The Rams were looking to resume regular service after a less than impressive trip to Millwall and resume they did as they comprehensively tore Watford apart.

Derby County 4 vs. 1 Watford Saturday 30th October 2010 15:00

Pride Park - Derby

Referee: P. Tierney

Attendance: 27,119 (1,078 Heart-broken Hornets)

Teams:

Derby: Fielding, Brayford, Leacock, Barker, Moxey, Savage, Bailey, Green (Pringle 67), Commons, Bueno (Kuqi 36), Cywka (Roberts 83).

Subs: Atkins, Doyle, Martin, O'Brien.

Yellow Cards: Cywka, Leacock, Green

Goals: Brayford (14), Cywka (36, 81), Kuqi (65)

Watford: Loach, A Taylor, Eustace, M Taylor, Mariappa, Graham (Deeney 46), Doyley, McGinn, Bryan, Mutch, Sordell (Whichelow 46).

Subs: Gilmartin, Bennett, Walker, Mingoia, Buckey,

Yellow Cards: Eustace

Goals: Whichelow (54)

RamsFan Report by Daniel J Sewart:

Rams fans dared to dream before their trip to Millwall which instead raised questions about the team’s ability to deal with the bigger and stronger opposition in this division. Last weekend Derby were shut down and not allowed to play the free-flowing, creative football that brought them an extended unbeaten run.

In years gone by any good run was instantly met by a string of defeats that dampened any spark of enthusiasm for both players and fans. The test against Watford was to re-ignite the fire and, as manager and team spoke about all week, begin another run of good form.

Clough looked to find that spark by replacing Kuqi in the starting line up with the Polish pocket rocket, Tomasz Cywka. Unlucky to be in and out of the squad over recent weeks, he is a player that attacks all day and runs at defenders like no player in a Rams shirt since we saw the best of Kinkladze.

A front four of Cywka, Bueno, Commons and Green is an attacking force equal or better than any in the division and fans were licking their lips before kick off.

From the first whistle Derby signalled their intent as it was they, not the hornets, buzzing about the pitch and looking to sting the visitors.

With barely three minutes on the clock Bueno and Cywka combined crisply in a one-two that allowed Paul Green to break the lines. The Rams red-headed international was in on goal and a good strike was unlucky to be bettered by Watford keeper Scott Loach, who pulled off a great save.

Bueno was getting busy as he poked and prodded, attempting to find a way through the defence and looked too had achieved his aim when he found the head of Green only for the Rams number 4 to head over from close range.

The home side were in total control and their dominance eventually resulted in a deserved goal. Green slid a pass to Brayford who was on the burst and his long range stunning strike found both the opposition defence and keeper wanting.

The goal signalled a shift of gear in the match and that shift wasvdelivered by the Rams in the form of an even higher level of attacking, flowing football.

Commons must have felt the need to get involved as he sprung to life and was instrumental in some fabulous passages of play. He should have added a second goal to the tally when he hit a good effort that only just sailed over the bar.

John Eustace produced the best chance in the first half for the visitors when he found a gap in behind the Rams defence. His resulting header would have been nestling in the net had Leacock not been on hand to block it on the line.

The Rams made Watford pay for not converting the chance as only moments later as they tore them to pieces in a brilliant build up that ended with Green finding Cywka whose shot took a deflection, leaving the flailing Loach high and dry as Derby went two goals up

The hornets had a good opportunity to pull back a goal just before the half when Dean Leacock made a shocking error to gift the ball to Marvin Sordell. Luckily for Dean he was only able to manage a poor shot that found its way into the arms of Rams loan keeper Frank Fielding.

RamsFan Report by Daniel J Sewart:

Rams fans dared to dream before their trip to Millwall which instead raised questions about the team’s ability to deal with the bigger and stronger opposition in this division. Last weekend Derby were shut down and not allowed to play the free-flowing, creative football that brought them an extended unbeaten run.

In years gone by any good run was instantly met by a string of defeats that dampened any spark of enthusiasm for both players and fans. The test against Watford was to re-ignite the fire and, as manager and team spoke about all week, begin another run of good form.

Clough looked to find that spark by replacing Kuqi in the starting line up with the Polish pocket rocket, Tomasz Cywka. Unlucky to be in and out of the squad over recent weeks, he is a player that attacks all day and runs at defenders like no player in a Rams shirt since we saw the best of Kinkladze.

A front four of Cywka, Bueno, Commons and Green is an attacking force equal or better than any in the division and fans were licking their lips before kick off.

From the first whistle Derby signalled their intent as it was they, not the hornets, buzzing about the pitch and looking to sting the visitors.

With barely three minutes on the clock Bueno and Cywka combined crisply in a one-two that allowed Paul Green to break the lines. The Rams red-headed international was in on goal and a good strike was unlucky to be bettered by Watford keeper Scott Loach, who pulled off a great save.

Bueno was getting busy as he poked and prodded, attempting to find a way through the defence and looked too had achieved his aim when he found the head of Green only for the Rams number 4 to head over from close range.

The home side were in total control and their dominance eventually resulted in a deserved goal. Green slid a pass to Brayford who was on the burst and his long range stunning strike found both the opposition defence and keeper wanting.

The goal signalled a shift of gear in the match and that shift wasvdelivered by the Rams in the form of an even higher level of attacking, flowing football.

Commons must have felt the need to get involved as he sprung to life and was instrumental in some fabulous passages of play. He should have added a second goal to the tally when he hit a good effort that only just sailed over the bar.

John Eustace produced the best chance in the first half for the visitors when he found a gap in behind the Rams defence. His resulting header would have been nestling in the net had Leacock not been on hand to block it on the line.

The Rams made Watford pay for not converting the chance as only moments later as they tore them to pieces in a brilliant build up that ended with Green finding Cywka whose shot took a deflection, leaving the flailing Loach high and dry as Derby went two goals up.

The hornets had a good opportunity to pull back a goal just before the half when Dean Leacock made a shocking error to gift the ball to Marvin Sordell. Luckily for Dean he was only able to manage a poor shot that found its way into the arms of Rams loan keeper Frank Fielding.

HT: 2-0

It is often said that a 2-0 score line to your advantage is the most dangerous score in football. Whether statistics back that up is another matter but Watford looked determined to test the theory as the second half got underway.

A spell of intense pressure from the Hornets in the first 15 minutes of the half was telling and substitute Troy Deeney should have done better when he hit wide with the goal at his mercy.

The Rams were struggling to match the head of steam that their opponents had built up over the break and Watford made it count in the 54th minute.

Stephen McGinn produced a brilliant ball that sliced the Rams back four and reached Whichelow who produced a very clever chip that beat the advancing Fielding. Suddenly it looked as though a walk in the Pride Park may just become a genuine contest.

The big difference in the Rams class of 10/11is that they seem to have a resolve and hunger that can be drawn on when necessary and the goal was the catalyst for the home team to dig deep.

The pessimistic would have thought it was all unravelling as Bueno limped from the pitch to be replaced by Kuqi. Instead the bulky forward instantly got busy and went about pressing his case for a starting position when he cleverly chested down a pass from Green and coolly slotted home to restore the Rams two goal buffer.

With that Watford were pretty much a spent force but to their credit were still attempting to wrestle some control back from Derby and perhaps cause them some late concern.

Instead it was the home side that piled on more misery as Cywka iced his already impressive performance with a great weaving run followed by a fabulous shot that stretched the net and the Rams lead.

Questions had been asked over the last seven days and come 5pm Saturday Nigel Clough and his chargers had proved they may just have the answers.

FT: 4-1

Three home wins in a row, sitting in seventh spot, a point of sixth, a win off fourth and five wins in seven games - things are looking good for a Derby team that is growing in spirit, confidence and resolve.

The team needed to respond to the disappointment of Millwall and could not have done so in a more impressive fashion. Their performance is evidence that they have the team to really do some damage this campaign, especially with the list of players due to return to the squad in coming weeks.

Nigel Clough has put together a unit who look hungry, energetic and best of all are enjoying playing football and more importantly winning.

Even better, for the first time in a long time, we are all enjoying their football too.

Next Saturday it’s Pompey and Sky's cameras as the eyes of the world will be on the resurgent Rams and their gone today, here tomorrow opponents.

Bring it on!

Dans Man Of The Match:

Paul Green – Cywka and Brayford could also have easily got the nod for my MOTM as they were both sensational on the day but Green was involved in everything, could have easily had a hat-trick and is the engine room of the Rams new formation.

Is developing into the player he promised to be a couple of seasons ago and could end up the leagues premier midfielder if he keeps his current trajectory.

Keep him fit and firing and the Rams could achieve anything this season.

Managers Reaction:

Nigel Clough spoke to the media after his team’s emphatic victory:

"It was one of the most satisfying wins of the season; off the back of the Millwall defeat we didn't want two losses on the spin”.

"To be as positive as we were today, especially in the first half, is testament to how we can recover from a defeat. 2-0 is a tricky score line in football and we knew they were going to have a go at us in the second half, and they did that”.

"Even when they scored, we got back on the front-foot and scored pretty quickly which was what we needed. That was the best possible response and we just want to establish ourselves in the top half now."

"A few weeks ago we were in the bottom half and even the bottom three, so we know the Championship can have you 7th one week and in the bottom half the next. We just want to establish ourselves in the top half come January time because it is still early days yet”.

"When we have players like Pearson, Anderson, Addison, Davies and Porter back we will be even stronger."

"John Brayford's goal was a brilliant finish and it gave everyone a lift, it was a hell of a strike. We were a bit disappointed he hadn't scored before now to be honest, so we're pleased for him”.

"Tomasz deserves praise too; after training he goes off on his own with a bag of balls working on his left foot most days. He recognises he needs to improve on his left foot, and it is lovely to see an attitude like that”.

“His last goal is his reward, because it was a great finish and Shefki Kuqi showed a great attitude as well. He was a bit disappointed to not play today but we wanted a different type of striker up front against their two-centre-backs. He came on, showed a great attitude and took his goal really well."

Polish Power Forward Reaction:

Tomasz Cywka spoke to the Official DCFC site after the match:

"We wanted to come back from the Millwall game with a victory, and it was a great way to do it today. We wanted to start a new run, and we hope and believe this one can be even longer”.

"It was a great game today, we are all very happy and we want to keep this great run going that we have at Pride Park. We love to play in front of our fans and it pretty clear we are confident and we want to score as many goals as we can."

"My second one was a little bit better than the first, and I would say the best in my professional career. I've only scored three times, but this one was very special”.

"I practise situations like that in training, especially on my weaker left foot, so practise made perfect. That proves that if you keep working hard you will get your rewards."

Next Match:

Derby County vs. Portsmouth

5:20pm Saturday November 6th

Pride Park Stadium

Derbyshire

Photo: Action Images

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