It was bad on Saturday, it was worse last night. Derby County have now won two games despite of it. Players were wary of it, they struggled to cope.

So the real question is what have Derby County done to the iPro pitch?

In the years since they moved in, I can't recall a worse surface, the ball bobbles, bounces and deviates over divets like a park pitch. What is going on?

Had it been the Three Amigo's you could claim a lack of cash, or a mate was doing them a favour Del Boy style but our owners are backing McClaren in the loan market, in the transfer market with the likes of the George Thorne (and what a difference he made last night).

The site of watching Craig Forsyth lift and lower his ankle like a car suspension leg over potholes as a cross field ball is sprayed along the deck from Richard Keogh is painful to behold.

Just as painful as watching Will Hughes try to control the ball and run with it at his feet or watching Tom Ince about to curl a screamer into the top corner only for the ball to react like a jumping jack and the shot flies hopelessly wide.

What's up DCFC? Two men leaning on a fork at half time doesn't cut it. We regularly used to receive awards for the best pitch in the Premiership, right now it wouldn't be out of place in the Derby Taveners Sunday League.

Enough of the rant! Yesterday we beat Charlton 2-0.

Our first goal came when Hughes opened up the defence and Darren Bent like a rat down a drainpipe sped into the penalty area, his speed almost matched by the linesman as he ran with his flag ahead of him pointed down. It's always a good sign that. Well when the Rams are attacking that is.

Bent squared the ball and Jeff Hendrick, gambling as Nigel Clough was fond to say, slid in and turned the ball over the line. Nine minutes gone.

Our second came from nothing. Thorne in midfield, we expected a ball to Cyrus Christie on the wing, instead our midfielder went direct on the floor to Hendrick, a well judged tap on and Jesse Langard timed his run to perfection and his finish even better as he coolly slotted the ball past Stephen Henderson in the Charlton goal.

We couldn't add to the score, we slowed the game down and retained possession.

Second half the Addicks gave in more of a go, but we held firm.

Three more crucial points, a good result, but guys our football deserved a far better surface.

Please.

Players I Saw:

Grant 7 - A couple of good saves and decision making could not be faulted.

Christie 6 - A solid performance, Charlton put two men wide preventing his runs.

Keogh 7 - Controlled the Addicks attacks comfortably overall.

Shotton 5 - His positioning worries me in central defence.

Forsyth 6 - Stayed wide well offering options.

Ince 7 - Had two men on him as soon as he received the ball, worked his cotton socks off.

Hughes 7 - So much talent, let down by the pitch.

Thorne 8 - Has a presence, God how we've missed him, just like he'd never been away, welcome back George.

Hendrick 8 - Back to his best form.

Lingard 7 - His first start and deserved, loads of room first half, closed down like Ince after the interval.

Bent 7 - Made the first goal but our style of play doesn't play to his obvious strengths, 6 for achievement, 8 for effort, 7 overall.

Mascarell 5 - On for Thorne who took a knock, talented but oh so lightweight when compared to the one who came off.

Dawkins 5 - Replaced Lingard tried to hold the ball up but poor decision making in the final third perhaps trying too hard.

Bryson 6 - On for Hughes who looked totally drained.

Photo: Action Images

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