Weimann sends Rams fans cock-a-hoop against QPR

Football is a sport in which it can make those involved feel a full spectrum of emotions; the last time these two sides met was on Saturday 24 May 2014 and the eventual winners of that fateful day would bask in the glory of promotion back to the Premier League.

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Article by Fred Gough

Derby County [1] Queens Park Rangers [0] - Attendance: 28,502

Optimistic Derby County fans travelled to Wembley Stadium that afternoon and saw their side dominant a Queens Park Rangers side who thanks to experienced striker Bobby Zamora stole the prize in the dying minutes.

Meanwhile, in Lisbon as Rams fans sunk their heads on their return back up to the Midlands, Paul Clement as assistant coach was celebrating one of his finest hours in football by lifting the UEFA Champions League trophy with Real Madrid over city rivals Atletico.

The now Rams number one faced the Hoops for the first time since taking the hot seat in the summer and has his own personal links to the London outfit, after his dad Dave made over 400 appearances for his local side in the 1960s and 1970s.

IMAGE - DCFC MEDIA

Only one enforced change to the starting eleven for the home side, the suspended Thorne missed out which saw a return for Irishman Jeff Hendrick.

A cagey opening from both sides saw end to end chances fortune the defenders, both sides full of high tempo tried to show their contrasting styles but neither could be clinical enough in front of their opposing former England goalkeeper.

Derby were forced into an early change when bombing forward wing back Craig Forsyth fell awkwardly after a slight shove forcing the Scottish player to be stretched off. This spurred the Rams on, as Andreas Weimann unselfishly found Johnny Russell who couldn’t beat the defenders with his shot, Jacob Butterfield, Hendrick and Chris Martin all went close but the first half ended with both sides level and despite less possession the R’s in their Dennis the Menace away colours like they were at the national stadium looked more likely to strike.

Half Time: Derby County 0 Queens Park Rangers 0

The half time pep talk from the Derby County coaching set up inspired a blistering start to the second half from their side; Butterfield was denied only by the inside of the post before the deadlock was broken only a few moments later.

A Derby corner was only half cleared away, before Cyrus Christie’s cross deflected to his fellow countryman Richard Keogh who had stayed up after the set piece, who turned and found Austrian Weimann who stabbed home his second in consecutive matches at the iPro Stadium to put his side ahead. Justice for Keogh, after his poor controlled pass had teed up the goal at Wembley which earned the Londoners promotion.

IMAGE - DCFC MEDIA

Further long range efforts from the away side made it easy for the Rams in a game which was quickly turning into a very physical battle and saw Forsyth’s replacement Stephen Warnock leave the field due to a facial injury. Former Nottingham Forest trainee James Perch also left the action early after picking up a late second yellow card for a robust tackle deep in his own half and despite the six minutes of stoppage time added on by the officials, Derby were victorious for the eighth time in the last ten.

Full Time: Derby County 1 Queens Park Rangers 0

This was the start of Derby County’s most testing period of the season, and in a game riding with such passion due to the events only 17 months prior in which both sides had seen a plethora of changes.

Supporters would have been buoyed by the fact that they saw their side play with a hunger to stand up to the physicality of Queens Park Rangers’ midfield battlers and saw a different dimension to the slick passing that they have been acclimatised to in the last few seasons.

IMAGE - DCFC MEDIA

Paul Clement was full of praise for his side’s performance and was determined to switch his focus to Friday’s fixture at local rivals Nottingham Forest. Eight wins and two draws in ten demonstrates that Derby have found their rhythm under Paul Clement and need to maintain that consistently should they want to experience the top flight once more.

Teams:

DCFC [4-3-3] – Carson, Christie (y/c – 41), Keogh, Shackell, Forsyth (Warnock – 21(Baird – 77)), Hendrick (Hanson – 83) , Butterfield, Johnson (y/c – 57), Weimann (y/c - 85) , Martin (capt) & Russell (y/c - 90+4); Substitutes – Warnock, Pearce, Baird, Grant, Hanson, Bent & Bryson

QPR [4-2-3-1] – Green, Perch (y/c – 72; s/o – 89),Onuoha, Hall, Konchesky, Henry, Faurlin (Blackwood – 84), Tozer (Fer – 76 (y/c – 90+2)), Suk-Young ((y/c – 41) Hoilett – 66), Phillips & Austin (y/c – 48) ; Substitutes – Smithies, Angella, Doughty, Potter Fer, Blackwood & Hoilett,.

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