Derby County 3 - 4 Cardiff City

comment by I'm not Spartacus. and definitely not Vidal (U4603)
posted 6 minutes ago
I saw all the goals 666. Their first was a lucky deflection, second we didn't defend the long throw in, third Noone had a bit of luck receiving the ball from a rebound off Butterfields back, penalty was a break away when we we were pressing for a winner. We had to as a draw wasn't good enough. Unlike the Bristol game where Bristol did put us under pressure Cardiff did nothing then got lucky.

Cardiff didn't pressure us at all, just waited for the ball to break for the counter attack. They were worse than both Forest and Rotherham who we beat 3 0. De Sart's long passes didn't help our cause. Not all of them went where they were intended.
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Their first goal wasn't lucky; they had five against four against us. When do we have five against four against anybody? They made that happen with strength of numbers. Keogh came across for the header in the middle, missed it, and they had the second ball.
The second we DID defend the throw-in, but we did it badly. Not sure who was supposed to be marshalling the defence or how much work had been done at the training ground but we all knew the long throw was a threat, yet THREE Rams all went for the ball as it landed short of the near post, against one Cardiff, and none of our boys got near it. That's Ince, de Sart, and Pearce all out of the game. Keogh is static, feet planted and hands b his sides, as the second ball is kicked home.
The third could have been closed down earlier perhaps but was a good attacker's goal, fair play, but they weren't sitting back 'doing nothing' they were pressing us high up the pitch, waiting for a chance to break their way. Make your own luck, and all that!
The fourth was just rank bad defending from Pearce. Sliced the clearance under no pressure, tries to get back and then hacks his man down.

It's not bad luck, it's bad defending.

I'm no psycho but I get the feeling the last three performances have re-triggered some past trauma for a lot of Rams fans.

I think the difference between the last two seasons was having a team that could play better and didn't. This year even when we were on the run, there was a feeling that we didn't have another gear to go into. When injuries and suspensions hit we didn't have like for like replacements and struggled.

January brought in two players that can link play JDS n Nugent both of whom are still finding their feet, we put our eggs in the CM basket for a hold up striker and out wide we said fudge it.

We needed and need to find another gear if we're going to offer a proper challenge and for that we're going to have to tinker and transition a bit, which will mean we'll probably upset the balance from our previously hard to break down but creatively stunted team that got us to verge of playoff positions.

I still think we could mount a challenge if we click quick but would happily sacrifice Billy Davies-ing it into the playoffs for laying some footballing foundations for next season.

Damage was done before SM came, in my opinion he's playing with an average hand, the opposition has worked out our ace cards and the January deal gave him a few options that he's still working out how to play.

666 knows nowt. I was there and saw it. There was not much of a problem. Our defender had the shot covered, i.e. he was in between the ball and the goal, the striker just got lucky.

Cardiff were really bad, especially in the first half and should have been 4 0 down before this goal. This was despite Hughes having an awful game, probably carrying an injury.

, probably carrying an injury.

Well if that is the case the manager is at fault 100%

It is said frequently that teams have "found us out" Surely this is a two way process, why can't we seem to "find them out"?........

The highlights are there for all to see; I can't contest what happened in between goals, but Cardiff having five players against our four for the first goal doesn't back up Spurt's version of them sitting back, not pressing, and catching a lucky break.

Keogh misses the header, and there's five of them against our four. We were outnumbered, in our own defensive third; that's not luck, that's a tactic.

Hughes has been limping for the last 2 games and an idiot near me was slagging him off and says we should get rid, I told him he was wrong.. Will shouldn't play till he's fit.

P.S. The same idiot doesn't want Martin back!! Can you believe that?

Is Martin the Holy Grail?

No he's a very naughty boy.

Interchangeable front 3 go on Steve you know you want to.