It’s all good being wise after the event but I genuinely saw this coming. For the first time in a long time, we were overwhelming favourites in anywhere that you could place a bet before the visit of the beleaguered Blues.
It was going to be a walkover, we could score six or seven and Lee Clark will be sacked afterwards - were all things I’d heard in the build-up, both from friends and pundits alike. You’d have thought by now that they would realise that this is the Championship. Even Mystic Meg would shrug her shoulders when asked to successfully predict what was to come in this league.
In a strange way, a point may just work in our favour.
Frankly, the talk of a ‘Rams Revival’ after winning two games with a new manager was becoming irritable, as was the swarm of press and hype after so few games.
Mind you, the hacks should have been writing about a third straight victory - that was before we turned three points into one.
Showing one change from the side that won at Watford, with new signing Wisdom slotting in to replace Smith in the revolving door at right-back, we should have been ahead in just the second minute.
Ward sprung the offside trap and could have read the Bible from cover to cover before slotting home to give us the perfect start. Instead, he decided to shoot tamely at Randolph who saved with his legs. Roared on by the biggest crowd at Pride Park this season, the early scene had been set. Or so it seemed.
For all of our industry, the final ball was again lacking in the early going. New man Dawkins showed a couple of glimpses (when he wasn’t tripping over the ball) and saw a shot easily dealt with before providing for Martin, whose header disappeared into the top of the South Stand.
Birmingham meanwhile were being spearheaded by a six foot ten inch Serbian donkey, who was comically felled by Jamie Ward after he had escaped from his pocket. The main threat was coming from Derby-target Chris Burke, who was doing his chances of coming to a big club no harm, winning a glut of corners.
You felt that a set-piece was the only way the Blues were going to score however, especially given our frailties (see excellent ramble from Friday ïŠ) with the donkey and fellow giant Burn heading narrowly over.
Will Hughes was a peripheral figure as we searched for a cutting edge. A quick free kick finally allowed him to pick a pass, chipping majestically into the on-rushing Bryson who beat Randolph only to see his shot cleared off the line.
If Hughes was on the periphery, Burke was certainly the opposite, creating another corner from which the donkey crashed a header off the crossbar. Thankfully, this was to be the last act for Burke, who was replaced injured on 35 minutes, much to the delight of everybody, especially Craig Forsyth.
As the half neared its conclusion, we struck. Dawkins finally decided to attack his full-back before battling to allow Bryson a cross which found Martin, who saw his shot parried. Burn then connected with a whole heap of nothing to allow Ward to fire home on the turn. Time for the floodgates to open then?
Well no, not quite. After half-time, the game progressed in a similar manner, with Derby having all the possession and looking extremely comfortable.
We were still guilty though of not giving Hughes the ball enough and of neglecting the width of the full-backs which had seen us dispose of Leeds so easily. Still, chances were coming with first Martin then Ward driving wide.
Martin was then replaced by Sammon on the hour, with the Irishman seemingly still buzzing from last week’s winner at Watford. Mason Bennett was then introduced for Dawkins, who still looks like he needs a few more games to settle in.
Just as we looked like we were going to score a killer second, we gave Lee Clark an early birthday gift. Having easily cleared a cross, Caddis lumped a high, hopeful ball back into the danger area. The donkey was stood four yards offside, but he wasn’t interfering with play, as he hadn’t been all afternoon.
Instead, I could only watch on in horror as Wisdom, who up to now had been having a sterling debut, stood, amongst others, hands aloft. Sadly, he forgot to check his rear-view mirrors as Novak snuck in behind him to gleefully volley home unmarked. Head in hands and that was just me. Somehow we were level.
The goal seemed to at least galvanise us, but Birmingham had what they had come for and weren’t prepared to give it up, nor look for more. Instead, they formed an eleven man wall with everyone behind the ball.
Our midfield started to look leggy, with Eustace booked for a clattering tackle which could have seen another colour of card. The chances continued to come though, with first Hughes setting up Bennett who should have gone for power instead of precision.
Then, Sammon should have done much better with a clear sight of goal after calamitous defending from the big friendly giant but could only hit a small boy in the front row of the North Stand.
Time was not our friend and Jacobs was introduced for Hughes for one final throw. The play was becoming bitty though, with Sammon guilty of too many stupid fouls. Deep into the five added minutes, the scene was set for a Jacobs cracker with a free kick awarded on the edge of the box, where he would score and run off - revealing an anti - Clough t-shirt.
Instead, he hit the wall.
There was still time for a hero though and from the resulting cross, Sammon found himself in acres with alarming similarity to the Birmingham goal.
Another last minute winner then, I rose to acclaim another three points….and saw the ball hit fish’s head and balloon into the path of a 747 somewhere above Derby.
The last chance had come and gone.
At full-time, it was another case of a frustrating ‘what might have been’ moment.
Birmingham deserves credit for their resilience but they won’t be pulling up any trees anytime soon.
ANOTHER slack piece of defending had cost us two valuable points. Apart from that, I couldn’t recall Grant having to do anything else, apart from flapping horrendously at a couple of corners.
The fact is though that at times, we had dropped down to the Blues’ level. The tempo was no-where near as high as it was against Leeds or Watford with too many players wanting too many touches.
That said, it was very close to being the classic scrappy win, which, as they said, is the sign of a good side. We aren’t far away but we will have to hide the gun that keeps shooting us in the foot.
Weston’s Player Ratings
Lee Grant- Didn’t have much to do but his lack of security and flapping between the sticks is becoming a real concern. 5
Craig Forsyth- Caused problems by Burke but stuck to his task well. 6
Andre Wisdom- A very good debut, looks a big unit. Strong, dependable, never gave the ball away. But was at fault for the goal 7
Jake Buxton- Did well on his return to the side, played some great balls too 6
Richard Keogh- Dealt well with the donkey. Solid. Was gutted not to have won when I met him Saturday night! 6
Craig Bryson- His usual self. Ran his heart out 7
John Eustace- Quite a steady game for Big John. Did clatter someone who is possibly still feeling the effects 6
Will Hughes- Couldn’t get him in the game. When we did he looked good but didn’t do it enough. 6
Jamie Ward- Another goal for last season’s top scorer. Buzzed about but was frustrating at times 6
Simon Dawkins- Decent game for the nomad home debutant. Needs more games though before we can judge. Oh and needs to stop treading on the ball.
Chris Martin- Not his best game but suffering with back injury 6
Subs
Mason Bennett- Couple of glimpses when he came on. Looked decent. 6
Connor Sammon- From hero to zero in one week. Missed two sitters and was either fouling or offside. 4
Michael Jacobs- It was his fault 6
We said….
Derby manager Steve McClaren:
"We came across a very dogged and resolute Birmingham team who were smarting from last week and we knew it was going to be difficult. I knew it was a game that was all about the first goal and once we got it, I thought we would go on and win but they hung on in there, we created and missed chances but that's football, last week we took them, this time we didn't and that's why it's a frustrating result.”
"I am pleased with the performance but I think we lost concentration for the goal. I say we should win those games and score more goals after going 1-0 up but it's early days and it's a case of learning about the team."
They said…
Birmingham manager Lee Clark:
"If you ask my wife and kids, they hate seeing their husband and dad with a miserable face so turning 41 tomorrow, I will be sitting around the dining table and they will see their dad smiling for the first time in a while so hopefully there will be some photographs taken.”
"I was angry last week, we were hurting but we helped pick each other up during a tough week. We didn't take a day off and worked extremely hard and with each day the sombre mood changed to good spirit and by the end of the week we had smiles on our faces again.”
"The players have showed a great maturity for their young age so I was delighted that they have got a reward today. It's the first time this season we have gone a goal behind and have come back to get a positive result so that's an important factor."
Match info / Stats:
Attendance: 27,141
Ref: Roger (I miss blatant fouls) East
Goals: Ward (Derby) 38', Novak (B'ham) 66'.
Teams:
Derby County : Grant (GK), Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Eustace, Bryson, Hughes (Jacobs 86’), Ward, Dawkins (Bennett 66’), Martin (Sammon 60’).
Unused Subs: Morch (GK), Freeman, Smith, Ball.
Birmingham
City:
Randolph (GK); Caddis, Burn, Robinson, Murphy; Reilly, Elliott; Burke (Gray 36’), Shinnie (Novak 66’), Ferguson (Adeyemi 88'); Zigic.
Unused Subs: Doyle (GK), Bartley, Lovenkrands, Lee.
Match Video Highlights:
Next Up For The Rams:
QPR vs. Derby
Loftus Road
3pm - November 2nd 2013