For Those Who Could not Attend

For Those Who Could not Attend.

Date : Sunday 08 March 2020
Opponents : Blackburn Rovers.
5th Round FA Cup.
Team :- Hamer, Bogle, Wisdom, Clarke, Forsyth.
Bird, Knight, Shinnie
Sibley. Waghorn
Martin.
Subs :- Roos, Marriott, Evans, Whittaker, Lowe, Marriott, Malone
Referee :- John Brooks
Attendance :- 25,690
Conditions :- Early spring, mild, dry and bright.


Looking forward to a game between two traditional football league sides, pretty level in the league. 3 points are important for both sides so we expect an exciting game. With performances perhaps boosted by Derby’s Thursday night’s game v Man U in which they could be very proud of their performance. We wonder what Cocu’s selection would be after they all did really well. It’s a pity Lawrence was injured in the cup tie.

In the event the selection contained some big surprises, the biggest being the absence of Rooney. The second was the drop to the bench of Davies and then the inclusion of Louis Sibley

Blackburn Rovers started with real purpose. For 10 minutes Derby almost never touched the ball and the goal was constantly under threat, though with there being no shots or headers on target. Then gradually, derby began to take control with rapid movement forward, good ball retention and some pin-point through balls that led to a number of openings which Walton kept out with excellent saves from Chris Martin and Waggy. On the half hour mark, Sibley got the ball - ran at speed toward the Rover's goal and unleashed an unstoppable shot past Walton into the top corner. He produced a worldy for his first senior goal for The Rams. It took the wind right out of our Rover’s sails and from then on Derby were in command. Shinnie hit a great shot from about 30 yards which Walton could only just keep out with the re-bound going to ever alert Martyn Waghorn for his 10th goal of the season. Later, after great movement and interplay, Waggy, having received great pass from Martin, went round the goalie and slotted the ball towards the far corner. As one the crowd rose to cheer the third goal, when the ball somehow defied the laws of physics and rebounded out rather than in. There were further chances for Derby but the score remained 2-0 at half-time.

The inevitable post break rally by the visitors duly occurred with some powerful attacks that Derby nevertheless kept out by some solid defending. Clarke, Forsyth , Bogle and Wisdom (who was captain in Rooney’s absence) all playing well and assisted greatly by Shinnie who is looking more and more like Bryson. Derby absorbed the Boro pressure with Hamer making some good saves and clearing high crosses with slightly tentative punches which were nevertheless effective. On one breakaway, Derby got a few players forward and Knight was brought down in the area for a stone certain penalty. It was duly taken by Chris Martin who made no mistake to make it 3-0. And so it stayed - with Blackburn resigned to their defeat until the ref blew for the close.

All of Derby’s players performed very well, none badly. Outstanding were Martin, Shinnie, Waggy, Bird, Knight, Wisdom and Clarke - and Fossie. The referee? I never noticed him which is the sign he did really well.