Derby 2 Newcastle 3

Gregory sent off today and with a lot of work to do between now and next season

Don't know quite what my feelings are today as I left Pride Park. Yes! It was a very entertaining and enjoyable match but yet again Derby County at home managed to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory. A team 2-0 up at home really shouldn't lose but yet again Derby County's frailties where exposed. Is it a lack of fitness as John Gregory has hinted at? Or is it Premiership football know how that we are lacking? This sorry state has to be corrected before we can turn seemingly winning positions into victories.

The match stared with Andy Oakes making a fine save after only nine minutes. A speculative shot from outside the area was heading goal wards as Oakes dived to his right and managed to turn the ball onto his crossbar and away for a corner.

The game swung two and fro in the opening 45 minutes with both teams making reasonable chances. Alan Shearer is fouling at every opportunity But the referee apparently doesn't see the shirt pulling and elbowing that is going on every time the ball come near Shearer. This will not be the first time that referee Styles has a major effect on this game.

Christie opens the Rams scoring with a well taken goal

The second half starts with a bang, and for once it is the Rams who are first out of their blocks. Malcolm Christie with the deftest of touches steers a Lee Morris cross past Given in the Newcastle goal. Newcastle are now stirred into action. They need points to maintain their European aspirations as much as we need the points for other reasons.

A big let-off for the Rams in the 53^rd minute as an Alan Shearer effort is cleared off the line by Richard Jackson. Two minutes later and it is Derby who increase their lead. Ex Newcastle favourite Warren Barton sending over a cross that Lee Morris slots into the net via a post.

With just over an hour played referee Styles makes one of many decisions that where in my opinion totally wrong. Lee Morris runs into the area and is blatantly pushed with both hands by a Newcastle defender but Styles just waves play on to everyone's astonishment.

Newcastle think they have a life line in the 65^th minute as Shearer scores, only to find the assistant's flag raised for offside. Just three minutes later comes a major turning point of the game. A collision of heads between Shearer and Rob Lee sees both players in need of treatment. Lee eventually has to leave the pitch to have running repairs, whilst he and Shearer are off the pitch, Newcastle are awarded a dubious free kick just outside the Rams box. Derby again showing naivety place a two-man wall for the Robert kick. The ball is superbly struck and swerves round the inadequate wall and catches Oakes off guard and grasping at thin air.

Only 19 minutes to go and surely Derby can take the points, but with Newcastle pressing and Derby reverting to the “everyone defend in our own first quarter of the field” approach, it was looking less than certain that any points would be coming our way.

Rob Lee returns from the treatment room with his head covered in bandages. In hindsight it may well have been better to have taken him off after the clash of heads as he doesn't look to effective and may well be concussed.

With 14 minutes left Newcastle score a hotly deputed equaliser. Kieron Dyer scored the goal from a cross that had supporters on both sides of the pitch and Rams players shouting for offside. The referee and linesman (sorry assistant) didn't see it that way. Higginbotham was book for arguing the call to vigorously John Gregory was also incensed and continued to remonstrate with the referee who then sent him off. Gregory was reluctant to move out of the dugout area and had to be asked several times by Styles to vacate the area before restarting the game.

Lau Lau scores late to take all three point back to Tyneside

With 8 minutes left Rob Lee has to leave the pitch due to his head wound. With a minute left of normal time Derby are dealt a devastating blow as Lua Lua scores yet another disputed goal. The vast majority in the crowd believing he was offside again.

Quite how Derby managed to throw away all three points in little over 20 minutes is what John Gregory must put right with this squad for next season. As we now accept that first division football is inevitable.