2.4.2011
CCFC 4 v 1 DERBY
The pre-match walk-up chit-chat was unsurprisingly pretty
low-key on the back of a string of disappointing performances. The fear was
that by 16.50 our automatic promotion hopes would have finally disappeared and
we would be looking over our shoulders at the chasing play-offs pack. After
all, if Norwich were to win and we continued our recent run we would be 7
points off the pace. In the event, our victory and another shock defeat for our
chums down the road means that we can still believe. Just.
In truth this was the sort of result that we might have
reasonably expected in recent weeks against the likes of Ipswich, Barnsley
& Palace. Derby were as poor an outfit as we have seen all season.
Disinterested, uninspired and at times comically inept, this was the most routine
of victories.
We began with last-minute-smacking-of-desperation loan
signing JLloyd Samuel filling in at left back allowing McNaughton to take
Hudson’s place alongside Keinan. It’s far from ideal to be playing with a
makeshift back four at this vital stage of the season and they will face
stiffer tests before we can judge if the combination will work. Samuel, who
hasn’t played first team football this season looked competent but was clearly
not match fit. Jones has options (Darcy Blake anyone? Celtic-bound misfit wunderkind
Adam Matthews...?) Very odd.
With Chopra’s season already behind him, Bellers moved
inside to link up with JB, with Burke on the right and Whitts playing in his
preferred role getting forward down the left side of midfield, creating rather
than chasing back. With McPhail directing proceedings from midfield we had
plenty of attacking options and hit the static Derby defence from the off.
Within 6 minutes Bellamy’s pace induced a mistimed tackle in the box and his
theatricals persuaded the Ref to point to the spot. Not convinced, but,
hey-ho.....Up stepped Bothroyd to plant the ball nonchalantly in the corner and
we were off to the best possible start.
We had other chances in the first half, notably when following
a superb through ball from Bothroyd, Bellamy sped clear, rounded the ‘keeper
but his touch took him wide enough for the shot to be cleared off the line. So
only 1-0 at half time and it all seemed very comfortable without being
convincing and plenty of scope for events to turn the shape of pears...
Within minutes of the restart any jitters were but a passing
torment as first Keinan popped up to grab a free header from a Burke corner for
only his second goal for the Bluebirds and then minutes later the ball broke
loose in the box for Quinn to grab his first goal of the season. In between we
witnessed the comedy miss of this and possibly any other season from Derby –
from all of about 3 inches. Heaton stranded, the goal at his mercy the Derby
forward (who? dunno, don’t care...) ballooned the ball over the bar. Oh how we
laughed!
We were now surging forward at will and it was no surprise
that Whitts should grab another after one of the best moves of the game. So 4-0
with about half an hour to go.
Plenty of time then for the home fans to indulge in some
good-humoured (ok, bad-natured) Savage-baiting and for the away fans to
bizzarely mark their team’s pitiful performance by starting a conga which
became so long that our jobsworth stewards felt the need to step in and break
up the ‘party’.
Due to a couple of nasty injuries for Derby players we had 6
minutes of injury time, just enough time for City to take the gloss off a
comfortable goal-difference bonanza by conceding a needless and dubious
penalty. Up stepped Savage to say his final farewell.
In front of 22,500 fans including a large Malaysian
contingent headed by their Crown Prince Abdullah apparently (I jest not) this
was just the boost we needed. Whether we can push on from here is another
matter of course...
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