Well, it finally happened. Our first league encounter with those local Burton lads at our home of Pride Park.

Before the game ex Derby Striker, ex Rams Coach and now number two at The Brewers, Andy Garner was having his say on Radio Derby.

His gist could be condensed into; "under he and Nigel Clough they reduced the payroll, got rid of the flotsam and were tenth in the table". Was that good? He went on to say Derby had since spent millions, had a much larger payroll and were eleventh. So no, not really.

He came across as simultaneously resentful, proud and a bit of an old washer woman always going on. Mind I do remember that goal he scored at Highbury so I'll discount his attitude.

And you couldn't fault the attitude of the Burton players. There's a massive gap in ability, they look a League One team, they make mistakes frequently but boy do they work hard.

Energy levels and honest enthusiasm carried them through at the weekend against Norwich and it did tonight.

We Rams couldn't punish their mistakes.

It was a scrappy first half with little of merit. Tom Ince firing narrowly wide after good work on the right.

Juliet de Sart was an enigma, you could see his vision yet at times it seemed he had beer goggles on as he sprayed the ball as accurately as a drunk fills a urinal.

Cyrus Christie restored gets forward well, whilst Max Lowe is hesitant and hangs back. Perhaps on managers orders.

Will Hughes takes an early knock and looks stiff and off the pace afterwards. Ikechi Anya is lively and is brought down when flying through only for referee Simon Hooper to turn a blind eye.

"Simon Says" is a game that we used to play as kids, we tried not to get caught out, inevitably we did. Hooper has his own rules, he never uses those words and hence "Simon Says it's a free kick" never happens and we are penalised especially in the second half when Darren Bent goes down in the box.

Or even more ludicrously when Right Back Tom Naylor clearly pushes substitute Abdoul Camara to the floor with both hands and the Brewer himself stops and waits for the foul to be given. It isn't.

The game shuffled on, fouls come and go without even the barest whistle.

On the touch line Messers Clough and McClaren, arms windmilling like buggery urge their respective sides forwards and back as if their life depends on it.

You could be forgiven for thinking the game should be decided not by goals or penalties but rather by the quality and speed of animation of their arms.

It all ends goalless and Burton deserve their point.

Derby are booed off by some and politely applauded by others.

Both sets of supporters deserve appreciation for staying till the bitter end.

The feeling walking out was no matter what you paid for your match ticket you didn't get value for money tonight.

That needs to be put right Derby. Our season has ground to a halt.

We are firmly at the bottom of the stairs looking up, yet like dachshunds with erections we find it impossible to climb.

Thirty One odd thousand watched tonight, more than a few wished there had been a fire drill.

Hmmm.

Match Highlights:

Post Match Reaction:

COYR!!!

Photo: Action Images

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