Derby came out of the blocks at a million miles an hour only to hit an orange and black brick wall. As Theo tore his hamstring, two quick goals tore out the Rams hopes of victory in front of a massive home crowd.
D. Deadman
Crowd:
30,391 (1,720 Bouncing Tiggers)
Teams:
The Rams:
Fielding, Brayford, Shackell, O'Brien, Roberts, Cywka (Barker 73’), Hendrick (Green 82’), Bryson, B Davies, Ward, Robinson (Maguire 15’).
Unused Substitutes: Legzdins, Buxton.
Yellow Cards: B Davies
The Tigers:
Galasci, Rosenior, McKenna (Cairney 89), Chester, Hobbs, Stewart (Brady 63), Evans, McLean, Koren, Fryatt, Dudgeon.
Unused Substitutes: Basso, McShane, Adebola.
Yellow Cards: Rosenior, Evans, Chester, McLean, McKenna
Goals: Fryatt (17’), Stewart (23’)
Match Stats: Rams - Tigers
Possession: 53% - 47%
Shots On Target: 4 - 6
Shots Off Target: 1 - 7
Corners: 9 - 2
Fouls: 7 - 13
Most Fouls: Bryson (2) - McKenna (3)
Match Summary:
Interim manager Nick Barmby had the best start possible in his campaign to secure the Tigers top job as Hull ran rampant early to set up a comfortable victory at Pride Park.
Theo Robinson left the field after 15 minutes when he re-injured his hamstring. Until then the fleet of foot forward had been causing problems but after that things only went from bad to worse.
Matty Fryatt only had time to wave Theo from the pitch before he got on the end of a good ball from Liam Rosenior and finished the move by striking truly into the top corner of Frank Fielding’s net.
Former Manchester United youngster Cameron Stewart doubled the lead 6 minutes later when Frank Fielding was once again beaten. Fielding should have done better and despite the cover in front of him being poor – it will do little to silence recent criticism of his decision making.
For the rest of the match the Rams huffed and puffed but produced much more huff than puff as they never really looked like reeling the Tigers in. The away team could easily have added more goals to the game but less clinical finishing in the second half saved the Rams further blushes.
The best chance of the match for Derby came in the second 45 when Tomasz Cywka unleashed a good shot but Hull keeper Jack Hobbs managed what his opposite number could not when he blocked the shot.
If you are looking for positives amongst the wreckage, Brayford, Barker and Green all made their returns from injury and with some more match time under their belts – perhaps three of the Rams best can help turn the beat around.
Official Match Reports:
The Home View – DCFC Official Site
The Visitors View – Hull Official Site
Manager’s Reaction:
Nigel was not impressed after seeing more soft goals go in:
"Some slack defending cost us for both goals and we won't win games, or even draw them, if we keep giving goals away. After starting so well in the first 15 minutes the opening goal was a killer blow."
"We were on the front foot early on and we could easily have got the first goal today, which would have made for a totally different game. All day things just didn't fall our way. There were a few skirmishes in their box but every time the ball dropped it went to a Hull player, which is the way it goes sometimes and we must keep positive and want the ball."
"Losing Theo was a huge setback for us because he looked lively, he is our top goal scorer and with Nathan Tyson and Steven Davies injured it leaves us without three senior strikers."
"We just hope the injury isn't too bad and he can be back quickly. It's too early to tell at the moment."
"It was a huge bonus to have Barker and Green involved and on the pitch because it has been an awful long road back to fitness for them. It's just another step in their rehabilitation and they'll continue to progress in the reserves next week."
Returning Right Back’s Reaction:
John Brayford would have liked a better result after returning from injury:
"We started like a house on fire but we didn't manage to get an early goal and it came back to haunt us. They did us on the break with the first goal and from there they had something to defend and hang on to."
"We couldn't break them down and you have to give credit to Hull because we gave it a right good go, but we couldn't make the breakthrough. It wasn't for the lack of trying that we didn't get a goal and we're all frustrated to have lost three games in a row, but we'll bounce back."
"We've got a tough run of games coming up but we have to dust ourselves down and go again. We cannot mope about the defeats and feel sorry for ourselves, all we can do is put things right."
"It has been frustrating but when you put it in perspective I've only been out a few weeks compared to Paul Green and Shaun Barker who have been out for seven months. The thigh feels okay at the moment, it's a bit sore but that's to be expected."
West Ham United vs. Derby County
5:20pm – Saturday November 26th