2Slick
02-12-2006, 17:46
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1
DERBY COUNTY 0
From the Hawthorns
Veteran striker John Hartson ended the Rams' run of six straight victories with a late, late show at The Hawthorns.
His 88th minute goal broke the deadlock after a hard-fought but often scrappy West Midlands affair which marked the return to action of Paul Peschisolido. Darren Moore took the skipper's armband against his former club in place of the injured Michael Johnson.
The Rams, sporting their blue and yellow second strip, kicked off towards the Brummie Road end, with a travelling support of over 2,500 behind them in the Smethwick End.
A speculative Phillips strike on two minutes took a deflection off a Rams defender and spun away for a corner and, within seconds, Greening had fired over the upright from the right-hand corner of Bywater's box,
Koumas' cross from the left on four minutes was handled in the air by Bywater, who couldn't keep hold of the ball. It fell for Boertien to half-clear only for Kamara to squander a chance by heading wide from close range,
On eight minutes a Jones free-kick into the box from the left was headed wide by Leacock.
Kamara's first-time volley flew over Bywater's crossbar from Koumas' cross from the left on 13 minutes. Within seconds a last-ditch Johnson tackle thwarted Kamara as he teed up to shoot from inside the area. The challenge left Jonno on the deck needing medical attention and, on 15 minutes, he was replaced by Darren Moore, who received a standing ovation from the fans of his former club. Moore took the skipper's armband.
Robinson's header from Albrechtsen's cross trickled inches wide of Bywater's left-hand post on 18 minutes.
Lupoli forced the Rams' first corner on 22 minutes, Jones' short set-piece to Barnes was returned for the on-loan Manchester United midfielder to fire into Hoult's arms.
Koumas' deep free-kick was headed back across goal by Phillips and McShane's goalwards header was cleared by Howard on 24 minutes.
Howard's strong run through the middle on 26 deserved more than his weak shot on the turn that was easy for Hoult to gather.
A superb save from Bywater one-on-one with Phillips kept the Rams in the game on 30 minutes. Robinson's through ball found Phillips with just the Rams keeper to beat - Bywater's brave dive to Phillips' feet clearing the ball to safety.
Kamara's crude late tackle on Lupoli saw the Sengalese player pick up the first booking onf the afternoon on 32 minutes,
Howard met Barnes' low cross from the right in the centre of the area but fired tamely over Hoult's crossbar on 41.
Bolder's rash challenge on Greening on 44 minutes earned the home side a free-kick and the Rams midfielder a warning from the referee. Within a minute Greening's low shot had flown past Bywater's left-hand post.
A scrappy opening first 15 minutes of the second half saw little opportunity for either side until, on 59, the Rams were momentarily down to 10 men while Boertien received treatment to a head injury. As the bandage-clad full-back returned to the pitch he could only watch as Kamara exposed the space left to fire high at Bywater's net - the keeper reacted quickly to tip on to the crossbar for a corner. It was Kamara's last action of the game as he was replaced on 62 minutes by Hartson.
Stead was replaced by Bisgaard for the Rams a minute later.
On 67 minutes, there was another defensive scare for Derby as Leacock was left floored by a 50-50 challenge with Koumas.
With two minutes, a brave Barnes challenge on the halfway line freed the midfielder who drove at the West Brom defence, but a foul by Quashie halted his progress 30 yards form goal, allowing the Rams to mount an attack from a free-kick. Jones' delivery floated harmlessly across the face of Hoult's goal.
West Brom breached the Rams back line again on 75 with Gera's clever pass releasing Albrechtsen whose drilled pass across the goal was a certain goal for Phillips - but the ball squirmed harmlessly away as the striker found himself in a tangle.
As the game started to open up the Rams had the right man to help relieve the pressure, Lupoli jinked his way from the halfway line into the area only to see his angled shot parried to safety on 77.
Peschisolido returned to Rams action in place of Lupoli on 83 minutes.
As the game moved into the final five minutes all the pressure was being put on the Rams goal and, as Phillips wriggled clear in a packed box, Moore was there to make a last-ditch block to concede a corner that Bywater gathered comfortably.
With two minutes to go Derby could withstand no more pressure as Hartson piled his way through a ragged backline to fire past Bywater with the aid of a Boertien deflection. Hartson was booked for his celebration - which was scant consolation for Derby.
Seconds later, the Rams' misery was almost compounded with Hartson showing great feet for a big man to cut in from the byline, past Leacock, and tee up Phillips who cleverly laid the ball off to Loumas. He side-stepped Edworthy's challenge only to fire into the side netting. Before Bywater could take the goal kick, Koumas was replaced by Neil Clement, returning from a seven-month knee injury,
Derby piled everyone into the box for a free-kick in the dying seconds, Bywater forward to take the set-piece from the halfway line that was headed clear for McShane to ensure the home side landed the spoils.
WEST BROM Hoult, Robinson, Davies (c), Quashie, Greening, Gera, Albrechtsen, Kamara, Koumas, McShane, Phillips. SUBS Clement, Ellington, Hartson, Steele, Hodgekiss.
RAMS Bywater, Edworthy, Boertien, Leacock, Johnson M (c), Bolder, Barnes, Jones, Howard, Stead, Lupoli. SUBS Grant, Bisgaard, Peschisolido, Johnson S, Moore
http://www.dcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/LatestDetail/0,,10270~937206,00.html?ptvParm=
DERBY COUNTY 0
From the Hawthorns
Veteran striker John Hartson ended the Rams' run of six straight victories with a late, late show at The Hawthorns.
His 88th minute goal broke the deadlock after a hard-fought but often scrappy West Midlands affair which marked the return to action of Paul Peschisolido. Darren Moore took the skipper's armband against his former club in place of the injured Michael Johnson.
The Rams, sporting their blue and yellow second strip, kicked off towards the Brummie Road end, with a travelling support of over 2,500 behind them in the Smethwick End.
A speculative Phillips strike on two minutes took a deflection off a Rams defender and spun away for a corner and, within seconds, Greening had fired over the upright from the right-hand corner of Bywater's box,
Koumas' cross from the left on four minutes was handled in the air by Bywater, who couldn't keep hold of the ball. It fell for Boertien to half-clear only for Kamara to squander a chance by heading wide from close range,
On eight minutes a Jones free-kick into the box from the left was headed wide by Leacock.
Kamara's first-time volley flew over Bywater's crossbar from Koumas' cross from the left on 13 minutes. Within seconds a last-ditch Johnson tackle thwarted Kamara as he teed up to shoot from inside the area. The challenge left Jonno on the deck needing medical attention and, on 15 minutes, he was replaced by Darren Moore, who received a standing ovation from the fans of his former club. Moore took the skipper's armband.
Robinson's header from Albrechtsen's cross trickled inches wide of Bywater's left-hand post on 18 minutes.
Lupoli forced the Rams' first corner on 22 minutes, Jones' short set-piece to Barnes was returned for the on-loan Manchester United midfielder to fire into Hoult's arms.
Koumas' deep free-kick was headed back across goal by Phillips and McShane's goalwards header was cleared by Howard on 24 minutes.
Howard's strong run through the middle on 26 deserved more than his weak shot on the turn that was easy for Hoult to gather.
A superb save from Bywater one-on-one with Phillips kept the Rams in the game on 30 minutes. Robinson's through ball found Phillips with just the Rams keeper to beat - Bywater's brave dive to Phillips' feet clearing the ball to safety.
Kamara's crude late tackle on Lupoli saw the Sengalese player pick up the first booking onf the afternoon on 32 minutes,
Howard met Barnes' low cross from the right in the centre of the area but fired tamely over Hoult's crossbar on 41.
Bolder's rash challenge on Greening on 44 minutes earned the home side a free-kick and the Rams midfielder a warning from the referee. Within a minute Greening's low shot had flown past Bywater's left-hand post.
A scrappy opening first 15 minutes of the second half saw little opportunity for either side until, on 59, the Rams were momentarily down to 10 men while Boertien received treatment to a head injury. As the bandage-clad full-back returned to the pitch he could only watch as Kamara exposed the space left to fire high at Bywater's net - the keeper reacted quickly to tip on to the crossbar for a corner. It was Kamara's last action of the game as he was replaced on 62 minutes by Hartson.
Stead was replaced by Bisgaard for the Rams a minute later.
On 67 minutes, there was another defensive scare for Derby as Leacock was left floored by a 50-50 challenge with Koumas.
With two minutes, a brave Barnes challenge on the halfway line freed the midfielder who drove at the West Brom defence, but a foul by Quashie halted his progress 30 yards form goal, allowing the Rams to mount an attack from a free-kick. Jones' delivery floated harmlessly across the face of Hoult's goal.
West Brom breached the Rams back line again on 75 with Gera's clever pass releasing Albrechtsen whose drilled pass across the goal was a certain goal for Phillips - but the ball squirmed harmlessly away as the striker found himself in a tangle.
As the game started to open up the Rams had the right man to help relieve the pressure, Lupoli jinked his way from the halfway line into the area only to see his angled shot parried to safety on 77.
Peschisolido returned to Rams action in place of Lupoli on 83 minutes.
As the game moved into the final five minutes all the pressure was being put on the Rams goal and, as Phillips wriggled clear in a packed box, Moore was there to make a last-ditch block to concede a corner that Bywater gathered comfortably.
With two minutes to go Derby could withstand no more pressure as Hartson piled his way through a ragged backline to fire past Bywater with the aid of a Boertien deflection. Hartson was booked for his celebration - which was scant consolation for Derby.
Seconds later, the Rams' misery was almost compounded with Hartson showing great feet for a big man to cut in from the byline, past Leacock, and tee up Phillips who cleverly laid the ball off to Loumas. He side-stepped Edworthy's challenge only to fire into the side netting. Before Bywater could take the goal kick, Koumas was replaced by Neil Clement, returning from a seven-month knee injury,
Derby piled everyone into the box for a free-kick in the dying seconds, Bywater forward to take the set-piece from the halfway line that was headed clear for McShane to ensure the home side landed the spoils.
WEST BROM Hoult, Robinson, Davies (c), Quashie, Greening, Gera, Albrechtsen, Kamara, Koumas, McShane, Phillips. SUBS Clement, Ellington, Hartson, Steele, Hodgekiss.
RAMS Bywater, Edworthy, Boertien, Leacock, Johnson M (c), Bolder, Barnes, Jones, Howard, Stead, Lupoli. SUBS Grant, Bisgaard, Peschisolido, Johnson S, Moore
http://www.dcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/LatestDetail/0,,10270~937206,00.html?ptvParm=