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Rams knocked out of the FA Cup by Plymouth, have they peaked too soon?

Last updated : 18 February 2007 By Rams Mad Editor

Darren Moore
Darren Moore gave away a penalty and then sent off
Have Derby County peaked too soon, as the nine match unbeaten run came to a shuddering stop as Plymouth yet again dump Derby County out of the FA Cup.

Many pundits had Derby pencilled in as quarter finalists before a ball was kicked yesterday. The Championship leaders were expected to roll over the South Coast side who are currently in mid table and looking unlikely to figure in either the promotional play-off places or in the relegation dog fight.

The Rams couldn't have bargained for the Plymouth 12th man however. Mike Dean

Mike Dean
Mike Dean a Premiership referee?
is a Premiership referee and as such you expect a top class performance but yet again Billy Davies and his side were frustrated by some very questionable decisions.

Sky TV pundit and former Southampton striker Matt LeTissier went as far as to suggest that Kevin Gallen dived to gain the first of two penalties for Plymouth. Steven Bywater nearly saved the resulting 1st spot kick but it wasn't to be.

The Rams never really recovered from the early blow and the Rams continued to struggle throughout the first 45 minutes . The referee became

Stephen Bywater
Stephen Bywater had a superb game but even his heroics couldn't produce a Rams win
involved again as Plymouth were awarded there second penalty after Darren Moore was judged to have fouled in the area. This time Bywater produced the first and possibly only spark of hope for the Rams as he saved the penalty from Gallen.

The referee again played a blinder for Plymouth in the 65th minute by sending Darren Moore for an early bath for his second bookable offence. The Rams by now were dead and buried and chasing a game which had been taken away from them. The Rams finally conceded defeat with seven minutes to go, as Plymouth scored with the help of the inside of a post.

The Rams and Billy Davies maybe had an eye on the vital Championship game on Wednesday night against Stoke City and the side reflected that with Ryan Smith getting a run out for the first time this

Billy Davies
Is Billy keeping something up his sleeve for Wednesday?
year, his last game in the league being 12th December against Crystal Palace. Tyrone Mears was also used for the first time since his loan move from West Ham.

Surprisingly Arturo Lupoli, on loan from Arsenal and scorer of a hatrick in an earlier round of the FA Cup, was not used, the Rams boss preferring another new signing Jon Macken to partner Stevie Howard up front.

The Rams now fall back on the old cliché that "We can now concentrate on the league" which will hopefully start with a win against Stoke City on Wednesday!


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