Date Easter Monday 22nd April.
Opponents : QPR
Team :- Roos, Bogle, Keogh, Tomori, Cole
Bryson, Mount, Johnson,
Waghorn, Lawrence. Wilson
Subs:- Carson, Wisdom, Marriott, Bennett, Malone, Huddlestone, Josefzoon
Referee :- David Webb
Attendance :- 25,986
Conditions :- Very warm, summer-like. Pitch green and well cared for.
We definitely needed to win this one to stay in contact. In the event it was a poor game of football though very exciting. At least, Derby did not play well especially in the first half. QPR were a threat throughout the game. They broke quickly with some neat quick passing. Derby matched them and either side could have scored with a bit more control and composure. They were not at all outclassed and for a while it was hard to tell which team was chasing a top six spot. I think Frank was glad to get them in at half-time still on level terms. Derby were anxious and certainly not happy in the way their game was progressing. Waggy threw himself around and chased many hopeless balls down, to put their goalie and defence under pressure without ever looking like scoring
After half-time it was clear Frank had instilled in them the need to attack more urgently. They must have known other results were going in their favour with both Bristol and Boro losing. Derby looked better in their more urgent style but, with QPR wasting time at every chance it began to look like a 0-0 draw much to the disappointment of 26000 Derby fans who were all aware that Boro were 3-0 down v Forest and Bristol were 2-0 down v Sheffield Wednesday. The ref indicated his intention to add time whenever QPR resorted to the delaying tactics. In the end it was still 0-0 and he indicated 9 minutes of added time, The largest addition I have ever witnessed. With 4 minutes of them used, Derby launched an attack in some numbers and Mason Bennett clearly had his legs taken from under him and mercifully the ref called the penalty kick which many saw as controversial - I was too far away to have an opinion. Harry Wilson - in Waggy’s absence decided he was going to take it. To every Derby fan’s shear delight he beat Lumley’s dive and slotted it just inside the goalie’s RH post. This stung QPR into some reaction with another 5 minutes left and even Lumley went up to increase the threat. They almost scored from a cross to the far post which somehow Roos managed to bundle out of danger. Then Derby attacked and Marriott took the ball into their area before sliding a pass to Wilson which he hit under the keeper with his right foot rather than his favoured left.
Every fan in the crowd was bouncing with relief and joy at this 3 points and the great improvement on GD. It was the most joyous moment in any game since beating Southampton when Idiakez ballooned his penalty over the bar in the Play-off Semi-Final.
Tomori was awarded MOTM in a game with almost no outstanding performers. Marriott when he came on looked sharp and dangerous. Bennett was effective and IMHO merits a start. I thought Lawrence was poor first half but had a much better second half. Bryson was injured and maybe that’s the end of his season. Johnson was poor throughout. He's so up and down you wonder what's in his head sometimes.
For Those Who Could not Attend
posted on 23/4/19
comment by Scouse (U9675)
posted 11 minutes ago
Why do I bother?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
posted on 23/4/19
Thanks Ramdini sorry I'm a bit late with my reply. I think it was when the 9 minutes on the board went up that livened everyone up. It was a definite penalty but the defender did just touch the ball. Wilson showed some guts to take the pen after all their time wasting and was so confident that he miraculously scored with his right foot, I hope he uses it again.
What a thrilling end to the match which has saved our season and now I'm confident that we can beat the faltering Bristols. I hope Marriott plays and I would put him on the left wing, in place of useless, where he can cut in and get some shots on goal. I like Waghorn in the middle where he controls the game.
I'm getting excited, I was going to take my wife for a short holiday early May in France, but I'm waiting to see if we have any matches then. You can't be in France if we are playing the skum at home.
posted on 23/4/19
Do you normally beat faltering Bristols VC10?
posted on 23/4/19
We can afford to draw with Brizzle, but would then need to beat Swansea away and looking at their home form that is going to take some doing.
Swansea haven't lost at home this calendar year in the league and have scored a ton of goals in the process. The last time they lost at home was on Boxing day (0-1 to Villa).
Their last home games results since losing to Villa are:
4-3 Rotherham
3-1 Stoke
3-1 'Boro
3-0 Brentford
2-0 Bolton
1-0 Millwall
3-3 Brum
1-0 Sheffield Utd
2-2 Wigan
They did lose at home to Man City in the FA Cup, but still managed to put 2 past them (lost 2-3).
posted on 23/4/19
The law of large numbers scouse, we are due some away wins, they are due some home defeats. How about comparing our recent home results with Swansea's against Rotherham and Bolton.
posted on 23/4/19
Just stating undisputed facts Spart, (or are you Strett, if so you owe Baz two pony's)?
posted on 23/4/19
*ponys
posted on 23/4/19
*ponies
posted on 23/4/19
Thanks vidal. I never have liked equines.
I-spy a few of the Griffsters on here:
https://tinyurl.com/y2jptc5l
posted on 23/4/19
Shaun, Niall, Thomas and Joe hugging the lad with the red shirt, Scouse