Dumbfounding defeat for Derby continues nightmare spell

The new year hasn’t been a bright one for Derby County after losing two and drawing their other league fixtures so far this month but described as the perfect tonic to restore faith, they came up against a Burnley side hot on their heels. The Rams have slipped out the top three due to their own results and those in the promotion push.

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Article by Fred Gough

Burnley [4] Derby County [1] - Attendance: 15,124

Three solid changes were made by head coach Paul Clement for his starting eleven, in returned first choice goalkeeper Scott Carson after his lay off had kept him out since after the win at Hull at the end of November, George Thorne & Chris Martin were also restored after cameos off the bench in the crushing defeat at home to Birmingham City last week, meaning Jeff Hendrick and Johnny Russell occupied the bench alongside a returning Craig Bryson.

Burnley unlike their visitors have been a largely settled match day selection by their manager Sean Dyche and the former Nottingham Forest trainee raised no eyebrows with his squad.

It was Derby who started the brighter in this fixture at Turf Moor, a place where they had failed to come away with all three points since October 2004 in the season George Burley took the Rams to a play-off semi-final.

Talisman Chris Martin should have done better with the first attempt on Tom Heaton’s goal but the Suffolk born Scotsman couldn’t get enough on the ball to steer it home following a set piece by Jacob Butterfield. Tom Ince tried but his shot could only be pushed away before Jason Shackell back at Burnley for the first time since returning to the East Midlands in the summer couldn’t direct a header goal bound.

However it would be the Clarets showing their vintage style who opened the scoring. Right wing back Matthew Lowton crossing the ball dangerously into the Derby box was met by the unfortunate Richard Keogh who guided the ball further across Carson’s goal and into the back of his own net.

Derby hit back instantly, only taking 26 seconds to level things back up, Butterfield latched onto a knock down by Martin to please the away support with the midfielder’s fine volley giving Derby belief as they continued to show a lot more encouragement than they had through the last few weeks.

Big money signing Andre Gray couldn’t convert at the other end to put the Lancashire side back ahead before Nick Blackman went close on two occasions but the former Blackburn striker couldn’t beat the ex-Manchester United academy graduate goalkeeper Heaton as the Rams looked more likely to take encouragement from the first half display.

Half Time: Burnley 1 Derby County 1

The sucker punching Burnley turned the game on its head with two quick penalties, first Keogh upended the weaving Gray who dispatched coolly past Carson before Shackell handled in the same penalty area for this time Welsh international striker Sam Vokes to step up and put the ball in the goal from twelve yards.

The luck evaporated from Derby as the home side went on the ascendancy looking to build upon their advantage which would leap them over the Rams in the SkyBet Championship, tidy midfield passing left space before 27 year old former Scotland Under 21 international Scott Arfield drove the ball at goal, for the shot to take a heavy deflection off the former Burnley captain Shackell and over Carson to compound the misery.

Huffing and puffing to get some pride back after what had been their best performance and pleasing statistics for some time Derby were unable to change the score-line and returned home with little or nothing to show for their efforts.

Full Time: Burnley 4 Derby County 1

Paul Clement commended his team’s spirit until the point the spell where the two penalties were awarded and purposely was determined to put things right after this latest defeat and wanted to put this result to bed.

Manchester United at home is what is now on the radar for Derby as they get some light relief from the league form which has now seen them sink from second going on top to fifth and could find themselves outside the play-off spots if results continue to be unfavourable.

Will the battle of the two wounded animals of the English top leagues be able to recapture their fans belief that this season will provide joy and optimism or will it be a game which is unfavourable for both sides? That all depends on what kind of team Louis van Gaal sets out with, with the Premier League seeming a bit unlikely for the Red Devils, this is a cup competition that the Dutchman should look to win for the top flight outfit however recent times haven’t been easy.

Teams:

Burnley – Heaton, Lowton, Keane, Mee, Ward, Boyd, Jones, Barton, Arfield, Vokes (Marney – 89) & Gray (Hennings – 79); Substitutes – Duff, Marney, Kightly, Taylor, Hennings, Darikwa & Nizic.

DCFC – Carson, Christie, Keogh, Shackell (y/c - 57), Warnock, Butterfield, Thorne, Johnson (y/c – 68 (Camara – 69)), Ince (Russell – 79), Martin & Blackman (Bryson – 86); Substitutes – Grant, Bryson, Hendrick, Russell, Baird, Camara & Shotton.

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