The start of the football season, the start of a big campaign? Exciting signings, a goal scorer, some experience and more importantly keeping hold of our hot young prospects. The first game of the season holds so much promise - there isn’t a football fan that dreads this day.

Even if your team isn’t going to set the world alight, there are new grounds to visit, cup competitions in which you could progress and this season could be your team’s year to shine in some form or another.

Derby has plenty going for them, the debt is down, there are plenty of assets in the team, not only value wise but with the talent to help propel this team up the league and of course a loyal fan base, for a city of its size Derby County have an amazing supporter base.

So after the first game what has changed?

Hughes looks promising, Grant looks commanding and the defence looks fairly solid....but have Clough’s Tactics changed?

Two things jump out, firstly Hughes-Bryson-Hendrick should not all play in the same midfield which means one has to be dropped. The other option is playing a diamond formation without the width?

Secondly 1-0 at home and sitting on the lead, it doesn’t work. Derby has quick attacking players; Derby is good at going forward, putting teams under pressure so why invite pressure? Not only to put five in the midfield, but then bring on Eustace to then sit deeper - it didn't work last season and it still is not working now.

I’ve watched football at various levels, predominantly premier league, championship and non-league. If you can’t win the game, all you want as a fan is to go down fighting and in the first half Derby did that, they looked sharp, closed down quickly, harassed the opposition defenders on the ball and there was a terrier-like approach.

At the start of the Second half, to be fair Derby did right, they kept it tight, and did the same, but then on the hour mark it all changed as the energy left and the closing down became less frequent. Blackburn had time to pump the ball in to the box and trouble the defence it was ugly to watch and was only ever going to have one outcome.

So one game gone, all is not lost, lessons can be learned and a point against a strong Blackburn side isn’t the end of the world. In saying that, as a football fan, I’d like to see the style of play late in the game (which I believe is a crime against football) changed.

What the Rams served up in the last 30 minutes of the performance needs to be looked at as the point could have been none with the pressure piled upon a tiring Rams back four.

Whatever your opinion it is now time to kick on and build on the point. As a fan I have mixed emotions to yesterday’s game, for Blackburn it was a point gained and for Derby it was 2 points dropped wrapped nicely in a sinking feeling.

You wake up the next day and think, a point at home for the 1st game of the season against a good strong physical side, all in all maybe not a bad day at the office. Derby needed 7 extra points to get to the play-offs last season, and this matched last year’s result.

If we match 40 games and improve even just a few of the other 6 results, there will be a play-off place up for grabs. Championships can’t be won or lost on the first day but lessons can be learnt, fitness can be worked on... Johnny Russell even admitted he is not fit and needs to work on it . The Championship is never an easy league and this season like last will be a rollercoaster.

Never a truer comparison!
Strap yourself in and get ready for the ride!!

Photo: Action Images

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