If You Were Unable to go to the Game

A bright summer’s evening and a Championship game at Pride Park. 24,000 plus spectators and an immaculate pitch. A manager and a team who need to make amends for Saturday’s limp performance. Those were the ingredients of this evening of recovery.

With some changes - Vydra and Nugent in for Martin and Butterfield and Olsson in for Forsyth. Derby started brightly and there was a different, more purposeful approach to the game. With the caveat that Preston were certainly not as strong as Wolves were, Derby acquitted themselves well and all players looked a lot better than the last game. It's hard to know how much the weaker opposition accounted for the improvement and how much was down to the players and manager. Certainly Preston were no pushover but nowhere near the efficient team from the Black Country. Time will tell I suppose.

In goal Carson was the pinnacle of calm efficiency. He seemed always to be in the right place and dealt imperiously with every ball that reached him. I'm sure it added to Preston’s demoralisation.
Wisdom looked more comfortable and again he used his speed over the ground to recover any mistakes he made. Keogh was very solid again and (no 666 wind-up intended) put in a very sound performance. Curtis Davies still seems a bit rusty but I'm sure he has what it will take to be good for us though I liked Pearce in that role. Olsson performed better than Forsyth did but we all know what Fossy can bring. I was surprised how well Johnson played. He has won his shirt back. Hudd was better too and that's a relief. We were better without Butterfield for sure and far more effective up front with Nugent and Vydra and a truly great find in Wiemann who is now looking like an Austrian International. He could well be the catalyst we need to excel in this league - a revelation. I thought Russell worked hard as usual but little details seem to be not working for him as he currently is. I like Johnny but fear he will lose his place to Lawrence. But the prospect of Vydra, Nugent and Lawrence leading our line in future games is very tasty.

So, we got our three points and we can be pleased. Also Forest lost. But we have to remember the difference between Wolves and Preston. I think Wolves would be a good bet for promotion this season.

I should add that the referee was really weird. He made some bizarre decisions and was teasing/paying back Derby fans with something as important as when to blow to end the game.