Possession as the old saying goes is nine tenths of the law. In football matches possession means nowt.
It's like going out for a steak meal, the chips thrice cooked, beautifully fluffy yet crisp on the outside, the veg perfectly served, the pepper sauce divine only to find the steak is overcooked and chewy.
Possession is the side dish. Goals are the main. Exciting attacking play the dessert. Ask any foodie, they will forgive small errors in presentation as long as the main works. And everybody loves a pudding, excite the fans and they will even forgive the occasional defeat.
Yesterday Derby County entertained Middlesbrough at the iPro Stadium. Yesterday we had 68% of the game possession wise - exactly the same when Charlton visited on Saturday.
Yesterday a similar result, a 1-1 draw but there the similarities end.
I was pleased, nay amazed at the way the Rams started, we went at 'Boro the way we ended at Charlton. Swift slick passing football a joy to behold. We had pace, we had movement, our possession was meaningful.
Jeff Hendrick exchanged passes with Tom Ince and then the Republic Of Ireland international hit a cannonball of a shot that saw Dimi Konstantopoulos at full stretch blisteringly palm the ball away. Only four minutes on the clock.
We scuttled the visitors in their brief moments on the ball, we pressed we closed, the best football seen so far this season.
For fifteen minutes we were awesome.
Then, like Notts County the wheel fell off our wheelbarrow.
Chris Baird, playing right full back allowed his man to cut inside, Ince, the cover, pulled out of the challenge on the edge of the box, he had no choice, any contact and a penalty surely the result. George Friend picked out Kike Garcia in the six yard box, Kike despite the close attentions of Jason Shackell fired across Scott Carson and into the net.
Fifteen minutes gone and against the run of the play, the Rams trailed for the second consecutive match.
Spurred on the Teessiders grew into the game, like a slap of a wet fish round the face we looked shocked and our game plan stuttered.
Kike nearly scored again, his header thankfully just wide of the post.
A wake up call then. We dismissed it.
Jamie Hanson, who was again impressive with his energy and power, was upended in a thunderous challenge by Friend, the referee Steve Martin played advantage as Baird raced down the wing. As soon as play stopped the Reds number three was booked. Hanson clearly affected struggled on but was soon replaced.
As one midfielder was being replaced by Ryan Shotton, Hendrick was receiving treatment and had to be taken off after being clattered from behind by Ben Gibson who took the ball, the man and everything else whilst Mr Martin saw nothing wrong at all. Johnny Russell eventually coming on when the referee next stopped play.
George Thorne had earlier made the referee's book as a delicate hand on Middlesbrough's number 31 Diego Fabbrini saw the Italian slide to the floor as if covered in the finest Olive Oil. As one wag was heard to comment; "if you're gonna get booked you might as well have kicked him and make it count", suggesting perhaps he took a leaf out of Friends book.
As the first half ended with four minutes of injury time, Ince forced the 'Boro keeper into a fine save from a free kick at the edge of the box, it was though little consolation for a half that we should have at least have been level over.
Second half, we retain possession but the pace has slowed, forward, sideways, backwards we keep the ball, we make little progress. It's pretty football, it's pointless. In the stands the crowd become impatient imploring Derby forward.
Darren Bent replaces the ineffectual Andreas Weimann, the ex Villa man having covered a lot of ground but too lightweight to make an impression on the visitors heavy bedrock of a back line.
We began to relay on route one football. Hoof Ball, Chris Martin, Bent and Russell chasing channels.
And that combination finally worked. Shotton slung over a deep cross into the box, Martin got a flick, Bent the dummy and Russell popped up at the back post to volley the ball through Konstantopoulos' legs, sending the players and fans delirious with delight.
One all the final result.
The first goal 'Boro have conceded this season and in the end a deserved point.
Hopefully going forward we can mix our styles to the benefit of all. Playing the Paul Clement "Real Madrid" way is fine if you have world class players to unlock defences, we don't and on our performances to date we would benefit from sometimes a more direct form of football in keeping with the Championship style.
Match Highlights:
Match Reaction:
COYR!!