Notts County V Rams, game review and player ratings

Last updated : 29 July 2009 By Stuart Hughes
Notts County 2-3 Derby County

1-0 McEveley o.g. after Hughes out-muscled Connolly to cross for Rodgers - 18 mins
1-1 Davies latches onto a poor back pass and finishes clinically - 25 mins
1-1 Davies misses penalty, hitting the bar - 28 mins
1-2 Savage scores with an overhit up-and-under cross that deceived attackers, defenders and goalkeeper alike - 35 mins
2-2 Rodgers finishes well after poor defending - 64 mins
2-3 Commons overhits his cross to Green but it settles in the corner of the net after Hoult's mis-judgement

Derby County (4-5-1):

Stephen Bywater [7] - GK - didn't have a lot to do in fairness due more to Notts County's inaccurate finishing than good defending. Couldn't be blamed for the goals and made one superb save diving low to his left.

Paul Connolly [6] - RB - a solid enough game defensively, except for when Lee Hughes got the better of him down the flank to cross for the first goal. Got forward a few times but generally lacked composure in Notts County's half.

Dean Moxey [7] - LB - looks much more comfortable at left-back than in midfield. Read the game well, showed good control, and headed the ball well. Did the simple things and, more importantly, did the right simple things. Combined well with Gary Teale and Stephen Pearson.

Miles Addison [6] - CB(R) - a reasonable game in defence: looked comfortable against Luke Rodgers but struggled when having to pick up Lee Hughes. Looked less comfortable on the ball than usual. Got forward well on a couple of occasions.

Jay McEveley [6] - CB(L) - had a torrid first 20 minutes as Lee Hughes beat him all ends up, but got into the game more afterwards as he got used to a tiring Hughes. Had a much better second half. Unlucky with the own goal as he at least tried to stop Luke Rodgers getting a shot in.

Paul Green [6] - CM(R) - linked well with Robbie Savage and Stephen Pearson in a pivotal central midfield trio. Worked hard, passed well, and got forward, but needs to be more involved going forward if this system is to work.

Robbie Savage [7] - CM - revelled in the time and space afforded him in the holding midfield role as part of a very influential central midfield trio. Showed great vision and passing ability. Saw the goalkeeper off his line and chipped him from 40-yards - at least I bet that's how Sav will explain away his freak goal.

Stephen Pearson [7] - CM(L) - fully contributed to the pivotal central midfield trio. Looks a lot fitter now and this allowed him to cover lots of ground and keep going for 90 minutes. Worked well with Dean Moxey and Gary Teale down the left and supported the attacks more effectively than Paul Green.

Luke Varney [6] - RM - looked effective when he had the ball but wasn't really involved enough. Prepared to run at defenders and cross and was unlucky not to score when a header was blocked. Looked like he was still trying to get used to his role in this system.

Gary Teale [7] - LM - always dangerous, always a threat. It's amazing how well this right-footer can play left wing. Saw lots of the ball and got in some good crosses to create chances or win corners. Only really wasted one cross all game. Switched to the right wing when Kris Commons came on and continued to be a threat.

Steve Davies [8] - SC - impressed in a lone striker role which isn't easy. Took his goal well with a cool and clinical finish. Unlucky that his penalty hit the bar and bounced over. Finished well also in the second half but was ruled offside. Could've scored a couple more if his shots hadn't been so tame or his heading more accurate.

Substitutes:

Kris Commons [6] - LM ( for Varney, 61 mins) - didn't look match fit and struggled to impose himself on the game. Got a few crosses in, including an overhit one for the winning goal.

Unused substitutes: Saul Deeney, Jake Buxton, Jason Beardsley, Ben Pringle, Arnaud Mendy...