The Rams made it four on the road without loss but despite an abundance of Cywka energy, still couldn't break clear of the dreaded drop.
Referee: Mr P Taylor
Attendance: 13,034 (3000 + Travelling Rams)
Goals: Nil
Teams:
Barnsley FC: Steele, Hassell, Foster, Shotton, Potter, Hammill (Devaney 56’), Doyle, Colace, Teixeria (Butterfield 88’), Bogdanovic (Gray 68’) Macken
Subs: Preece, De Silva, Moore, Noble-Lazarus
Derby County: Bywater, Hunt, McEveley, Barker, Anderson, Tonge, Green, Savage, Davies (Martin 77’), Cywka, Hulse
Subs: Deeney, Porter, Sunu, Teale, Moxey, Pringle
Match Report:
For the trip to Oakwell Nigel Clough handed a reprieve to Rob Hulse in preference to Chris Porter up front while Tomasz Cywka was given his first start by the Rams Manager with Stephen Pearson serving a 2 match ban.
With both combatants still mathematically in the relegation mix it was always likely to be a match where getting something from it, was always going to be more important than playing pretty football. On that level the game did not disappoint.
Not to say that there were not moments of quality from both sides and for the Rams in-particular, the running and willingness to attack of Cywka was a highlight.
Clear-cut opportunities were at a premium but if it had been a boxing match, the Rams would have won on points with a few more genuine chances on goal while never looking overly bothered at the back.
Shaun Barker saved the Rams early in the match when just after the 10 minute mark he superbly blocked a shot from Jon Macken. The Rams gifted the former Derby player the ball in their penalty area but the quick reactions of Barker saved the day.
The Tykes were on the attack again through wide man Adam Hammill who could only find the side netting with his strike after a good run.
The Rams went very close just before the half hour mark, when the team’s dynamic duo once again combined services to nearly snatch Derby the lead.
Barker rose high and found a Michael Tonge corner sweetly, only to see his well struck header saved and diverted over the crossbar by Barnsley keeper Luke Steele.
Daniel Bogdanovic had a great chance on 35 minutes when he let fly with a powerful shot from just over 10 yards out that only just whizzed over the cross bar.
Both sides were working hard for little result with both Cywka and Tonge lively for the Rams. The final balls were failing to unlock the defense of either team and it was not hard to see why both teams had struggled to break free of relegation worries with the first half slowly petering out.
HT: 0 - 0
The Rams re-entered the contest with more verve and determination and early on went very close when the ‘King of corners’, Michael Tonge, swung in another beauty only for Hulse to miss-time his header and direct the ball over the bar.
Tomasz Cywka was having a very good first outing for the Rams and his willingness to run at the tykes had been causing them constant problems in the second forty five.
That persistence went heartbreakingly close for the travelling Derby fans when Barnsley got themselves tied up in knots and with their keeper Steele out of goal the door was ajar for Tomasz but unfortunately for the Pole his shot was cleared off the line in a last ditch effort by Luke Potter.
Steele was having a shocker and tried to once again gift the Rams the lead when he spilled a Tonge corner which would have been a certain goal had Nathan Doyle not been on hand to once again clear the Tykes line.
The Rams had slowly but surely been turning the screws and but for last ditch defending by Barnsley, could have easily been a couple of goals clear. Instead their growing stature in the game looked more and more like resulting in a draw.
Steve Davies attempted to rectify the situation with a well hit strike from just over ten yards but his radar was not functioning and his shot flashed frustratingly wide.
Macken and substitute Andy Gray both attacked but neither was able to get enough time and space from a miserly Derby defense to produce genuinely dangerous efforts on goal.
As the clock ticked towards the final five minutes it was the ever-present Cywka who had saved enough fuel for one last lung busting run.
Tomasz charged into the Barnsley penalty area after chasing down a ball, which many less energetic types would have given up on, and raced in on goal only to see his clever curling shot saved by Steele who did well to get down low to keep it out.
FT: 0 – 0
Derby were passable in the first and good in the second but as has been the story for much of the season were unable to convert pressure into a goal.
The most pleasing aspect was them bossing the game away from home in the second half, a rare sight over the course of this campaign.
The draw made it four games unbeaten on the road and a definite improvement on earlier efforts this season.
As the Rams head into the final straight for their three remaining games, results going in their favour or better still, three points, would see them mathematically safe.
Derby fans will be hoping that the home game against the struggling Crystal Palace will be the venue to seal their Championship status and allow everyone to start looking to next season.
That’s when the real fun may begin (please note a slight touch of sarcasm).
Man Of the Match:
Tomasz Cywka – Although probably not the best player on the park for the Rams, Tomasz deserves the gong simply for the effort and edge that he added to his team’s performance.
Derby has been lacking creativity and Cywka added that in spades, which is even more impressive considering his lack of game time in recent months.
If this was an indication of the player’s ability on a regular basis and not just first-start adrenalin, Nigel Clough would do well to convince Wigan and the player that Pride Park will serve as a far better home for his talents next season.
Managers Reaction:
Nigel Clough speaking to the Official Site after the match:
"We're almost there now; it would take a freakish set of results at this stage for us to be dragged into it,”
"We want to finish on a high, we have only lost one in seven now so if we can stay unbeaten between now and the seasons end that would be a good base to build on”.
"In the second half especially today we had chances to win it, but we kept another clean sheet which was pleasing and if you can't win not losing is vitally important”.
"Again defensively on the road I thought we were excellent and again Shaun Barker and Russell Anderson showed their quality”.
"We have an opportunity to wrap safety up in front of our own fans next week against Crystal Palace and we're determined to take it”.
"Our fans were magnificent today in full voice throughout and I want them to know their support is appreciated by each and every one of us."