Hapless Derby still looking for first win under Clement
The draw specialists of the season so far met at the iPro Stadium before the international break. Both sides had suffered the same fates through the start of their 2015-2016 campaigns, with four league draws and losing in the first round of the Capital One League Cup live on Sky Sports.
Article by Fred Gough
Derby County [1] Leeds United [2] - Attendance: 29,386
The media corporation had also elected to broadcast this match bringing kick off to a 12.05pm and it seemed like Derby were not prepared for kick starting the Bank Holiday Saturday’s football as they were slow and sluggish in their passing and wishing to start on the front foot that Head Coach Paul Clement had desired of his side.
Returning to a 4-3-3 formation after the injuries suffered by midfielders Jeff Hendrick and Jamie Hanson in the last home match against Middlesbrough had cleared meaning that Chris Baird reverted back to his full back role and Darren Bent returned to the bench.
It was the Yorkshire side who dominated the first half, looking the far more hard-working and had the first attempt at goal when Chris Wood attempted to scoop the ball from the edge of the penalty area but he found his shot go over the bar.
A high foot from Lewis Cook contacted with Derby defender Richard Keogh’s head, forcing the Irish international to get bandaged up but no yellow card for the young midfielder. Despite being dominant in the midfield tussles in previous fixtures, Derby’s midfield were out played by their opposition’s for high spells in the first half with only a couple of rare flashes of attacking prowess that got the home fans excited.
Leeds’ strength was growing as the first half wore on and captailised on the slumbering Rams from a quick short corner, Stuart Dallas, who had reunited with his former Head Coach Uwe Rosler whipped a cross in from the left and Cardiff City loanee Tom Adeyemi buried his header past Carson to put the away side ahead.
Derby have yet to score a first half goal or take the lead since Paul Clement arrived from Real Madrid and could have found themselves further behind as Leeds found themselves break through once more but their former goalkeeper Carson kept Wood at bay.
A chorus of boos rang round the iPro Stadium as the referee blew his whistle for half time.
Half Time: Derby County 0 Leeds United 1
Paul Clement must have had stern words with his side in the dressing room at half time, as Derby’s attitude showed a different level for the early stages of the second half.
Their enthusiasm, energy and imagination seemed far brighter, former Dundee United man Johnny Russell blazed a shot over, Jeff Hendrick stung the finger tips of Marco Silvestri however only a minute later the 24 year old stopper was beaten after neat footwork and a low left foot drive by Chris Martin nestled beyond former Italy youth international.
Martin had a second reason to celebrate the goal; it was his 50th since joining the Rams in 2013 initially on loan from Norwich City.
Irishman Hendrick drilled a shot wide and Tom Ince couldn’t keep a long range drive down as Derby’s ascendancy grew. Russell was denied once more after good work and both sides seemed like their form of draws would continue.
However the away side earning the advantage of the referee’s decisions, which left the home faithful upset, took the initiative to end the game on a high and the New Zealand striker and former Rams target Chris Wood found space to sublimely strike past a motionless Scott Carson to sink Derby hearts.
After several minutes stoppage time, the referee drew the game to a close, meaning that the Yorkshire side had taken all three points from Derby for the first time since April 2002.
Full Time: Derby County 1 Leeds United 2
This was a demoralising defeat for Derby County supporters, the rivalry between Derby and Leeds being still fierce due to the late 1960s and 1970s era where both sides were battling for supremacy in the top division.
Captain Chris Baird summed up that he felt that he and the rest of the Derby players were left frustrated and that they will be determined to put it right when the Rams travel to Preston North End on September 12th. Head Coach Paul Clement was also echoing his captain’s words by saying that his side needs to turn their spells of high tempo possession into results sooner rather than later and admitted he hasn’t had the start he aimed for, with a points tally of four from a possible fifteen, he would have liked to have gained nine or ten by the first international break of the campaign.
Despite many fans venting their disappointment on Social Media after the match and believing that Paul Clement is out of his depth in his first stint as a number one, I do believe that it is going to take time for that formula to be found but time is on Derby’s side, forty-one league games to still to play this season and after expectations are at a high with many supporters, some need to consider how far Derby have come in the last few years and stop bemoaning when the little things are not going to plan.
Teams:
DCFC [4-3-3] –Carson, Baird (capt), Keogh, Shackell, Forsyth, Thorne (Weimann – 65), Hanson (Shotton - 86) , Hendrick (y/c – 71), Ince, Martin & Russell (Bent - 79); Substitutes – Grant, Pearce, Shotton, Warnock, Dawkins, Weimann & Bent.
Leeds United [4-3-3] – Silvestri, Berardi, Bamba, Cooper, Taylor, Cook, Adeyemi, Mowatt (Antenucci – 75), Byram (Murphy – 69), Wood & Dallas; Substitutes –Wootton, Bellusci, Antenucci, Murphy, Doukara, Turnbull & Phillips.
*Images - DCFC MEDIA
© e-Media Group 2015 All rights reserved no part of this document or this website may be reproduced without consent of @e_media_group
No comments: