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What I.Saw: A Bit Like Mirrors On Lorries
Wednesday, 1st Mar 2017 13:39 by I.Saw

Blackburn, black and white views.

We had chances, we didn't take them.

We aren't a team that functions well.

Up front we had David “Ted” Nugent. Ted’s a good player, intelligent, makes runs, opens up space. Yet Ted has a weakness. It's the same one he's had from day one when he burst on the scene like a milk cart. He knows his weakness; we know his weakness and the opposition do to. He lacks pace.

With the right players round you it's possible to get away with that. Chris Martin a case in point. Ted tries, gives his all, and I'll never criticise anybody who does that. Tries. You just don't get the feeling everybody does.

Midfield and wingers dipping out of 50/50 balls not prepared to risk getting hurt. There are blokes and lasses on the terrace who show more commitment and who earn considerably less.

Now I know back in my day that Alan “Gladys” Hinton never challenged, yet he was an immense talent, he never shirked in getting a cross in when the feet were flying. Some of our current lot aren't brave, they wimp out of winning. No names, no pack drill, they know who they are.

In Johnny Russell and Will Hughes we lack vision too. Too often we turn back, the safe ball to keep possession.

If we can't use speed we need width, we had none. Both Max Lowe and Cyrus Christie subdued and playing well within themselves. You only had to look at Rovers number seven to see how it should be done.

Lowe was continually done as a kipper as Liam Feeney turned him inside and out frequently in the first half, even the addition of Bradley Johnson’s support couldn't stop the Blackburn star getting crosses in from the by-line.

Tom Ince was having one of those off days, created a chance, into the box then sliced his attempted shot.

Blackburn grew into the game, Scott Carson pulling off a couple of saves before half time to keep the Rams in the game.

Second half, we flare briefly, quick passing but no killer pass, no movement off the ball. We wait for that legendary, mythical ball the golden ticket to win the lottery. It doesn't come.

Coming back to our biggest failure, the lack of fluidity, the lack of showing for the ball, the lack of options for our man with the ball. It's like we are playing “Statues” a school playground game.

Statues, when the man in control looks at you then you must remain rigid; when he looks away you can move. Statues the Derby County way!

Surely somebody must tell our players that; “if you can't see the player with the ball then he can't see you”, a bit like mirrors on lorries.

Passing and movement, we wait for somebody else to make the decision. Apart from Nugent, but he'll soon get fed up of moving.

Similarly when Carson comes and claims the ball then rushes to the edge of his box, as a striker why waste your energy dashing into the opponents half, just rest on the half way line, find a table, pour yourself a cup of tea, a nice biscuit and wait for the ball to eventually find its way via countless sideways and backward passes till it reaches your level.

Strike when the iron hasn't even been plugged in — is that the Derby Way?

Way unlucky perhaps, we concede a penalty, it was one as much as it wasn't against Villa on Saturday, two similar offences two different results.

Craig Conway blasts the ball into the back of the net and we trail 1-0.

Tony Mowbray has motivated his team well. They defend in banks, securely.

They throw their bodies on the line as if not only their lives but those of their wives and children depend on it. You have to admire that. Envy for a team in the bottom three. Is that the Derby Way?

Belatedly we have a go. Abdoul Camara, comes on, a player who can be hot and cold. Today he's hot, he finds Ince unmarked with only the keeper Steele to beat, Ince turns and fires tamely into the keepers midriff.

Matej Vydra does well but is crowded out as is Nugent whose shots are blocked by bodies on the line.

Camara brushes the top of the netting with his header, Johnson bashes the bar. Alex Pearce plays as a centre forward.

It's all too little too late.

All that left is to escape and hope for a better day tomorrow.

Well done Blackburn, you aren't the greatest team but you had enough to see off us Rams.


Match Highlights:


Post Match Reaction:


COYR!!!




Photo: Action Images



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