Derby County 3 Huddersfield Town 1 - e-Football Report

Article by e-Derby County Correspondent Chris Harrison

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Derby all but booked their playoff spot with a comfortable win against an undisciplined Huddersfield side that saw the visitors reduced to 9 men. The Rams are now 11 points clear of 7th placed Ipswich Town with 4 games remaining. Derby have also reduced the gap between themselves and 2nd placed Burnley to reignite and slim chances of automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The Rams started off very casually after their midweek demolition of Blackpool and the visitors took advantage early on when Nakhi Wells tapped in from 3 yards on 14 minutes to take the lead. The Terriers played a fast paced pressing game that prevented the usual passing style of the home side. The visitors were let down by a negative attitude of time wasting once the goal went in and late challenges picking up yellow cards.

Derby equalised on 28 minutes after a brilliant through ball found Johny Russell one on one with the keeper and a cheeky dink beat the on rushing Smithies. The Rams gained confidence from the goal and started to play more of the football that Derby fans have become accustomed to under Steve Mclaren. A counter attacking move saw Patrick Bamford on the ball on the half way line, he turned his man but a high boot catching the player saw a second yellow card for Joel Lynch.

The Rams took advantage of the extra man after half time with continued attacks. Derby’s second goal of the game came with a lot of fortune after a poor cross from Craig Forsyth, troubled the Huddersfield goalkeeper and he pushed the ball into his own net.

Derby made sure of the 3 points just before the hour when a smart Will Hughes move, inside the Huddersfield 18 yards box, drew a miss timed challenge from the opposition captain Peter Clarke. Clarke conceded a penalty and received his 2nd yellow card after picking up his first booking for a similar challenge on Hughes in the opening few minutes. Chris Martin stepped up to take his 21st goal of the season, hitting the penalty in the opposite corner from the diving keeper.

Once Huddersfield were reduced to 9 men the game was virtually over as they sat all 9 men behind the ball and Derby concentrated on retaining possession. Derby used the remaining 30 minutes to give Jeff Hendrick and Jamie Ward a run out after coming back from injuries. The Rams also used the time to ensure Craig Forsyth did not pick up his 10th yellow card of the season and pick up a 2 match suspension, the deadline passing after this match. This saw Lee Naylor make his 2nd appearance for the Rams but he looks likely to be leaving, come the end of the season.

With Burnley losing, Derby have reduced the gap to 8 points and prevented them from achieving promotion. Burnley’s remaining games look difficult with an away trip to Blackpool, followed by home games with Wigan and Ipswich. Burnley finish their season with an away trip to Reading, the last 3 games showing that it could go down to the last game of the season. If Derby wants to keep the pressure on their promotion rivals, they will need to win their last 4 games.......

Come on you Rams!!

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