Derby County (0) 2-1 (1) Coventry City
0-1 Leon Best (4)
1-1 Rob Hulse (49)
2-1 Rob Hulse (61)
2-1 Jordan Clarke sent off - two yellow cards (62)
2-1 Rob Hulse, missed penalty (81)
Pride Park Stadium, Derby: 26,511.
Derby County (4-4-2): -
Stephen Bywater [5] – GK – In his first game since being hailed as one of the top six English goalkeepers by his manager, Bywater didn’t play like it. A poor punch straight to Best conceded an early goal for the visitors. Didn’t gain confidence after that and flapped at three or four more crosses. Overall, didn’t have a great deal to do.
Fredrik Stoor [7] – RB – A very solid game by Stoor both defensively and going forward. Got caught marking two men in the build up to Coventry’s goal and got pulled inside, leaving Freddy Eastwood far too much space out wide to deliver the cross. After that though, Stoor kept Eastwood quiet. Looked to get forward when he could, and overlapped on numerous occasions, looking comfortable on the ball, and linking up the attack with both passes and crosses. Almost caught out Dimitrios Konstantopoulos with a cross-come-shot on 47 minutes.
Shaun Barker [8] – CB(R) – Showing signs of developing a good understanding with his centre-back partner Dean Leacock. Getting better with every game, now starting to look like the dominant Blackpool defender Nigel Clough was so desperate to sign. Quick and read the game well, very dominant in the air, and passed the ball well. Caused Coventry problems from corners and free-kicks. Had a very strong shout for a penalty on 14 minutes when Elliott Ward slid through him without making any contact with the ball. Brought back memories of Terry Butcher for England as he played 58 minutes with a bandaged head.
Dean Leacock [8] – CB(L) – Starting to look the part again after his injuries and illness. Read the game well, very dominant in the air, and showed real composure on the ball displaying good vision with his passes and an ability to bring the ball out of defence with confidence. Caused problems for Coventry from set-pieces. In a crowded penalty area, Leacock hit a half-volley narrowly wide on 8 minutes. Didn’t see out the full game and was replaced by Miles Addison after 78 minutes.
Dean Moxey [7] – LB – After struggling in recent games because he was playing with a groin injury, this was arguably Moxey’s best game in a Derby County shirt. Kept Clinton Morrison very quiet down the left-hand side. Played Best onside in first-half stoppage time, but recovered well to dissposses Best in the penalty area. Got forward well and showed a good understanding with Gary Teale down the left flank. Overlapped well, but his crosses into the penalty area need to improve.
Paul Green [6] – RM – A welcome return to the first team after injury, Green brought his usual energy, work rate, and commitment to close players down, and showed glimpses of what the Rams have been missing. Not a natural wide player, Green didn’t look to take Patrick Van Aanholt on at all, and tended to come inside as a natural preference. Worked well with Robbie Savage and Stoor to link up play, but gave the ball away too often – sometimes through trying to deliver the killer ball, but more often because the pass lacked the necessary weight. Almost lasted the full 90 minutes, but not quite.
Robbie Savage [7] – CM(R) – Another strong display from the Rams captain, showing high work rate, desire, and commitment to the cause. Always chasing and harrying, he closed Coventry down at every opportunity and tackled well. Gave the ball away twice in the build-up to Coventry’s goal, but generally passed the ball well. Always looking for the ball, he showed for it more than his colleagues in midfield, and looked to keep the momentum going with quick passes, and quickly taken free-kicks.
Stephen Pearson [8] – CM(L) – Still getting back to full fitness, Pearson looked more like the influential player he was in the 2006/07 promotion season. Pearson gives the Rams something extra with his surging forward runs, close control, and ability to twist and turn at speed. This was highlighted in the build-up to Derby County’s winning goal – involved in a passing exchange midway inside his own half with Green and Savage, Pearson surged forward at pace to receive the ball wide left and deliver a cross into the penalty area. Produced a piece of pure magic on the stroke of halftime when he burst into the box with the ball, beat a couple of defenders with pace and close control trickery, before laying the ball back for Paul Dickov to blast over the bar. Always looking for the ball, he combined well with Teale and Moxey down the left. Pearson made a number of great runs off the ball which his colleagues were unable to pick out.
Gary Teale [6] – LM – A typical game from the left winger, saw plenty of the ball but was generally hit and miss. At times, able to get the better of Jordan Clarke and deliver a cross into the danger area, at other times lost possession by running into the full-back or losing out in the tackle. Delivered some good corners into the penalty area. Cut inside and dragged a shot wide from outside the penalty area on 37 minutes. Delivered a lovely low cross in the second-half that neither Paul Dickov nor Rob Hulse could get on the end of. Provided a fantastic cross on 80 minutes that saw Ward shove Lee Croft in the back for the penalty. Also worked hard defensively to help out Moxey.
Paul Dickov [8] – SC – A tireless performance from the diminutive striker, always running, always looking for the ball. Links up play very well as he looks to receive the ball and pass it on with good vision. Tends to drop deep to receive the ball, but does give players options with his intelligent running. Wasted a great chance to equalise when he blazed the ball over the bar from six yards on the stroke of half-time after good work by Pearson. Two great second-half assists – a brilliant chipped cross from the left wing for Rob Hulse’s first goal, and Dickov never gave up on an overhit cross to catch up with the ball, bring it under control, and lay it back to Hulse for Derby County’s winning goal.
Rob Hulse [8] – SC – Getting back to his Player of the Season form of last year, Hulse was voted Man of the Match by Rams fans. Led the line well with his ability to win the ball in the air or to chest it down, control it, and lay it off. More effective as a target man in a 4-4-2 formation, than as a lone striker in a 4-5-1, particularly when supported by the hard working Dickov who gives Hulse something to work with. Unlucky when his goal bound shot deflected wide on 9 minutes. Scored two great goals - the first on 49 minutes when he chested down Dickov’s cross and stabbed the ball home with little to aim at; for the second he showed intelligence to find space inside the penalty area and smashed Dickov’s lay-off low and hard into the back of the net. Had an excellent chance for a hattrick but his low penalty was saved by Konstantopolous.
Substitutes: -
Miles Addison [6] – CB(L) (for Leacock, 78) – It was great to see Addison return after injury and he settled into the centre of defence alongside Barker at a time when Derby County sat back and allowed 10-man Coventry City to pile on the pressure. Was strong in the air but looked a little hesitant on the deck.
Lee Croft [6] – RM (for Dickov, 79) – His introduction allowed Derby County to employ the 4-5-1 system Nigel Clough started the season with, reuniting Green, Savage and Pearson in a central midfield triangle. Croft won the penalty, before he’d even touched the ball, when Ward pushed him in the back. Looked for the ball and broke forward a few times with pace, unfortunately he stopped, thinking he was offside, during his best run and the opportunity was lost.
Jake Livermore [n/a] – CM(R) (for Green, 88) – Not on long enough to influence the game.
Subs not used: Ross Atkins, Paul Connolly, Jay McEveley, Bryan Hughes.