Unlucky Rams draw again at Birmingham

Derby County’s season seems to be a story of déjà vu; four league games, four draws. However despite only equalising out their opponents in results, the Rams have been unfortunate to take all three points in the matches under Paul Clement’s stewardship.

Article by Fred Gough

Birmingham City [1] Derby County [1] - Attendance: 18,134

Injuries suffered by Jeff Hendrick and Jamie Hanson in Tuesday’s home match against Middlesbrough meant that Derby changed their system once more, deploying a 4-4-2 formation to face a Birmingham City side, who hadn’t played since their draw at Burnley last weekend, due to a postponement at Brentford. In came Cyrus Christie, Craig Forsyth, Johnny Russell and Darren Bent for the injured duo, Stephen Warnock and Andreas Weimann.

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The Blues showed the early promise, as their chances and pressing high in Derby’s half forced Scott Carson into a number of saves from Donaldson, Gray & Toral.
Former Aston Villa striker Bent, jeered by the home faithful for his time in the claret & blue, had great chances to grab his first Derby County league goal since joining permanently, a shot inside the area and a header from a Forsyth cross.

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Tom Ince, another loanee from last season who joined the East Midlands side for their record transfer fee over the summer, had two opportunities of his own to find the opening goal, the first being parried by Polish goalkeeper Kuszczak, the latter a fierce shot hitting the woodwork.

The midfield was full of energy for both sides with contrasting styles, however defenders were coming out on top as neither side could find that clinical strike until a minute before the break.

Dublin born midfielder Stephen Gleeson who had joined Birmingham from MK Dons at the start of the previous campaign, found space 30 yards from goal and drove the ball low and hard towards Carson’s goal, taking deflections, he wheeled away to celebrate his first goal for the Blues as the home side ended the first period pressing like they had in the opening minutes.

Half Time: Birmingham City 1 Derby County 0

Pic - Fred Gough

The second half continued where the first had finished, both sides taking their chances, highly profiled teenager Demarai Gray tested Scott Carson once again before the Rams took their high possession tempo to cause the home side to be camped deep in their half.

Full back Forsyth, who had scored in his last two visits to the West Midlands side whilst wearing Derby County colours attempted to make it a hat-trick of goals with a shot that was beaten away.

Former England Under 21 international Ince had a cross come shot which was clutched to his chest by the Birmingham goalkeeper before Birmingham failed to find the target with their attacking play, as Donaldson was blocked by the former England goalkeeper Carson and Arsenal loanee Toral hit the rebound wide.

The Spaniard who had Championship experience at Brentford last season’s shot was the last serious attempt by the home side, as the Rams took advantage of the pace and energy of their front line.

Shortly after saw Ince, looked for his fellow winger Johnny Russell after a neat turn of pace and it was the Scotsman who fired home his second goal of the week and of the season sending the 2,156 travelling fans into delight and encouraging their team on.

Pumped up by getting the equaliser, the away side continued to threaten the former Manchester United goalkeeper’s goal. Darren Bent grazed a header against the bar, before being replaced by Austrian Weimann who had a scuffed shot hit the post agonisingly for The Rams.

Other chances lacking that bit of luck couldn’t grab the win for Paul Clement’s men who jaded in the closing minutes but still looked the better of the two sides.

Full Time: Birmingham City 1 Derby County 1

Derby have never started a campaign with four straight draws, however performances have improved in each match. High possession against physical sides in the last three will have enthused some fans that Paul Clement is nearing his first win since taking change in June; Leeds are the visitors to the iPro next Saturday, they were the first side to suffer defeat under his predecessor’s leadership and a team that hasn’t won in Derby since 2002 when both sides were last in the Premier League together.

I’m impressed with the way that this season has developed so far, Derby County seem to be doing the right things, despite the setbacks of the injuries suffered in the midfield department as they still hunt for filling the void, with links to Jacob Butterfield, Dale Stephens and Harrison Reed all been linked along with Michail Antonio moving along Brian Clough Way.

Teams:

DCFC [4-4-2] –Carson, Christie (Shotton – 82), Keogh (y/c – 81) , Shackell, Forsyth, Thorne, Baird (capt) , Russell, Ince, Martin (y/c – 65) & Bent (Weimann – 64); Substitutes – Grant, Pearce, Shotton, Warnock, Dawkins, Calero & Weimann.

Birmingham City [4-5-1] – Kuszczak, Caddis, Morrison (capt), Spector, Grounds, Gleeson, Kieftenbeld, Gleeson, Cotterill (Maghoma – 68), Toral (Shinnie – 67), Gray & Donaldson ; Substitutes –Legzdins, Eardley, Robinson, Thomas, Maghoma, Shinnie & Davis.

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