No home comfort for Rams as visitors leave it late
ANOTHER LOSS MEANS ONLY ONE POINT FROM 15 AT PRIDE PARK FOR COCU’S SIDE
DERBY County’s woeful and deeplyworrying home form shows no sign of improving.
Their latest failure at Pride Park Stadium saw them lose 1-0 to Queens Park Rangers, whose goal came from substitute Macauley Bonne with two minutes of normal time remaining.
This deflating result means the Rams are without a home win in eight consecutive League matches at Pride Park Stadium stretching back to last season and they have collected a rather embarrassing one point from 15 on their own turf this season.
Wycombe Wanderers’ win at Birmingham City coupled with the decision to reduce Sheffield Wednesday’s points’ deduction means the Championship table makes for uncomfortable reading and, in turn, places more pressure on manager Phillip Cocu.
And Cocu, and the players, can have no complaints because this season has been a sorry tale, so far.
There were two changes to the Derby team to face Rangers.
Kamil Jozwiak and Craig Forsyth came in for Mike te Wierik and Lee Buchanan.
Jozwiak was fit again after missing the 1-1 draw away against Bournemouth due to an ankle injury. Forsyth made his first start since the defeat by Luton Town in September.
Derby changed their system from 3-4-3 – three centre backs and wing backs – to more of a 4-2-3-1 with Jozwiak, Wayne Rooney and Tom Lawrence the trio behind striker Martyn Waghorn.
Jozwiak, fed by Rooney, had an early sight of goal, his low strike was kept out by Seny Dieng, before Rams keeper David Marshall reacted brilliantly to push away a header by Rangers’ striker Lyndon Dykes, a player who was linked with Derby in the summer. Albert Adomah’s cross arced invitingly to Dykes, who probably should have scored but take nothing away from the save.
Rangers’ bright start saw another big chance come their way. Graeme Shinnie gave the ball away and a sharp pass found Ilias Chair in space on the edge of Derby’s area but Matt Clarke made an outstanding block to deflect the shot behind.
Having looked stronger defensively in a 3-4-3, Derby suddenly looked stretched and uncertain when Rangers asked questions. The visitors had the better of the opening half an hour and Derby were fortu
nate not to be trailing.
Derby needed something to settle them down, and they almost found it through Rooney. Forsyth’s crossfield pass picked out Jozwiak, who spotted Rooney’s clever run and played in the captain.
Rooney’s low shot across Dieng was heading for the corner of the net before the keeper got his fingertips to the ball. A fine save, and the open feel to the game continued.
The only surprise was the goalless scoreline at the break.
Derby’s desperation for a win left them highly vulnerable in the opening 45 minutes. There needed to be more control about their game with and without the ball.
They also needed to step up the tempo, and they did.
Rooney’s strike from 25 yards whistled beyond Dieng and clipped a post but the Rams rode their luck again when Rangers’ defender Rob Dickie guided the ball wide from only a matter of yards after Derby failed to clear a free kick.
A double change saw Duane Holmes and Colin Kazim-richards come on for Derby, Jason Knight and Waghorn made way, but another good opportunity fell to Rangers, and this time it was wasted by Todd Kane.
But Rangers took the next chance that came their way. Dickie won the ball and centred to Bonne, who headed past Marshall to win it for the visitors.