They say Rome wasn't built in a day, Brian Clough said "But then I wasn't on that particular job".

Neither was Steve McClaren, perhaps he should have been because for the second match running we have seen progress on the field of play.

For twenty minutes of last nights match against Brentford the Rams upped the tempo and produced exciting attacking football.

That short period corresponded with the introduction of Johnny Russell on the left wing, the dropping back of Ikechi Anya to full back and the withdrawal of stand-in Chris Baird.

It was "Stingray" football. "Anything can happen in the next half hour".

We doubled up on the left. Anya & Russell tearing holes in the Bees defence as indeed did the visitors to the Derby County rearguard.

End to end football, exciting, edge of seat soccer. Worth paying to watch. Even had we lost.

The fact we didn't owed a lot to Alex Pearce and the rest of the defence including keeper Scott Carson.

It petered out to a draw, a goalless stalemate as these things often do, but not before the referee waved away appeals for a penalty right at the death as Romiane Sawyers twisted away from Pearce in the box. An epiphany of disagreement, for you it's a "stick on", against you it's a Teflon coated dive.

But before all that.

The new floodlights glared, the sound blared (except for when the radio mike faltered) and the rain poured, and a swirling wind drove it into the first rows of the Upper East Stand.

The Rams and The Bees's engaged.

A turgid first half, compressed and bulging both midfields sought to create in little space.

We looked solid and steadfast.

They looked fluid. Brentford were slicker, moved the ball faster, cleverer with the decision making but with little end product.

In our midfield Will Hughes took a heavy challenge in the back and despite trying to run it off he laboured. It was no surprise therefore to see Craig Bryson on as his replacement before half time.

Tom Ince is quickly regaining his form, doing what he does best, running at defenders and seeking to unlock defences, an intelligent free kick from the edge of the penalty area was inches away from opening the scoring as Bee's keeper Daniel Bentley tipped the ball over the bar for a corner.

Ince looked dangerous, he was involved more, more the Ince of Old. The match winner Ince. He's not there yet, he's not match fit, but the progress since McClaren's return is amazing.

Anya got forward more, reached the by-line and pulled back crosses but to no avail. Bradley Johnson playing in front of the back four helped keep things together but we lacked the ability to hurt the opposition.

The football was measured and slow, lethargic if you prefer. We needed to up the pace.

Second half we tried. Of a fashion yet it wasn’t until we took off Baird that the transformation began.

And for those twenty minutes we had belief, we, in the stands could see the flowing football we are capable of.

We just need to start scoring.

We will.

After all Rome wasn't built in one day.

Match Highlights:

Post Match Reaction:

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls