortunately the Swans are slightly better at it than we Rams and we sort of lost momentum before losing possession. It did make for an open game though and Lee Martin had a wonderful first half linking and probing for the Tractor Boys.

For Derby, Tom Naylor had the sort of game that wouldn’t guarantee next weeks place even for Mansfield reserves. Jake Buxton, one mistake apart was back to his agricultural best whilst Shackell became the only player to be booked and quite rightly so.

The referee was hardly needed but possibly slightly more than Nathan Tyson who replaced the excellent Jamie Ward playing as a central striker.

In midfield, Jeff Hendrick looked tired and Craig Bryson struggled to make his usual impact leaving a lot for Paul Green to cover. Let’s hope James Bailey gets a run out on Monday to if nothing else freshen up our centre.

Leeds then on Monday, one we need to win before we finally go for a paddle on the beach.

Manager’s Reaction:

Nigel Clough was happy his team was learning to hang on for draws than slip to defeat:

"We're pleased to get another point and that's now three games without defeat and tasted defeat only twice in our last nine matches, which is good.

"Ipswich had the better of the first half today but we were much better in the second half, where we produced a very good performance and did everything but put the ball in the back of the net."

"There was a lot of honesty and effort out there and when we did step it up after half-time, we dominated and just needed a chance to go in off someone's backside or something like that because we certainly had enough situations and corners."

"It was one of those games we would probably have lost last season so it's good we're turning those defeats into draws, first and foremost.

"We've got another point on the board - it certainly wasn't a negative 0-0 today although we're delighted with a clean sheet - and we'll move on to Leeds on Monday now."

"Nathan Tyson and Theo Robinson are quite similar players so we wanted someone to offer us something different. Jamie got a good 70 minutes or so under his belt which will do him the world of good and he did well, considering he has been out for a while."

"It's great to see the progress we're making this season in our points total and we'll get a few more between now and the end of the season."