Derby County (0) 0-2 (1) Blackpool
0-1 Jake Buxton own goal (38)
0-2 Brett Ormerod (79)
Pride Park Stadium, Derby: 30,313
Derby County (4-4-2): -
Stephen Bywater [6] – GK – Superbly stopped an early cross that deflected goal wards off Buxton. Saved a hard drive from Ormerod and was well positioned to make half a dozen or so comfortable saves throughout the game. Was nearly caught out by an audacious long-range chip from the very impressive Charlie Adam after 29 minutes. His distribution could’ve been better but generally didn’t do anything wrong.
Paul Connolly [4] – RB – Was beaten all ends up by Ormerod on 9 minutes and finished up on his backside as the impressive Blackpool striker rattled the crossbar with his shot. Was nowhere to be seen as Ormerod ran through for the opening goal. Neither Connolly nor Buxton could live with the pace and power of Ormerod all afternoon, as the Tangerines’ striker ran between and away from them both time and time again. Didn’t really get forward at all.
Jake Buxton [4] – CB(R) – Caught out by a 12th minute run by Ormerod that saw him clean through, one-on-one with Bywater, only to shoot wide. Allowed Ormerod to run between him and Connolly all afternoon, where Buxton’s lack of pace was exposed. Having missed two chances already, Ormerod found himself through again on 38 minutes and his shot was deflected into the net by Buxton who should’ve done more to close down and tackle Ormerod earlier. Was second best all afternoon.
Jay McEveley [5] – CB(L) – Had a competitive battle with Ben Burgess, and did reasonably well against the physical power of Blackpool’s centre forward. Was part of a back four that was second best all game against a very impressive Blackpool front three, struggling collectively against the industry and pace of Ormerod and Gary Taylor-Fletcher.
Dean Moxey [4] – LB – Nigel Clough said after the game that Derby County got pilloried when the Rams played 4-3-3 earlier in the season. With all due respect to Mr Clough, this wasn’t the same. Blackpool played a genuine 4-3-3 with three out and out strikers. The Rams played a 4-5-1 where one loan striker was supported by two wide midfield players who never really imposed themselves like Blackpool’s wide forwards did. Not the same at all. Moxey was part of a defence that never got to grips with Blackpool’s front three at all, and he was unable to get the better of Taylor-Fletcher. Came forward a few times but his passing and crossing was sub-standard. Sent off for two bookable offences, the first needlessly as he overran the ball when surging forward and lunged in unfairly in an attempt to win it back.
Lee Croft [4] – RM – Had two great chances to score for Derby County but both were hit tamely – the first, on 15 minutes, saw Paul Rachubka save with his legs and the second was dragged wide. With the Rams defence struggling, and the central midfield outnumbered three-to-two, Croft needed to work harder defensively and didn’t. Didn’t see enough of the ball, didn’t do much with it when he had it, and allowed Stephen Crainey a very easy afternoon. Substituted after an hour and deservedly so.
Robbie Savage [5] – CM(R) – Outnumbered in central midfield, admittedly, but Savage didn’t do enough to prevent Adam dominating the game for Blackpool. Saw quite a lot of the ball, passed it reasonably well, and got forward a few times, having two shots at goal – the first blocked, the second dragged wide. Curled a free-kick in second-half stoppage time but Rachubka saved comfortably.
Stephen Pearson [5] – CM(L) – Not one of Pearson’s better games. Defensively, he didn’t really get into a game that passed him by when Blackpool had the ball. Offensively, he got into good positions going forward but the lack of service and creativity then left him exposed as Blackpool counter attacked. Contributed to the lack of service and creativity with some below par passing of his own.
Gary Teale [5] – LM – Again Teale saw a lot more of the ball than Croft but was unable to do much with it. Struggled to get the better of Neal Eardley all game and, on the few occasions he did, his crossing was poor – either being blocked, going straight to Rachubka, or over hit. Made Pearson look bad on a couple of occasions by standing and watching a pass go out of play instead of at least trying to run after it. Inexcusably stood in offside positions a few times, when he could see right along the back four, and got flagged when the ball came his way. Switched to the right-wing, when Lee Hendrie came on, but couldn’t outwit Crainey either. Needed to help out more than he did when Blackpool had the ball.
Paul Dickov [5] – SC – Starved of the ball through poor service, Dickov was unable to work his way into the game. Had one opportunity in the first-half, but his first attempt was an air shot and his second attempt was blocked. Was caught offside far too often.
Chris Porter [5] – SC – Porter struggled as a target man where former-Ram Ian Evatt dominated in the air all game. Looked better with the ball at his feet but, like Dickov, struggled to get into a game in which he was starved of service. Had two attempts on goal at full stretch, both of which went over the bar, the second nestling on the roof of the net. Caught offside too many times.
Substitutes: -
Lee Hendrie [5] – LM (for Croft, 60) – Brought an energy and work rate to proceedings, but struggled to get into the game as the Rams were unable to retain possession and build any forward momentum. Showed intelligent running to find space and slot the ball home, but an offside flag had been raised against Porter in the build-up.
Rob Hulse [5] – SC (for Dickov, 66) – Hulse’s first contribution was to drop deep, control the ball, turn, hit a woeful pass out of play, and then give Hendrie an ear bashing. Unfortunately for Hulse, his game didn’t get much better after that as Evatt continued to dominate.
D.J. Campbell [5] – SC (for Porter, 75) – Starved of service, Campbell was unable to make his pace tell. Ran offside a few times.
Substitutes not used: Saul Deeney, Fredrik Stoor, Miles Addison, Jake Livermore.
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