Mick's MatchDay Preview: Derby vs. Barnsley Saturday, 5th Mar 2011 10:54 by Mick McDermott The Rams are forced to face their fans only days after a public humiliation. This game could either be a restoration of pride or a continuation of home ground horror! Derby County vs. Barnsley 3pm Saturday 5th March 2011Pride Park - Derbyshire
Rams v Barnsley - Historical P 28 W 17 D 5 L 6 F 60 A 22
Last game at Pride Park Tue 15 Sep 09: Derby 2 - 3 Barnsley; Hulse, Barker
Recent Form: Barnsley - 15/24 P 34 W 11 D 9 L 14 F 40 A 51
Leading scorers: Hammill (8)
Derby - 19/24 P 34 W 11 D 9 L 15 F 43 A 48 Leading scorers: Bueno (4), Cywka (4)
The Rams Nigel Clough seems to contradict himself every time he opens his mouth, responding on Radio Derby to a question about the booing his substitution of Theo Robinson instigated, he said; "We took Robinson off because he never held the ball in the 55 minutes or whatever he was on for, part of his job is to hold the ball and he didn't do that." Yet only the other week he was praising the striker:
"He is another forward with raw pace and we've found out to our cost what he is capable of in front of goal this season." and "What we really need is a bit of pace to get in behind defences, he is exactly what we've been missing." We had a striker who could hold the ball in Shefqi Kuqi but it seems he's better off warming the bench at Newcastle. None of our other strikers can hold the ball either including Bueno who you bought on. He then goes on to have a dig at the fans and his young goalkeeper by stating that the fans had cheered and applauded James Severn when he came on yet "he cost us the game". Firstly, the fans were cheering the young nervous goalkeeper on his debut seeing as his confidence had probably already taken a knock while he sat on the bench as Clough decided if he was a better option than his injured keeper. Also, fans aren't blessed with prescience and didn't know he'd concede a goal and fans would say that the manager who thought he could get away without a recognised second keeper might be responsible. Another thing while talking about Billy Sharp he said; "He's a 1 million pound striker, I believe. That is what you get from a 1 million pound striker, he puts the ball in the back of the net." This is the same striker we were linked with in the summer that Clough didn't think was worth the money paid for his services. And Robbie Savage? We don't need you to tell us that was a disgraceful performance but you make it sound like it was a blip from an otherwise good team. We've been awful since Nigel stopped playing Kuqi and decided to make square pegs fit into round holes. Bueno has gone from being a raw talent we'd enjoy for a season to someone who comes on occasionally to try and rescue a lost cause. Cywka seems to have vanished. Clough still rates the hapless Ben Davies and thinks that spineless Stephen Pearson adds energy. Yet the board say his job is safe. Dark days at DCFC
Possible team Fielding Brayford Barker Ayala Roberts Savage Green Pearson Bueno Robinson Ward SUBS: Duke, B.Davies, Porter, Cywka, Doyle, S.Davies
Current Rams Squad No. Position Player -- Keeper Matt Duke (on loan from Hull City) 2 Defender John Brayford 3 Defender Gareth Roberts 4 Midfield Paul Green 5 Defender Shaun Barker (vice-captain) 6 Defender Dean Leacock 7 Striker Steve Davies 8 Midfield Robbie Savage (club captain) 10 Striker Jamie Ward (on loan from Sheffield United) 11 Midfield Stephen Pearson 12 Striker Chris Porter 13 Keeper Saul Deeney 14 Defender Russell Anderson 16 Midfield James Bailey 17 Defender Jake Buxton 18 Midfield Ben Pringle 19 Striker Tomasz Cywka 20 Defender Miles Addison 21 Defender Daniel Ayala (on loan from Liverpool) 23 Striker Conor Doyle 24 Midfield Arnaud Mendy 25 Defender Mark O'Brien 26 Striker Callum Ball 27 Striker Alberto Bueno (on loan from Real Valladolid) 28 Midfield Ben Davies 29 Midfield Jeff Hendrick 34 Keeper Frank Fielding
Barnsley Marlon Harewood made is debut in Barnsley's defeat by Norwich. That can only end one way for us on Saturday. Mark Robins is struggling with injuries and the list wasn't helped by Bobby Hassell limping off with a calf strain and Jason Shackell losing his two front teeth in a collison. The tykes only managed one win in February against struggling Preston. They seem to be the mid-table outfit that Nigel Clough aspired to at the start of the season. Nathan Doyle is plying his trade for the Tykes these days.
Current Barnsley Squad No. Position Player 1 Keeper Luke Steele 2 Defender Bobby Hassell (vice-captain) 3 Defender James McEveley 4 Defender Jason Shackell (club captain) 5 Midfield Nathan Doyle 6 Defender Stephen Foster 7 Striker Danny Haynes 8 Midfield Jim O'Brien 9 Striker Marlon Harewood (on loan from Blackpool) 10 Midfield Goran Lovre 11 Midfield Martin Devaney 12 Keeper David Preece 14 Striker Frank Nouble (on loan from West Ham) 15 Defender Kieran Trippier (on loan from Man City) 17 Midfield Jacob Mellis (on loan from Chelsea) 18 Defender Paul McShane (on loan from Hull City) 19 Midfield Jacob Butterfield 20 Midfield Hugo Colace 22 Defender Luke Potter 23 Midfield Diego Arismendi (on loan from Stoke City) 24 Striker Reuben Noble-Lazarus 25 Defender Kern Miller 26 Defender Conor Branson 27 Striker Andy Gray 28 Midfield Danny Fearnehough 29 Midfield Alistair Taylor 30 Striker Steven Bennett 31 Striker Jordan Clark 33 Defender Matt Hill 36 Striker Garry O'Connor
What the bookies think The Rams are 21/20 to win - clearly the boys there haven't been studying form. The Tykes are at 13/5 while the draw is at 12/5. Our most likely scorers at 11/2 in Theo Robinson & Jamie Ward while Marlon Harewood, Garry O'Connoer & Danny Haynes are at 7/1 for the Tykes.
Information for travelling fans Driving Take the M1 south to J16 for Derby. Take the A500/A50 to Derby. Take the A6 turn-off for Derby and the ground and away parking are signposted. Parking Away fans can park at Catalyst on London Rd opposite the Navigation pub. It's about 10-15 minutes from the ground. Don't be tempted to park at Pride Park shopping centre unless you fancy being clamped. You can also park at the Fireplace showroom just at the turn off the A52 for Pride Park. Don’t be in a rush to leave however as it takes an age to get out of there. Another alternative is to pass the exit for Pride Park on Brian Clough Way and head for Pentagon Island... Take the first exit and turn left and after a few hundred yards you will come to The Cattle Market Car Park. It's about 10 minutes walk to the ground from here. Drinking
There are a few pubs very close to the ground but if you come by train, the locale around the station is fairly inviting. The Crown and Cushion at the junction of London Rd always seems to be full of away supporters. The Brunswick is a must for any real ale fans and the Alexandra next door is my personal favourite. Fans tend to mingle in these pubs and as long as you're not being aggressive, the atmosphere is good. The Waterfall opposite the station is very good as well. If you are driving, the Navigation Pub on London Rd opposite the parking area is your best bet. Around the ground there's a Frankie & Bennie's, Harvester and the Pride Park but these tend to be very busy.
Mick's prediction I watched the Rams all through the glory years of the seventies and the slump to the third. I survived our near bankrupcy and Maxwell, the fall of Pickering and even Tommy Docherty. The current management and regime is killing football for me and I really don't care about this game at all. I'll go for a win for us to end on a positive note. Derby 1 - 0 Barnsley - I reckon ... Ayala will score.
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