The Rams are on a run of losses and find themselves having to beat both their opposition and the referee. Can they turn it around on Saturday?
Derby County vs. Reading
Saturday 18th December 2010 15:00
Pride Park -Derbyshire
Derby v Reading - Historical
P 14 W 7 D 3 L 4 F 26 A 18
Last game at Pride Park.
28/11/2009: Derby 2-1 Reading ; Green, Hulse
Recent Form:
Reading: 14/24 P 20 W 6 D 9 L 5 F 28 A 22
Leading scorers: Harte, Kebe, Long (4)
Derby: 7/24 Derby P 21 W 9 D 3 L 9 F 34 A 27
Leading scorers: Commons (11)
The Rams
Another game where we've conceded 2 goals - another defeat. It's been a bleak few weeks for the Rams.
While it would be easy to lay the blame at the door of the referee, the fact remains we aren't solid at the back anymore and we aren't putting the ball away at the other end.
So what's gone wrong?
Our good form coincided with the arrival of Shefki Kuqi & Frank Fielding. Particularly Kuqi who is good at the target man roll and willing to run after every ball - something that even a fully fit Rob Hulse didn't seem to do.
Kuqi seemed to fall out of favour with Clough and Moore was used in the loan striker role. Although a willing runner and a good contributor to the game all round, he isn't a target man and his habit of standing on his marker means that he doesn't bring the front three into the game the way Kuqi did.
Another problem for Clough is that he's having to swap and change players because of Illness and injury. Roberts & Pearson are just not as good to have on the pitch as Moxey & Savage. Pearson in particular is becoming a big dissapointment and many fans are asking what it is that Clough sees in a player who provides so little on the pitch.
The same is true of the rather hapless Roberts who simply isn't as good as Moxey. Okay Moxey makes mistakes - but Roberts is simply out of his depth in this league.
Mick's Team
Bywater
Brayford, Barker, Leacock, Moxey
Bailey, Savage
Bueno, Green, Commons
Porter
Substitutes:
Roberts, Pringle, Cywka, Moore, Deeney, Doyle
Current Rams Squad:
No. Position Player
1 Keeper Stephen Bywater
2 Defender John Brayford
3 Defender Gareth Roberts
4 Midfield Paul Green
5 Defender Shaun Barker (vice-captain)
6 Defender Dean Leacock
7 Striker Steve Davies
8 Midfield Robbie Savage
10 Midfield Kris Commons
11 Midfield Stephen Pearson
12 Striker Chris Porter
13 Keeper Saul Deeney
14 Defender Russell Anderson
15 Midfield David Martin
16 Midfield James Bailey
17 Defender Jake Buxton
18 Midfield Ben Pringle
19 Striker Tomasz Cywka
20 Defender Miles Addison
21 Defender Dean Moxey
23 Striker Conor Doyle
25 Defender Mark O'Brien
26 Striker Callum Ball
27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid)
28 Striker Luke Moore (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)
30 Keeper Ross Atkins
35 Midfield Jeff Hendrick
36 Defender Kallum Keane
37 Midfield Ryan Connolly
38 Midfield Medi Abalimba
39 Defender Mitchell Hanson
Reading
Reading are another team suffering a crisis of confidence. Thewy haven't won for six games and their last game was a dour 0-0 home draw against Coventry.
The goals aren't coming and when the goal is at their mercy, the strikers are fluffing it. Goalkeeper Adam Federici leapt to the defence of the strikers in the local Reading paper insisting that "the goals will come" but judging by the fans comments they are sceptical.
Manager Brian McDermott also defended Long saying:
“I just say to him, do the right things. I keep faith with players who are putting themselves on the line for the club, and that's what he's doing".
“I thought the crowd were really good with him as well."
“He had his head in his hands in the dressing room afterwards because he feels he should have scored right at the end. He’s hit the post, he’s getting in the right areas and he’s got to keep doing that."
Current Reading Squad
No. Position Player
1 Keeper Adam Federici
2 Defender Andy Griffin
4 Midfield Jem Karacan
5 Defender Matthew Mills (vice-captain)
6 Midfield Brynjar Gunnarsson
7 Midfield Jay Tabb
8 Midfield Mikele Leigertwood (on loan from QPR)
9 Striker Shane Long
10 Striker Noel Hunt
11 Midfield Jobi McAnuff
14 Midfield Jimmy Kébé
15 Defender Zurab Khizanishvili (on loan from Blackburn Rovers)
16 Defender Ívar Ingimarsson (club captain)
17 Midfield Michail Antonio
18 Striker Simon Church
19 Midfield Hal Robson-Kanu
20 Midfield Brian Howard
22 Defender Julian Kelly
23 Defender Ian Harte
24 Defender Shaun Cummings
25 Midfield Jake Taylor
26 Defender Alex Pearce
32 Striker Jacob Walcott
33 Defender Chris Armstrong
36 Defender Jack Mills
37 Midfield Jordan Obita
38 Midfield James Rowe
40 Midfield Lawson D'Ath
41 Keeper Alex McCarthy
44 Defender Danny Joyce
What the bookies think
Derby are favourites at 11/8 on while Reading are at 19/10.
The draw is 12/5. Kris Commons is 5/1 as first goalscorer while Luke Moore and Alberto Bueno are at 6/1.
Shane Long & Noel Hunt are both at 13/2 for Reading.
Information for travelling fans
Driving
It’s will be long cold journey from Reading to Derby. Take the M25 to the M40 North, Head for the M1 North to J16 for Derby. Take the A500/A50 to Derby. Take the A6 turn-off for Derby and the ground and away parking are signposted. About 80 miles and a 1.5 hours drive.
Parking
Away fans can park at Catalyst on London Rd opposite the Navigation pub. It's about 10-15 minutes from the ground. Don't be tempted to park at Pride Park shopping centre unless you fancy being clamped. You can also park at the Fireplace showroom just at the turn off the A52 for Pride Park. Don’t be in a rush to leave however as it takes an age to get out of there.
Another alternative is to pass the exit for Pride Park on Brian Clough Way and head for Pentagon Island... Take the first exit and turn left and after a few hundred yards you will come to The Cattle Market Car Park. It's about 10 minutes walk to the ground from here.
Drinking
There are a few pubs very close to the ground but if you come by train, the locale around the station is fairly inviting. The Crown and Cushion at the junction of London Rd always seems to be full of away supporters. The Brunswick is a must for any real ale fans and the Alexandra next door is my personal favourite.
Fans tend to mingle in these pubs and as long as you're not being aggressive, the atmosphere is good. The Waterfall opposite the station is very good as well. If you are driving, the Navigation Pub on London Rd opposite the parking area is your best bet. Around the ground there's a Frankie & Bennie's, Harvester and the Pride Park but these tend to be very busy.
Mick's prediction
First of all this is the last match before Christmas so let me take this opportunity to wish all Rams fans everywhere a Merry Christmas.
Referee's permitting, and with both teams low on confidence, I predict a nervous game with the first team to takew it by the scruff of the neck winning. With Savage back in the squad and Commons still playing for a contract (or a move?) that should be us.
Rams 2-0 Reading