What I.Saw: Great Game, Great Goals & The Stare Of A Scottish Loon!
Monday, 16th Dec 2013 07:59 by I.Saw

You remember great games, you remember great goals you remember things that stand out.

From Saturday we will remember Craig Bryson as he tapped his badge twice, stood perfectly still and stared at the Derby faithful. It’s the stare of a Scottish loon at the end of a night in Glasgow, just before the kiss or the stare from a God awaiting adulation.

To us it’s the latter after he lifts the ball over Ben Alwick to seal our victory over the Addicks by a two goal margin.

As to the rest of the match, it pales.

A blustery Valley, leaves cascading over the massive Jimmy Seed Stand and down like snowflakes, Charlton field a 4-5-1. They plough into the Rams from the off, fairly but hard.

Our creativity is closed, two men shadow Simon Dawkins even before he gets the ball and with no Will Hughes we look average.

High Octave stuff from the home side, we don’t quite match it but we survive.

Chris Martin is fouled twenty odd yards for goal, Jamie Ward steps up and as fast as we can think “Why do we let him take the free kicks”, the ball is in the back of the net via a sizeable deflection. The justice of the wrong end of the table, one we’ve known so well in the past.

It’s one nil, thirty three gone and finally we begin to hold possession and look comfortable, controlling the game similar to a long distance runner who takes the lead only to slow the pace.

Bryson forces a flying save from Alwick, it could have been two, we finish the first half happy and content.

Round two and the Addicks, like Pavlov’s Dogs expect their meal. They nearly get it. Lawrie Wilson escapes the attentions of two and his cross finds Dale Stephens who shoots narrowly wide. A wake up call; We hit the snooze button and sleep.

Ten minutes later we’re awake. Chris Martin, touchline, into the box, a nudge from behind, he stays up, pulls the ball back and Ward rattles the crossbar our third attempt on target.

Charlton refuse to lie down, sub Simon Church adds more weight up front and yet another cross from the Rams right is poorly defended, this time Michael Morrison flings himself at the ball and heads wide of the post, with Lee Grant and Craig Forsyth both watching rooted to the floor.

Again Charlton press and Grant saves well from Church as Derby defend deeper and deeper.

With minutes ticking away, Conor Sammon brings his enthusiasm into the fray for an exhausted Martin. Barely is Sammon on before he creates the opportunity for Bryson and the match is done.

Injury time leaks away and the Rams faithful applaud the team and the management before our long journey home.

In conclusion hardly a classic performance, a tad like Middlesborough, it’s been a long while since you felt it’s not of a case of “will we score” but rather “how long before we score”. Yesterday was one such day.

Long may it continue!

Match Reaction:

We Said - Derby Head Coach Steve McClaren :

“It was another of those gritty performances and the main thing, at the end of the day, was getting all three points. I was a bit worried about this game and Charlton made it difficult for us, as did the pitch and conditions.”

“It can be easy to take your eye off the ball when you’ve won five in a row but the players showed, like we asked, that their focus was spot on. Today was about character and playing enough football to win the game and we did just that.”

“We’re on a wonderful run but the credit goes to the players, it’s all about them because they are the ones going out there and winning games. Once we got our noses in front, with a bit of luck I must say as Wardy’s shot took a deflection, I thought we grew into the game and got control for long spells.”

“We should have got a second goal earlier that we did and that put us under a bit of pressure towards the end. They made all their changes and really went for it so we had to defend well as a team.”

“Luckily we managed to get down the other end and produce a fine move to see the game out and it was another terrific finish from Bryson. It took us a while to get into the game and we had a few scares which the back four and Granty dealt with very well indeed.”

“Everyone deserves credit for this win and we need to keep it going. The players are doing their jobs — from back to front — and the fans were magnificent in supporting the side.”

They Said - Charlton Manager

“They've given me and the fans everything they've got. I couldn't have asked for much more to be honest. We got our shape and our tactics right for a good half an hour until that deflected goal. I don't think they had a chance before then but, of course, once we've conceded that goal it gives them an impetus to push on.”

“The free-kick was either going wide or easily covered by Ben. But it hits the wall and goes the other way, so without that you're looking at 0-0 at least, if not maybe we could have nicked something.”

“I know for a fact we should have gone in level pegging but it didn't happen and we've got to get on with it. We just couldn't make the breakthrough at the end.”

Match Stats — Charlton / Derby:

Possession: 49% / 51%

Corners: 3 / 4

Shots (On Target): 4 (7) / 4 (6)

Fouls: 11 / 14

Yellow Cards: 2 / 1

Match Info:

Attendance: 16,871

Referee: Andy Davies

Derby County:Grant (GK), Wisdom, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Eustace, Hendrick, Bryson, Ward (Keane 88'), Martin (Sammon 85’), Dawkins (Russell 74’).

Subs not used:Legzdins (GK), Bennett, Cisse, Davies.

Goals: Jamie Ward (32’), Craig Bryson (87’)

Charlton: Alnwick (GK), Wilson (Sordell 85’), Wiggins, Morrison, Dervite; Cousins, Stephens, Pritchard (Church 65’), Stewart, Green (Harriott 65), Kermorgant.

Subs not used: Pope (GK), Evina, Wood, Solly