Another Saturday evening and another irrational desire to hang a match official by his ankles from the West Stand. It's hard being a fan but it's even harder when you see 14 guys working hard and getting nothing for it. It's harder still, when you hear so-called 'supporters' slating the team on the radio on the way home.
The overall performance was much better than Tuesday. It wasn't as exciting or expansive, but it was a gritty, sensible team performance that should have yielded our first points of the season. We're not far away. We have new players settling in and everyone is adjusting to a different philosophy and it takes time. In patches, we've played some great stuff, defended stubbornly and looked dangerous. When this team combines those elements, they'll take a lot of beating, but we have to be patient and give them time.
This time last season, we only had 2 points, so things aren't that bad. For the record, the majority of the crowd was superb and gave the team great vocal support. Without two poor decisions and a poor half, we'd have 5 points on the board and things would look a whole lot rosier. We've just got to take it on the chin and move forward. There have been tons of positives in the three games so far and nothing to suggest we won't finish in a position similar or better then last season.
The defence was much sturdier. Livermore gave them great protection, but credit it where it's due, Collins and Turner fought for everything, held a good line and refused to give an inch to the brute of Howard and the skill of Smith. Ricketts and Dawson backed them up like they did in the first half on Tuesday. It's a cliche, but defence starts with the attack and the 2 up top and the 2 out wide worked very hard to pressurise defenders and stop Derby using the ball. Derby are incredibly talented in central midfield, so stopping that use of the ball was crucial. Even the attacking midfielder, Marney, works hard to get back and help out, which is why he looks a much more complete player than Green. Derby didn't have a lot in the way of chances, only 1 or 2 speculative efforts and a very good break through the middle that ended with Smith finding Bo's arms.
Going forward, we were more cautious and committed less players. Because of the lack of footballing ability in central defence, we hit a lot of direct balls, but to be fair, a fair percentage were good balls that people could take down and use. Duffy struggled against the physical challenge of Johnson and Moore and didn't look a threat. He was very poor and we improved after he limped off. Barmby looked like a player with a lot to prove. He worked hard, he chased and harried and used the ball sensibly. He was probably lucky to stay on the pitch though, he had a bout of over eagerness. The Beast was great again. His work rate was noticeably higher and he lasted 90 minutes. The only criticism you could aim at him is that he's trying to do too much. On several occasions, he took the ball down, found some space and neglected a simple pass, choosing to try something special instead, which didn't come off and wasted possession. He's incredibly good at what he does when he keeps it simple.
Fagan was the biggest threat; he terrified the full back, beat him numerous times, worked up and down the line and won the penalty. He's becoming a very, very good right winger. He was inches from an equaliser after moving up front. Francey, on the other hand, didn't do enough. He won lots of ball on the left, but wasted it because he was desperate to come inside on his right foot. Marney didn't have the attacking influence he had against Barnsley, but put in an energetic performance. He's a very complete midfielder and still very young. His set piece delivery is very good.
We earned at least a point on that performance. We didn't get it because the linesman didn't give an obvious offside and then gave a penalty for handball when Andy Dawson was struck on the arm by a cross. There was no intent whatsoever to handle the ball. To be fair to Derby, the decision for our penalty was questionable, although we felt that Fagan had been caught, but exaggerated the contact. The referee was no better. He gave Derby every 50/50 decision. He failed to book Adam Bolder for throwing an elbow at Stuart Elliott and he failed to book Livermore for a poor tackle on a Derby midfielder. He gave every pedantic decision he could get away with, but gave Derby nothing when Livermore scissored one of theirs from behind. He was abysmal.
So that's it, another solid performance that didn't earn what it deserved. There are lots and lots to be positive about. Please stay behind the team and the manager and give them the time they need. They will get it right. At this moment, we're probably a striker short if McPhee is still two months away. Besides that, we have a young, hungry squad with good experience mixed in. They'll make mistakes, but they'll work hard and deliver committed performances. We have 129 points to play for. Believe in the players and the management.
Bo 7, Ricketts 7, Collins 6, Turner 7, Dawson 7, Fagan 8, France 6 (Elliott), Livermore 7 (Andrews), Marney 7, Duffy 5 (Barmby 7), Parkin 7.
Collins is lower than the rest of the defence. Not for anything he did defensively, but because I felt he was the most guilty of poor distribution.