For Those Who Could Not Attend. Saturday 1st December 2018
Visitors - Swansea
Referee :- Andy Madley
Crowd :- 26,172
Weather/Conditions. Cloudy, moist and mild.
Pitch Condition - Immaculate, as ever.
Team. Carson, Bogle, Keogh, Tomori, Malone
Huddlestone, Wilson, Mount, Bryson.
Nugent, Lawrence.
Subs. Pearce, Roos, Waghorn, Bird, Jozefzoon, McDonald.
After the trauma of Stoke City, Gary Rowett and Bradley Johnson’s bite, the Rams have a big task to to re-align and reform. There is a need for mutual morale lifting for fans and team alike. Cheering on our team is needed vary badly today as is a win for the fans to enjoy and celebrate. As it turned out Swansea offered a small amount of skill and absolutely no fight. But it was a clean game. None of the Stoke violence - and no yellow or red cards issued by the ref, Andy Madley - of the Don’t Interfere School of Reffing. He had a very good game, I thought. So it was a strangely quiet affair, Swansea showing very little ambition or desire. There were only 7 fouls by each side - a record maybe? The game was lit up by two pieces of sublime skill by Harry Wilson.
The first was from a penetrating forward pass by Keogh straight to the feet of Harry who took a side step to make room for a superb shot just inside the right goal post. It was an attack, launched and in the net before Swansea even recognised it. The second was due to McBirnie - he of the rolled down socks, "helping" his defenders out by passing neatly to Wilson who again took a side step before slotting the ball past Kercher. Both goals were from just outside the area and the goalie stood no chance. He didn’t even move for Wilson’s first effort.
From then on Derby were in complete control and - bar a few threats from the very quick attacks of James and McBirnie and a few penetrating crosses that mostly were blocked out until a corner on 80 minutes was kneed in by Tomori. The game was characterised by some blatant misses on both sides but chiefly by Bryson who should have scored 2 which would have done Derby’s goal difference a power of good and avoided the last ten minutes of anxiety that Swansea might fluke a draw.
Most of our players did well. Tomori, Huddz and Lawrence were our best players except for the towering performance of Wilson. Bryson played well but had the two dreadful misses - one from about six yards out with only the goalie to beat - spooned over the bar. Mount was sharp but was heavily marked. Even so he played some surprise balls out of very tight situations to create some interesting chances. Bogle did well going forward but defended poorly. A mitigating factor was that he was having to deal with a very quick James and had badly missed the support he got from Mason Bennett. He simply could not cut out James’s crosses and they were all threatening. Malone too was not so hot - mainly his distribution was poor. However we have no option but to persevere and hope that he improves and he again also lacked a supporting midfielder at times of pressure. There is talent there but it’s a bit raw. Needs a bit of coaching and development.
And the next home game will be a Depleted Derby versus Nottingham Forest on Fire. It is a very tense and exciting prospect.
For Those Who Could not Attend
posted on 3/12/18
We should have won that game comfortably. I was surprised how much we dominated Swansea after struggling against 10 man Stoke.
Our weakness appears to be low crosses and teams are using it against us. I noticed Carson came out twice to intercept low crosses. In previous games he had left that to his defenders. We still managed to score an own goal from a corner which dipped low and early.
posted on 3/12/18
The defence against low crosses is a full back or a covering mid-fielder if the full back is trying to block the cross at source!
posted on 3/12/18
'We still managed to score an own goal from a corner which dipped low and early.'
Only watched it a couple of times, but got the impression that MM wasnt sure whether to leave his position on the post or cut the cross out & did neither.
I realise he is unimpeachable, however
posted on 3/12/18
The ball passed close to at least two Derby players who could have cleared it. Lampard needs to get defenders and goal keepers taking responsibility for clearing the ball.
posted on 3/12/18
It is a question of can they react quickly enough and is his ball or mine? By the time you've decided the ball is in the net. That is why hard, fast, low crosses are dangerous.
posted on 3/12/18
We are conceding a disproportionate number of goal from this route. The defender shouldn't have to think but should clear the ball even if it means conceding a corner. That was what I was on about taking responsibility.
posted on 3/12/18
comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 4 hours, 36 minutes ago
Even if he didn't, surely the relentless furious tirade against our Welsh international would give AJ away.
-----I'm not Alne in my criticism of Lawrence. Blinkered approval of his distinctly average performances, is not my thing-----------------------------------------------------------------
posted on 3/12/18
comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)
posted 7 hours, 3 minutes ago
Did you recognise him, AJ? Not sure I would have.
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I didn't at first, but he was standing behind me in the beer queue and we got talking. He's quite sour about being sacked as manager by Mickleover Sports.
posted on 4/12/18
comment by 🏁AnglianRam 🏁 (U17428)
posted 13 hours, 26 minutes ago
'We still managed to score an own goal from a corner which dipped low and early.'
Only watched it a couple of times, but got the impression that MM wasnt sure whether to leave his position on the post or cut the cross out & did neither.
I realise he is unimpeachable, however
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He's shiite.
posted on 4/12/18
Scouse, I don't think he's even a muslim. He's also very talented but could have cleared that corner. I have seen worse at the near post. Darren Bent anybody.