For Those Who Could not Attend

For Those who Could Not Attend. Saturday 3rd Feb 2018
Visitors - Brentford
Referee - Peter Bankes
Crowd. 25,938
Weather/Conditions. Very cold and wet
Pitch Condition. Perfect, smooth and slippery

Team. Carson, Wisdom, Keogh (Captain), Davis, Olsson,
Huddlestone, Thorne, Lawrence, Vydra, Jerome Anya
Subs. Roos, Nugent, Winnall, Lawrence, Pearce, Forsyth, Palmer, Baird

The game started as many others recently. Brentford in control but not a threat going forward. Just neat and quick passing but never really penetrating Derby’s defence. There were a lot of positives to be extracted from the game (to be discussed later). The deciding issue was the sending off of Canos for a studs up tackle on Olsson. The thus weakened Brentford and their passing across and back proved even more ineffective as Derby picked up pace and tempo to start creating chances. Huddlestone got his first goal for Derby when he neatly chipped in a saved header by Jerome. Then Jerome scored from a saved shot from Lawrence - again from close range. They went in at half-time at 2-0 and we all expected a cricket score in the second half.

It was not to be however as a better organised Brentford soaked up Derby’s more muted attacking. Complacency had taken over - the game being as good as won. Their goalie made a few decent saves, one of them when he finished up in the net like a fish. WinnalL took over from Jerome. Ledley from a better, but still under par, Thorne. It was Winnall who was taken down in the area for Vydra to score from the spot for a more respectable scoreline. On 90 minutes Palmer replaced Anya who had a very influential game.

So to the positives/ negatives. Keogh and Davis are a very formIdable central defence. Wisdom and Olsson penetrating and good defensively, the latter being a considerable improvement on Forsyth. We now look to have a very solid defence as befitting a great goals difference (worth a point in the table) and 11 games undefeated, with Carson again making 2 or 3 brilliant saves. In midfield Huddlestone was outstanding. George Thorne better than of late but still a bit short of his best. Anya had a really good game and should now find his place in the gap made by the departure of JR. Lawrence too, was a bit improved but you always feel he should be a lot better. Jerome caused some problems with his power and pace. He looks a very good signing. Palmer came on with no time to show his abilities.

All in all, things look very positive. But we have to keep winning to beat Aston Villa into Third place.