Thanks Ramdini, sounds good to me

Teams come to the ipro to frustrate. And they certainly did that last night but what an inspired substitution

Money well spent on Bent

5 stars for taking the time to do that Ramdini, appreciate it.

Just been thinking that perhaps there was some really astute thinking from McClaren last night.

This is just a theory but Blackburn tended to play a lot of balls out for a throw in when defending. Was playing Shotton for his long throws part of McClaren's plan? If so, it worked for the first goal.

Don't know about "magnificent throughout" Ramdini, I was thoroughly frustrated with the performance for the first hour.

Our first half performances lately are all the same, lacking in any real urgency to grab the game by the throat.

We started off fairly well, controlling possession but lacking in end product. We seem a bit shot shy at the moment, and without any real spark or va va voom.

After Bent came on and we switched to 4-4-2 we played with a lot more purpose and desire to actually win the game, and deserved the win in the end.

For me, it was a take the 3 points and move on kind of game rather than "magnificent".

Bright points: Grant pulled of one outstanding save in the 2nd half at 1-0, Omar was decent, Shotton was decent, Forsyth was decent, Hughes was the standout peformer, Keogh was a rock and the Martin/Bent partnership looks promising.

Negatives: another lacklustre showing from Hendrick & Dawkins.

Thanks Moj, I woke up thinking about the game and thought there was far more to see than the highlights could reveal. I think the players and the management were all magnificent last night and it's now up to Steve to lead us into doing what Southampton have done in the PL. Sam Rush has to secure our future no matter what Ashley says or does.

Milf, I almost can see what you're saying but Blackburn were great at frustrating us. Remember they did just beat Swansea 3-1. I think you're not giving them enough credit.

Shotton's long throw is a powerful new weapon that yielded 1 goal last night

Good post Ramdini and a fair summation of the game.

My opinion for what it’s worth is I thought Omar was excellent, his best game to date, Hughes was superb and Keogh didn’t make a mistake that resulted in a goal. Shotton also deserves a mention at right back, good solid performance.

The most pleasing aspect of last night was the successful implementation of Plan B. Bent up front and Chrissie in the number 10 role looks really good. I’m not sure if it was part of plan B but suddenly Keogh and Bucko were running with the ball out of defence and attacking them in their own half.

I was a bit surprised at 1 – 0 up and under a bit of pressure to substitute Wardy with Mason and not Albertossa. Logic was to shore up the defence not add on another attacker. Anyway what do I know cause putting on Mason worked. Just wondered how Raul would have felt.

Milf knows

Ramdini: with all the money that gets thrown about securing the services of footballers who may or may not get injured, I think Sam should indeed get the investors to dig deep and keep this management team together, whatever it takes, because its working, and, as much as you can guarantee anything in this crazy game, it will reap rewards far in excess of the outlay. Hands off Ashley!

Agreed Moj. Totally.
But Sheepy, the great thing about SM is that he brings on an attacker to defend a slender lead, whilst NC, of whom I was/am a great fan would bring on a defender thus sending a message - come and attack us - which often resulted in our losing the lead. But I also do remember that SM has more attacking resources than Nigel had.

Shotton has been with us since the start of the season. How did we only just discover he can do long throws? I can never remember Delap's long throw being a potent weapon in our armoury either.

Spart - Delaps long throw was never seen for us. It appeared overnight after he left, in a puff of smoke, as if by magic.

So far as McClaren's subs are concerned, he does adopt the "offence is the best form of defence" attitude. This slightly gung ho, optimistic outloook is, so far as I can see, the biggest difference between him and the often dour/negative Nigel.

Peeler,
I don't think it's quite that straight forward. Nigel never had the deep attacking resources that Steve has. He was never allowed to acquire, or never succeeded IB acquiring, any decent striking alternative. Nigel is proving his worth at Brammall Lane so it's possible he would have been positive if he had decent strikers to bring on.

I certainly agree bringing on extra defenders is NOT the best way of defending a 1 or 2 goal lead unless that's all the manager has at his disposal.

Peeder ? Sorry . I blame predictive text.

Ramdini,

Sorry, but I don't agree with a lot of what you report.

Grant did not 'command' his area at all and never does.
He did make two very good one handed stops, however.
Shotton did ok, but no quality in his crossing.
Buxton - reliable as ever.
Keogh - I am a critic of the man, but he made at least 4 exceptional blocks last night. Worries me when going forward and his control of the ball is poor.
Forsyth - had a good game, but has a tendancy to give the ball away. Needs to improve crossing at pace. Not what he was last season.
Hendrick - I thought he was very negative and created very little last night. Now seems to be drawn into playing square or backward passes.
Hughes - Man of the match for me. Had a very good game.
Mascarell - Good at times, but can be caught napping. Another one who gives the ball away too much.
Ward - I don't know the stats, but in the first half, he must have played 15 balls into the box, none of which were any good. Corners were poor so were a couple of free kicks he took. I know he's been injured, but I reckon he's lost the edge.
Dawkins - Waste of time. I'd mark him 3/10. Did not look the slightest bit interested about last night's game.
Martin - Frustrated by him. His touch can be fantastic, but it wasn't last night. He is unbelievably slow and spends too much time flat on his back or stomach.

Bennett did very well for the second goal and the signing of Bent is a coup for Derby County. I like watching him play. He's a natrual goalscorer, with an instinct for being in the right place at the right time.

If we all agreed, life would be pretty boring. What I'm sure we do agree on is the delight of getting 3 points.

I agree with most of what you say, but I must take issue with your criticism of Martin. When Bent came on I thought he was brilliant playing just behind him. He really tried and ran about to try to get something. It was Martin's shot from Bennett's excellent pass from which Bent scored the 2nd goal.

I would start the next match with Bent in instead of Dawkins, with Bennett to come on for Ward.

I think we were at a different game. I agree Shotton did not make ang great crosses, but it's horses for courses. Shotton looked much more secure in defence and his long throws far outweigh hos General crossing ability.

"Hendrick - I thought he was very negative and created very little last night. Now seems to be drawn into playing square or backward passes."

Perfect summation of Hendrick's recent efforts. We may as well get a winger in and go 4-4-2 from the start.

It's strange how we all see different things?
Wassa thought neither team turned up? well I think Blackburn came to defend which they did manfully and Derby kept persisting.
Dawkins was not awful and hardly gave the ball away!
Ward's dead balls have always been abysmal!
Shotton was famous for his long throws before he arrived at Derby.. No secret but a weapon that should be used more.
Last night was a very, very good win and hugely important.

2 of Shooton's 'long throws' went straight into the keeper's arms, so was a complete waste of an advantageous position.
Agree with Simon, Blackburn came for a point and to waste time whenever possible. That is until the 70th minute when they sniffed a chance they might even win it.
Ward isn't good enough, I'm afraid.

Please can we also campaign for some decent music on the PA system before the game and at half time.
I am completely and utterly SICK of that Welcome to the Jungle crap.

Thank you Ramdini, and other useful contributors here. Invaluable comment for absentees.
(Hope you didn't mind Mojaca and I reading it, despite not including us in the prologue )

Aj, can't agree about Grant, he does so much organizing of the defence & lets face it neither central defender does it!

I though Dawkins did okay last night seeing he hasn't had much game time.

Teams are trying to isolate Martin, so playing Bent with Martin behind him looks the way to go for me.

Hendrick looks out of sorts, rumours about a bust up with McClaren over Best's wages something to do with that?


Bennet will never make it as a striker for me.

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Nothing at all wrong with Grant, he's been top class over the last 18 months. I wouldn't swap him for another Championship keeper.