The RamZone Wrap: Rams Red Robs Cup Clash Of Frantic Finish
Wednesday, 17th Dec 2014 13:08 by Daniel J Sewart

Chelsea were by far the better team as they cruised to a 1 -3 victory at the iPro stadium but in saying that, Derby far from embarrassed themselves.

The Rams were bright in patches but also showed signs of the flat footed hesitant team that we have seen in recent matches against Leeds & Boro.

Both teams lacked a cutting edge in the first half but Eden Hazard’s goal took a lot of wind from the Rams sails, especially as it came directly from a Richard Keogh mistake.

To that point, Derby had been holding their own, but unfortunately the Rams skipper now has a second high profile mistake, to help him remember 2014.

In the second half, Will Hughes should have scored from close range to level things up but instead moments after a brilliant Filipe Luis' free kick left Lee Grant with no chance, putting the visitors 0-2 up and seemingly out of sight.

The Rams were thrown a lifeline in the way of a Craig Bryson Rocket from outside the box that made it 1 — 2 but the joy was short lived for Rams fans.

Jake Buxton was harshly sent off for a foul on Loic Remy, when it seemed both players fouled each other, and despite fighting on with 10 men, when Andre Schurrle added a third for Chelsea, the better team had won.

Chelsea did not look as if they really broke sweat for much of the game but in saying that Derby were not at their best either as some of the bad habits seen over the last month, were on display again.

Some poor distribution and bad decision making must be worrying McClaren as players like Craig Forsyth & Cyrus Christie, who were world beaters not so long ago are looking panicky and devoid of ideas when in possession (and let's not even start discussing Forsyth's crosses!).

Having someone on the bench capable of influencing the game up top would also help as Best is not that player. Hopefully in January that will be rectified (any chance McClaren had a chat to Jose about Bamford?).

Overall we can be proud of our boys in black and white - they rolled up their sleeves and had a go against one of the worlds best. But even then you felt that the Rams were capable of pushing Chelsea harder. If they had forced them to step up their game to another level — then that would have been the Rams we have seen this season and want to see again soon.

Yes they were far from embarrassed but you always felt if the visitors had been in a blood thirsty mood — things may have got messy.

Hopefully the stuttering form is a blip and on Saturday Derby will find their feet not so flat for the visit of Norwich.

Match Info / Rams Team:

Ref: John Moss

Crowd:30,639

Derby: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Mascarell (Best 84’), Bryson , Hughes (Hendrick 76'), Dawkins (Ibe 57’), Russell, Martin.

Unused Subs: Roos, Naylor, Coutts, Calero

Match Stats — Rams / Blues:

Possession: 44% / 56%

Shots On Target: 2 / 5

Shots Off Target: 3 / 7

Corners: 5 / 3

Fouls: 13 / 10

We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"I really thought it was going to be a grandstand finish, and we've been robbed. It's a coming together - Remy fouling Buxton, and Buxton coming across Remy.”

"Remy's appealing for Lee Grant's handball. We can't believe it's against Bucko. The linesman gave it, not the referee. How he saw that, I don't know. I think he got it wrong. We'll think about an appeal."

They said — Jose Mourinho:

"Kurt Zouma looks fine now. He had a cut on the inside of his mouth. We had information immediately that it was nothing serious. But he was feeling a bit dizzy, so we took no risks.”

"Didier Drogba went over on his ankle. With his mentality, I believe he can get over it before the game at Stoke on Monday."