For Those who Could not Attend

Team v Millwall Saturday Dec 14th 2019

Hamer, Bogle, Davies, Forsyth, Lowe.
Evans, Holmes, Knight
Lawrence, Martin. Waghorn
Substitutes. Wisdom, Roos. Bielic, Josefzoon, Malone, Dowell, Whitaker

Conditions: Bright sun and cold.
Pitch: Immaculate
Attendance. 26,272

Ref. Chris Kavanagh

We needed a cheering and confidence building win over an in-form Millwall today getting perhaps a bit of revenge for the manner of Rowett’s departure to Stoke. We needed to start hitting the target, scoring enough to eliminate all doubts and worry about a late equaliser and to recover something of a goal difference. And after a sad/happy memorium to Jim Smith, he would have been proud as the game got started.

Alas it was not to be, largely due to a spirited performance by Millwall and a lack of energy, urgency and organisation in the Derby team,

Unbeaten at PP for 9 games, Derby started well enough applying early pressure with a highish tempo. It was pretty even for a while with Knight doing well. Derby put themselves under pressure by committing silly fouls in dangerous areas - a common and dangerous fault these days, one which you would think the manager could correct by imposing a fine of £500 for each such offence. (Only joking) Though not from a dead ball situation, Bradshaw showed great skill to beat Forsyth and lashed in a goal of some beauty if you are GR. As many times before, our wing backs committed their usual errors after good approach work of really poor crosses. They also showed a severe lack of urgency. The way we played you would have thought we were two up rather than a goal behind. Gary Rowett will have been pleasantly surprised how easy it was to be outplaying his old team as he went in at half-time one goal to the good. Millwall were generally good value for their lead. Derby were poor with the crowd booing their team off the pitch. What is wrong with the attitude and work rate of Derby County players?

During the break there was at least one bit of good news. Sheffield Wednesday - fresh from being held 1-1 at PP, were beating Forest at the Schitty Ground 0 goals to 4. At the restart, Derby had been considerably enlivened. Breaking down the left, Knight passed to Lawrence (I think) and Waghorn missed when he ought to have scored. The game swung from end to end with Holmes striving to create something. Getting a few corners Derby hardly looked dangerous. When did we last score from a corner? Millwall defended well though Derby seemed to get closer and closer to scoring, putting more and more pressure on Millwall. Holmes’s long throws are increasingly being used though they seem to be a yard or too short to be really dangerous.

One has to say Hamer looked a little safer than Roos of late. The defence were not terrible. Bogle almost scored but the goalie just pushed it around the post. No Derby player excelled. There was a distinct lack of creativity and they never really looked like scoring. Our midfield never really got to grips and we really did not make a challenge though there was more urgency in the second half. In the end Millwall earned their point and Rowett went home feeling very happy with his visit to PP. One wonders why we ever took a loan of Dowell. He distinctly does not look like an Everton player. If only we could have got one of the quality of Leon Osman.
Boy! how we are missing Wilson, Tomori and Mount. Of course we are ever likely to miss such players. At the end Millwall cheated unashamedly to waste as much time as possible. They played more as a team than Derby did. There is an urgent need for change at PP. The team went off to Derby boos at the end.