Robust Derby hold up Clarets
Two wins in their previous fixtures had resurfaced some confidence in Derby County ahead of their fixture at home to Burnley. The Clarets had returned to the SkyBet Championship after a solo season back in the top flight and with the Rams are seen as one of the favourites for promotion. Sean Dyche had bemoaned about Derby’s spending in the summer months after the Rams lured Jason Shackell to return to the East Midlands after three years at Turf Moor.
Article by Fred Gough
Derby County [0] Burnley [0] - Attendance: 26,834
The Rams made a couple of changes from the win at Reading last week, George Thorne returned to the team after his latest slight lay off and Andreas Weimann made his first home start as a minor knock his knee ruled out Tom Ince.
The Rams demonstrated their high tempo making their opposition have to play defensively and soak up the pressure that Derby’s front line was putting them under. The home fans appealed for two penalties in the opening stages but both were waved away by the referee. Johnny Russell continuing his bright start to the season after signing a new contract attempted a long range effort but the shot deflected comfortably into England squad goalkeeper Tom Heaton. Jacob Butterfield alongside Bradley Johnson was making his home debut but his low drive was easy for the goalkeeper too.
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Burnley hardly threatened the Rams in the first half, only George Boyd poking over a shot after a goalmouth scramble and their attempts to take the lead were hampered when £9 million signing Andre Gray pulled up with a hamstring injury on the half hour mark.
Half Time: Derby County 0 Burnley 0
More pressure on the Burnley defence was to the story of the second half. Butterfield fired high and wide again before former captain Richard Keogh narrowly headed wide from a Russell corner but the Clarets firm defensive line allowed them to seize a couple of chances. Sam Vokes fired Burnley’s first shot on target straight at the Derby goalkeeper but the former Leeds United trainee’s fingers were stung as he battered it away.
Irishman Keogh again came close as his header was cleared off the line and George Thorne forced Heaton into a superb save in a quick fired double barrage from the home side.
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Vokes scooped another attempt over and scuffed an attempt from close range either side of a Jeff Hendrick long range drive but both sides could not break the deadlock.
Full Time: Derby County 0 Burnley 0
Paul Clement is still chasing his first home win since arriving at the iPro, however his side threw a lot into this game, they just couldn’t find the back of the net. Burnley’s game plan probably was to defuse Derby’s attacking threats which they managed to do, defenders Keane and Duff kept Martin quiet and hardly letting the Rams striker get his moments in front of goal. Irish international Cyrus Christie handled his role with the same form which saw him start last season brightly and will certainly battle Chris Baird for the right back role for when Derby make their first visit to Stadium: MK on Saturday.
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Hopefully with games against Milton Keynes Dons and Brentford, the Rams can continue their unbeaten form displayed since the international break and find that exclusive first home win of the season against the Bees at the beginning of October. The addition of Kevin Phillips to the backroom staff last week should also help boost the confidence of the Rams strikers who perhaps have been suffering the most of the lack of finding the form that is expected of them.
Teams:
DCFC [4-3-3] – Carson, Christie, Keogh, Shackell, Forsyth, Thorne (Hanson - 81), Butterfield (Hendrick – 74), Johnson, Weimann, Martin & Russell; Substitutes – Warnock, Shotton, Bent, Grant, Hendrick, Hanson & Pearce
Reading [4-4-2] –Heaton, Darikwa, Duff, Keane, Mee, Boyd, Jones, Arfield, Kightly (Taylor – 81), Vokes & Gray (Hennings – 30) ; Substitutes – Gilks, Ward, Lowton, Long, Barton, Taylor & Hennings.
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