For Those who Could not Attend

For Those Who Could Not Attend.
Stoke City FC Friday 31 Jan 2020
Team.
Hamer, Wisdom, Davies, Clarke, Forsyth
Rooney, Holmes, Bird,
Waghorn Martin.
Substitutes
Marriott, Shinnie, Roos, Knight, Malone, Whittake
Referee:
Robert Jones
Attendance:
27,984

A lack-lustre, of late and troubled Derby County are facing a very much in-form Stoke City. We fans, and the club really need three points tonight.

At first there was, from both sides - organised chaos. Frenetic running and passing with as many going astray as not. Then gradually, Derby started to take control under Rooney’s creative passing and an increasing number that were fairly often controlled and used to good effect. After Rooney, Duane Holmes was Derby’s most effective midfielder proving a real handful for Stoke. Waggy gathered the ball, beat a couple of tackles and passed perfectly to Forsyth who took it to the by-line and put in a perfect cross for Waggy to head the ball well wide of Jack Butland for Derby’s first goal. Minutes later Duane Holmes showed considerable strength for a little guy and played a lovely ball to Chris Martin in the inside left position. He controlled it with a single touch and trashed the ball joyously through the flailing arms of Butland to pass just under the bar and into the net. Derby were now controlling the game and dominating midfield. Bird was doing a good job and learning at the same time. They went in to the break, well in control at 2-0.

After the break, as frequently happens, Stoke came out with more purpose and more endeavour but with Derby’s defence holding them at bay. Tom Ince had one shot which went wide but otherwise we were left in no doubt that we did good business when we sold him on. Derby gradually wrested control back until Tom Lawrence - in one of his more fluent performances, was breaking on the edge of the area when he was fouled. It was close to a penalty but definitely outside the box. Wayne Rooney and Waggy lined up for the kick. Derby had two players in the line to open it up for a hit to the left corner. They duly peeled off whilst Rooney placed the balled perfectly into the top RH corner whilst Butland had to watch both. It was an exquisite free kick from Derby’s captain and it took the wind completely out of Stoke's counter attacking efforts. PC then pulled a tactical master stroke. He replaced Martin with Davies and moved Wisdom to right back and Bogle further up field. Rooney immediately executed a great long pass to Bogle who ran at Stoke’s defence and unleashed a terrific drive from 25 yards that screamed into the net to complete a very good night’s work for the whole team.

It was one of those nights when everyone knew and did their job well. Hamer had a good game and looked more confident. The whole defence played well, particularly Wisdom in the middle. Forsyth had a really good game and only once gave the ball away. His cross for the first goal was inch perfect with just the right whip. Midfield under Rooney’s example and guidance was terrific. Holmes and Bird must be learning and benefiting tremendously from his presence on the field. As for strikers and TL - they all did very well. Chris Martin and Waggy took their goals very well. All in all it was an encouraging performance towards amassing a cushion of points in case of an EFL docking.

And the referee didn’t do too much wrong - not like that visually impaired fool in the ‘Boro game recently