The Weston Report: Bluebird's Swooped But Ram's Regrouped
Monday, 22nd Sep 2014 07:30 by Ryan Weston

It’s not often that you can come from two-goals down and still feel very dissatisfied with a point.

That was the case in this one though - as Derby somehow failed to send the manager-less Bluebirds back to Wales empty-handed.

Off the back of, by all accounts, our best performance of the season at Blackburn, we were unsurprisingly unchanged, with Jake Buxton not fit enough to return to the eighteen, never mind the side.

On the ten-year anniversary of the passing of the great Brian Clough, the Rams first-half showing was sure to have had ‘Old Big Head’ smiling down.

After Cardiff had threatened with the game’s first opening, when Gunnarsson had flicked a free-kick wide, it really was the proverbial one way affair. Evidently buoyed by their midweek exploits, the Rams were immediately into their stride. Hughes, many observers’ man of the match in the last two games, started impressively again and it was he who almost created the opener.

Martin dropped off to receive a pass and laid off to Hughes. Striding forwards, Hughes surveyed his options before dropping superb return pass to the front man. Doing everything right, Martin waited for the keeper to commit before chipping goal wards. It looked for all the money in Vincent Tan’s pocket that we were in front but Marshall somehow got a right hand high enough to produce a quality stop.

Hughes was again the instigator as we came even closer to opening the scoring. Playing a pin-point pass from the inside right-channel into the path of Dawkins, the only thing that stopped the winger was the linesman flag, way before he had struck into the corner. Cue my pet-hate of fans celebrating when the flag is still raised and the ref has blown his whistle…

Dawkins though was looking far more dangerous than in previous home games - his link up play with Forsyth down the left - was giving ex-Ram John Brayford little chance to show his attacking traits. It appears that razors and barbers are quite scarce in Cardiff, judging by the, shall we say questionable look of our ex-player of the year.

Forsyth then looked like he would latch onto a long ball from the back, as the ball seemed to go in slow motion as Marshall hurtled off his line. Knowing that any infidelity, would more than likely result in a red-card, the keepers tackle on our left back was brilliantly timed.

Soon after, the Rams continued to cut their way at ease through the Cardiff back line, with Dawkins blazing wide on two occasions when well-placed.

The visitors were as threatening as a kitten at a bull-fight, as time and again their tactic of hoofing up to one time Rams target Kenwyne Jones, was bearing no fruit. There was simply no out-ball and Derby was enjoying the vast majority of slick possession. Jamie Ward was coming more into the game, linking well with the once again superb Christie down the right (how the latter missed the Forest game is still beyond me).

From a typical surge into the box, Christie’s cross broke kindly for Ward, who took a touch before smashing left-footed at the near post, where he found that man Marshall there again to produce a save.

Our best outlet had changed from the left side to the right, as Ward’s cross was only half-cleared to Hughes, whose volley nicked wide via a double deflection. Then, Jamie’s cross was met by the head of Bryson at the back post, where the Scot nodded just wide.

Somehow, despite our dominance in all areas and despite Cardiff being pinned against the ropes for the entire half, we couldn’t land a clean punch and the sides amazingly went in level at the break.

Seeing that we had enjoyed seventy-five percent of possession in the half really came as no surprise. I had a nagging thought though, surely the Bluebirds-in-red couldn’t come out as bad in the second half and maybe we had missed our chance.

Unusually, the Rams employed a mini-training burst on the pitch before the second-half kicked off, probably with a notion that we had conceded two sloppy goals at the start of the second-half in our previous two home games. If this was supposed to prevent the same happening again…it didn’t work.

After a quiet five minutes, Cardiff forced a corner and you just knew what was coming next. A high-hanging ball saw Connolly beat Whitbread and nod back into the area, where Gunnarsson acrobatically hooked home.

I’m sure I heard the police sirens in the distance, coming to the iPro to arrest the Icelander for daylight robbery. Another sorry sign - that at any time - the Rams can still shoot themselves in the foot from basic errors.

Immediately, Ibe was introduced for Dawkins, but before he could make any impact, it went from bad to simply unbelievable!

It’s a very good job I didn’t have a pie at half time as I would have been physically sick. Whitbread was pressurised by Jones down Cardiff’s right and instead of playing back to Grant or conceding a throw, he instead did nothing as the ball broke to Pilkington. Putting Forsyth in a spin, he got clear in the area before seeing his cross blocked. Somehow, the ball broke beautifully onto Whittingham’s left-foot and he smashed an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

Unbelievably, we were two down.

There followed a five minute spell where it threatened to get ridiculous. Cardiff and their fans were buoyed and a couple of better passes could have led to a third. We needed to change things and McClaren wasted little time in sacrificing Eustace for Best.

We needed to strike quickly. As I pointed out in an attempt to keep the faith, Cardiff had surrendered a two goal lead last weekend.

On the hour, we got one back.

The irrepressible Christie linked up yet again with Ward, playing a one-two before surging past his man into the box. His poked ball across the area evaded Martin but not Ibe, who lashed finally past Marshall into the corner.

Game on.

All of a sudden the game was a contest. Ibe was more than lively and started to become the catalyst for all of our attacking threat. His forward direct play sparked us into our rhythm and he was unfortunate to see a rising drive fizz over. Cardiff had introduced serial goal getter; Adam Le Fondre and it was a relief to see him deployed on the left hand side, where he spent most of his afternoon watching Christie run at him.

With an extra-midfield man, Cardiff were now bound to threaten more and only an excellent block from Keogh saved Adeyemi’s drive from testing Grant. Still, Connolly was winning the headers from corners though, with the Rams still causing their own problems.

Going forwards though, you always believed a goal was likely. Ibe’s pace was causing Brayford all kinds of problems and Best had brought a new physical dimension. The latter was unfortunate to see a goal-bound effort blocked near the line, as was Bryson after good work from Christie.

As time ticked away, you felt that if we could equalise, we would win it. Best was offside after Ibe had played him in but then did spring the trap to round Marshall before being crowded out. Ward was then replaced by Russell in a final throw. Immediately, his trickery was worrying Cardiff and he almost dragged us level soon after.

Ibe, who already looks another gem from Anfield’s bench, centred following a corner, and following a scramble, the ball broke to Johnny, his fierce drive beaten away by the excellent Marshall.

Finally though, our pressure told with a goal made in Scotland.

Russell yet again exposed Cardiff’s fragile defensive left-side and drove towards to area. Cutting back and trying to make room on his left-foot, he instead pulled back to Bryson on the edge of the box. First time, our reigning player of the year, smashed an unstoppable effort in off the far post, leaving the keeper Marshalling thin air.

Whatever Scotland voted, I’m definitely voting yes for that goal!

Five left and a pulsating finish. First, Le Fondre threatened to break away and was thwarted by a quite superb tackle from Keogh. A tackle met by raucous applause and cries of his name, a very poignant display of solidarity.

Next, a ball into the area fell beautifully for Best, who turned and shot hard towards the target. I confess I was already punching the air, but somehow the ball was blocked at close range, with our appeals for a penalty for handball waved away.

That then, was as close as we got, with a combination of Brayford and Jones, who was belatedly winning the ball in the air, stifling us with time-wasting tactics in added time.

Full - time and a very strange mix of emotions.

Relief after picking up something from two goals down, annoyance that we hadn’t won a game that we had dominated for the vast majority and frustration, that again we had conceded two avoidable goals.

I think though, the most overriding was belief. A tough week had come to a close. We had come through unbeaten and are starting to look like the side that we were last year.

I think though that the last word should go to the great man who we remembered on the day.

He once famously said, ‘If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he’d have put grass up there.’ Perhaps Cardiff should take note.

Weston’s Player Ratings:

Lee Grant — 7: Not a chance on either goal but did what he needed to very competently.

Craig Forsyth — 6: Excellent first half but struggled a little with Pilkington in the second.

Cyrus Christie — Weston’s Star Man 9: Superb once again. Sharp, direct, powerful and looks better each game.

Zak Whitbread — 6: Looks composed but at fault for the second goal.

Richard Keogh — 8: Was at his very best in the second half. Great to hear about his new deal.

Will Hughes — 7: Very good performance, certainly much better in the more advanced role.

Craig Bryson — 8 Brilliant equalising goal and looked back to his best in spells.

John Eustace — 7: Did very well in the first half as Cardiff didn’t have a kick. Sacrificed at 0-2.

Jamie Ward — 7: Another good display. Showing his qualities more consistently.

Simon Dawkins — 7: Good first half - was taken off very early in the second.

Chris Martin — 7: Linked well again and will be annoyed not to have scored.

Subs:

Jordan Ibe — 8: Fantastic off the bench. Pace, skill and an end product. Very excited about him.

Leon Best — 6: Battled hard and held the ball well in some situations. Maybe should have scored.

Johnny Russell — 7: Very good ten minutes or so. An assist and could have scored himself. The competition for places is hotting up!

Match Stats — Derby / Cardiff:

Possession: 75% / 25%

Shots On Target: 5 / 3

Shots Off Target: 13 / 7

Corners: 7 / 3

Fouls: 5 / 10

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"You could probably have said at half-time there was only going to be one winner so to be two down five minutes into the second half, there was disbelief, I think on their bench as well.”

"But then there was terrific character shown by the players to come back and we could and should have won it at the end. Again the players have shown great character and climbed a mountain."

They said — Scott Young:

"Our directive was to take charge of the team today and I'm sure we will be having a conversation with the chairman and the owner pretty soon.”

"We have the wheels in motion to prepare the team for Tuesday already and we will have a conversation and see where it takes us."