DERBY’S DELIGHT
Jerome on the mark as Fulham flounder
CAMeron Jerome’s fifth goal in four games gave Derby the edge in this play-off semi-final last night and threatened to inflict heartache on Fulham for the second season running.
The visitors enjoyed the vast majority of possession and had far more attempts on goal, but try as they might, they could not break through.
At times, Derby seemed to have nowhere to go. Try as they might, they could not get out. Manager Gary rowett might as well have brought a tent and some pegs with him. County were camped.
These were trying moments, when Fulham methodically worked their way through midfield, searching for an equaliser to take back to Craven Cottage on Monday night.
Much of the second half was excruciating from a Derby perspective. They had Jerome’s goal and wanted to hold on to the lead, standing tall in the face of a non-stop attacking force.
if it looked like hard work, that is because it was. Derby threatened on the break but would soon retreat to guard scott Carson’s goal with all they had.
Given what this club have endured over the last decade, with so many disappointments and near misses, half an hour of doggedness may prove worth it in the long run.
Jerome said of his winner: ‘it gives us a slight advantage. if you had offered us it before the game we would have taken it, but we can’t get carried away — we know what is coming down there.
‘i’m full of confidence because these boys will put in crosses and give me chances and then it is up to me to take them.’
Derby stopped slavisa Jokanovic’s side from scoring in a Championship match for the first time since December 16.
Fulham were largely risk averse. They had plenty of the ball, but lacked midfielders willing to run beyond Aleksandar Mitrovic. it rarely stuck with the serbian, who came up against a defiant Curtis Davies. Fulham looked marginally more likely to score but that was by virtue of Derby’s lack of composure more than anything the visitors brought.
Two half- chances came and went, the first to ryan sessegnon on the stretch before Floyd Ayite flashed a header wide. That came after Andreas Weimann had been dispossessed cheaply by ryan Fredericks while breaking in his own half and it was not until Derby slowed down that they started fashioning opportunities.
The only goal, on 34 minutes, came as the home crowd screamed for Tom huddlestone to force the issue. he chose not to, instead dinking a pass to Craig Forsyth on the left. Jerome was lurking at the back post. The cross was whipped with pace, Jerome had the run on Matt Targett and Marcus Bettinelli was left fishing a thumping header from his net.
Jerome’s improved form has coincided with Derby’s. They could have missed out on the top six altogether following a run of two wins in 13. only a late rally stopped Preston usurping them.
The stadium announcer had taken it upon himself to act as cheerleader before kick- off, thumping his microphone into a clipboard, but rowett’s players took time to find that sort of energy. once it arrived, Fulham were in a game.
Mitrovic finally held on to a ball, his lay- off to Kevin McDonald eventually thundering off Carson’s bar. Carson swatted away Tom Cairney’s vicious strike with his left foot.
rowett screamed in anguish as Derby dropped deeper. substitute David nugent acted as an auxiliary coach on the touchline. Derby survived. Just.