Pride Park, sunshine, Derby County, Barnsley, a warm welcome for Lewin Nyatanga and a much louder one for the still loved Tomasz Cywka.
We await the whistle. We're off.
We stroll, those hazy, lazy, crazy days of Summer. It's April, we don't care.
We pass, we move, we bask in the sun. Rams on the front hoof, Tykes sit back and try to defend.
One way traffic - waiting for the green light. It comes. Jeff Hendrick, a little turn and a low powerful shot from twenty five yards, Luke Steele, keeper, beaten, goal. Our first shot on target despite all our possession.
Restart, or should that be replay as the game falls back into a similar pattern. Johnny Russell shoots; it hits the back of Craig Bryson’s head and loops into the back of the net.
Two nil - a walk in the park. In the stands coats are off and we soak up a sun tan as the Barnsley side soak up the pressure.
Half time and the feeling is one of contentment and ease.
Start of the second, we lose the sun, we lose our shine.
The Tykes up their game, they press, they close, no more standing off, no more watching brief.
Fouls committed, "Got the ball ref” you could see the words being mouthed and I guess half the time they might have been right.
John Eustace joins us as George Thorne limps off; Simon Dawkins gets a run out as Jamie Ward runs off. Squad in depth the call.
We are still the better team, Dawkins shoots over, Craig Forsyth’s header off the line by ex Ram Lewin, yet against this backdrop Barnsley score.
Nyatanga ball into box, statues for defenders and Nick Proschwitz slides a low shot in from close range to pull the scores back to 2-1 Nervous, a little, we look for our stride; Connor Sammon replaces Chris Martin who has had one of those games where nothing comes off.
Sammon is caught in the penalty area, the ref, Graham Scott, points to the spot.
Cue Russell, it's a blast, we're not laughing, a straight man is never funny especially when the keeper saves with his feet. Another missed penalty, heaven help us if we need one in the playoffs.
The question "Has any team missed more penalties in one season” echoes like schoolboys chants in a tunnel.
Russell tries to make amends, he pulls the ball wide.
We look for inspiration and find none, perspiration gets us there. Two one the final score against a Barnsley side fighting for its life.
We accept it, we move on, Watford next then Leeds, then the playoffs guaranteed.
Whatever the outcome this has been a brilliant season.
Thank you Steve McClaren and Nigel Clough!
Coming out we hear Forest have won, they might make the playoffs, do we want that?
Not on my nelly!
Possession: 58% / 42%
Corners: 7 / 7
Shots (On Target): 22 (6) / 13 (3)
Fouls: 6 / 8
Yellow Cards: 0 / 2
Referee: Graham Scott
Attendance: 26,046
Derby: Grant, Wisdom, Keogh (C), Buxton, Forsyth, Thorne (Eustace 63), Hendrick, Bryson, Russell, Ward (Dawkins 66), Martin (Sammon 79).
Unused Subs: Legzdins, Whitbread, Hughes, Bamford.
Goals: Hendrick (34’), Russell (42’)
Barnsley: Steele, Nyatanga, Kennedy, M'voto, Cranie, Cywka (Noble-Lazarus 68), Jennings, McCourt (Mellis 45), Lawrence (Proschwitz 72), Dawson, O'Grady.
Unused Subs: Turner, Woods, Frimpong, Hassell.
Goals: Proschwitz (80’)
Derby vs. Watford
iPro Stadium
3pm — Saturday April 26th