Old One-Eye's Match Report: Rams Roasted by Hot Canaries
Monday, 6th Dec 2010 23:46 by Old One-Eye

A disappointing performance by a lacklustre Derby did little to raise the temperature at Pride Park on Saturday. Seeking a seventh successive home win the Rams conceded a brace of goals early and The Canaries flew back to Norwich with all three points.

Derby County 1 vs. 2 Norwich City

15:00 - Saturday 4th December 2010

Pride Park Derbyshire

Attendance: 26134 (2228 farmhands, 3 surnames)

Referee: Keith Stroud (Fusspot, Corsica)

Teams:

Derby County:

Fielding, Brayford, Leacock, Barker, Roberts, Savage (Porter 81), Bailey, Commons, Green, Cywka, Moore

Unused Substitutes: Bywater, Kuqi, Pearson, Moxey, Pringle, Doyle

Yellow Cards: Brayford

Goals: Commons (17)

Naaarrwich City:

Ruddy, R Martin, Crofts, Holt, Lansbury (Tudor-Jones 90), Hoolahan (Smith 76), Fox, C Martin (Jackson 85), Lappin, Barnett, Ward

Unused Substitutes: Rudd, Nelson, Johnson, McNamee

Yellow Cards: Lappin, R Martin, Ruddy, Lansbury, Holt

Goals: Fox (11), C Martin (13)

Old One-Eye’s Match Report:

Old One-Eye was really looking forward to this match on the grounds that he had so much in common with the visitors – well, one thing in common with them anyway, although his wasn’t located in the middle of his forehead.

Norwich City of course is inexorably linked with world-famous celebrity chef Delia Smith, and that’s the last time I will mention her. This report, you will be glad to know, will be completely free of the cheap shots and clichés which are regularly aimed in her direction – in addition, I shall also refrain from poking fun at a bunch of splendidly fanatical supporters Ooo Arr amongst the most loyal in the game.

It was no surprise that more than two thousand had made their way through the snow to Pride Park from Letsby Avenue.

The referee for the encounter between the sides occupying fourth and fifth spots in the table was Keith Stroud, a man who throughout his career had largely gone unnoticed as he oscillated between the Premier League and the Championship lists. Of late, he has taken to collecting players’ autographs at a rate of up to half a dozen a game as he seeks to emphasise his stature – he is slightly smaller than Billy Davies – by imitating a 19th Century Emperor.

Napoleon’s Generals on Saturday were Gary Beswick and that politically correct rarity in football – a bird, namely the lovely Sian Massey. Her previous claim to fame before making a guest appearance in this match report was to be severely criticised for her performance when taking charge of one of the world’s high profile rivalries – the 2008 encounter between Shepshed Dynamo and Retford Town.

Mr Stroud got the game under way, and it was probably the last time he got anything right. The Canaries had Derby caged in their own half right from the start – Delia’s boys turned up the heat and within five minutes Frank Fielding and Shawn Barker combined to scramble the egg – er, ball – away from the line after Henri Lansbury found himself on the end of Simon Lappin’s cross.

Norwich continued to press and it was no surprise when they went in front on 10 minutes when David Fox pounced on a loose ball and shot goal wards. It looked to be heading three yards wide of the goal – that is, until Shawn Barker’s heel intervened. Almost as if in slow motion, Fielding’s dive took his arms and body beyond the trajectory of the ball and in trying to clear with his feet, he not-so-cleverly nut-megged himself.

In less time than it takes for Newcastle United to change managers, it was two-nil, and if the first was unlucky, the second was down to rank bad defending. Lappin roasted the normally impeccable John Brayford for the umpteenth time in his regular sautées down the flank and laid the ball right on a plate for the unmarked Chris Martin. A powerful header left Fielding completely helpless and all he could do was watch the net billow.

Four minutes later, The Rams were back in the contest with a chance. Luke Moore battled to get on the end of a long pass from Gareth Roberts, and he cleverly chested a pass right into the path of Kris Commons. The Rams’ leading scorer bore down on goal and slotted the ball neatly beyond John Ruddy into the back of the net.

Derby enjoyed a spell of dominance, apart from the dozen or so times that Robbie Savage was caught in possession, and on 23 minutes Paul Green found himself with just Ruddy to beat. This time, the Canaries keeper blocked the shot at the expense of a corner. Another Green effort shaved the far post as The Rams finished the half the stronger, but the big, powerful Norwich defenders dealt admirably with any airborne threat.

Half time came and went with Old One-Eye chilled to the marrow – he really wished that he’d wore his Baklava helmet and he had a hole in his choux (no more food puns, that’s shallot – Ed). Savage sent a free kick wide and Barker headed over, but all too often Derby found themselves out-muscled. Norwich tried to slow the game down and Mr Stroud started to flash his card as Derby sensed a way back into the game.

Brayford fired wide and then Green, who could have had a hat-trick on another day, saw his goal-bound effort blocked at close range by a combination of keeper, post and kitchen sink. Martin nearly wrapped things up for the visitors on 72, only for Fielding to pull off a fine save, and then Derby boss Nigel Clough sent Chris Porter into the fray. It was a missed opportunity, especially seeing as The Rams had Chef Kikuqi on the bench.

As the second half drew to a close, Commons produced a moment of sublime skill to create an opening out of nothing, only to fire wide from the edge of the box. The game petered out with Norwich keeping the ball with some ease, and the visitors escaped back to Norfolk with three points in the bag. It had been a tragic time for the county, what with Bernard Matthews turning his twizzlers up less than a fortnight ago, but this win would have eased the pain.

Derby was left to reflect on what had been a below-par performance. What had been six home wins on the trot has now been replaced as the most relevant sequence by ‘three defeats in the last four games’. Automatic promotion looks an offally long way off now (you’re fired – Ed).

Old One-Eye's Man of the Match:

Kris Commons – a bright spark in an otherwise lukewarm performance.

Old One-Eye’s Rams Player Ratings:

Fielding(5); Brayford(5), Leacock(6), Barker(5), Roberts(4); Savage(4) (Porter 81), Bailey(5), Cywka (6) Commons(8), Green(6); Moore(5).

Managers Reaction:

Nigel Clough Speaking To The Official Site:

"The first goal was a bit unlucky because of the deflection which deceived Frank (Fielding), but the second was a disappointing one to say the least. We didn't start too well and that cost us, especially with the second goal”.

"Without question we can't afford to give teams a two goal lead, even with our record of scoring goals at home. The task was big to come back, especially against a very good Norwich side that are as good a side as we've seen down here”.

"If we had got an equaliser I'd have fancied us to push on for the winner, but it wasn't to be. Chances didn't quite fall our way today which was frustrating, but we kept battling away”.

"The last two games have been missed opportunities for us, we led at Burnley until late on last week, which would have took us to third, and we didn't start well today."

"We had a few chances today, but it is difficult when you're playing without one of your best players in Alberto Bueno, if he had been out there today we'd have fancied him to put one in because he can make a real difference for us, especially at home”.

"He is, along with Kris Commons, our most influential player."

Back Two Reaction:

Dean Leacock & Shaun Barker spoke to the media after both letting goals past them.

Leacock speaking to the DET:

"We didn't start right and the gaffer basically told me and Barks that we were too deep in the first half and that has cost us the game," said the former Fulham defender. Their first goal was deflected in and the second goal was my fault. I didn't see him get in behind me and he tucked it away.”

"At this level, you can't afford to do that or you will get punished and that's what happened. Any game where you give a team a two-goal lead is always going to be hard to come back from."

"We created chances to get back into the game and maybe we were unlucky not to snatch a draw. But Norwich came with a game plan, stuck to it and it paid dividends for them.”

"We had a couple of one-on-ones and their keeper made a few good saves, while I don't really remember Frankie (Fielding) having anything to do in the second half. Norwich defended well and saw the game out to get the victory that they wanted."

Barker speaking to BBC Radio Derby:

"We have to remember it's a young side with a new set of boys and with a lot of new players in over the last year or two. We are starting to see a side that is gelling together."

“The progression in the last six months has been a massive boost and we have to keep that up. We deserve to be up there. We've got ourselves in a great position where we have been fourth for two or three weeks and we need to get back up there as soon as possible."