For them as wont there

With apologies to 3R I will produce a totally unbiassed match report.

A perishing day in the industrial wasteland on Teeside saw Derby with yet another chance to leap frog our opponents. This has been a good omen as we have already leapfrogged Forest, Wednesday, Norwich and Leeds.

The Riverside stadium is only around 5 years older than Pride Park and is of a similar design but that is where the resemblance ends. Whereas Pride Park looks pristine the Riverside has taken on the look of its surroundings of industrial decay. Perhaps they installed the pink seats to make Assombolonga feel at home. Around 1500 Derby fans made up the crowd of around 21,000 so the pink seats were much in evidence.

The game started with Boro keeping possession and us happy to let them do so. Carson made an excellent save but it was all that I expected of him. The guy next to me commented that Deby hadn't been within 30 yards of the Boro goal when Baird passed over the top of their wide defender to Weimann who crossed the ball to Vydra, then a quick one two between Lawrence and Vydra and Vydra smashed the ball in to the top corner. Cue for stunned smoggy silence and joyous singing from the Derby corner. This was no fluke as a few minutes earlier Baird had tried the same move and only the toe of a Boro defender prevented a similar outcome. Rowett's rope a dope tactic again paying dividends.

We then had a bit of a rocky patch as Boro threw everything at us for the equaliser. We were happy to concede corners which shows how confident our defence is. Only once did a Boro player get his head on the ball and fortunately it was an ex fat red dog who put the chance wide to much taunting from the Derby fans. I thought if we hold on the break we will win this comfortably.

So it was, as the second half began we looked to be in more of an attacking mood. Boro continued their passing game but as we know from the McClaren era, unless you pass to the person in the same colour shirt you are in trouble. Again so it was as the ball was played to Nugent's feet and he stroked the ball to Vydra. I actually thought Vydra had over hit the ball but it didn't matter as he was tripped in the box. 5 penalties this season and everyone scored, back to the days of Alan Hinton.

Ayala then tried to make up for his error by hacking down Nugent so went off early. Giraffe to to do that Ayala? It was then plain sailing especially as Randolph thought Vydra deserved a hat trick. We took control of the game as the shaved chimps of Teeside left early. One of them tried to steal our flag, he must have had a Monk on. Enough time for us to boo Patrick Bamford before the closing whistle. A good day was had by all.