Noughty boys fail to fire for Pearson
DERBY ............ 0 ASTON VILLA .0
NIGEL PEARSON’S Derby racked up their second goalless Championship draw in a row at the iPro Stadium after being held by Aston Villa.
Roberto di Matteo’s visitors enjoyed the better of the first half and twice hit the woodwork through Ross McCormack and Gary Gardner.
In fact, Derby have become something of a bogey side for former Fulham star McCormack – the prolific hitman has now not scored in his last seven Championship games against County.
Villa keeper Pierluigi Gollini saved from Tom Ince and Ashley Westwood cleared Richard Keogh’s header off the line as Derby began the second half brightly.
Derby midfielder Will Hughes also cleared off the line from Villa central defender Tommy Elphick but neither side could break through.
The result leaves both sides with five points from their opening four games, having each won one, drawn two and lost one.
And Derby are still waiting for their first home league goal this season after also drawing 0-0 with Brighton on the opening day of the campaign.
Villa, who are unbeaten in three, were unable to hand new midfielder Mile Jedinak a debut because the paperwork following his move from Crystal Palace was not completed in time.
The relegated outfit looked solid throughout but Derby raised their game early in the second half only to struggle to keep up the pressure as the game petered out.
The match was a reflection of how far these two former English champions have fallen being their first meeting in the second tier since Derby beat Villa 1-0 in March 1969.
And it is now more than a year since Villa last enjoyed an away league victory – a 1-0 triumph at Bournemouth on the first day of last season.
At least Pearson can console himself with the fact that, excluding the play-offs, Derby have conceded just three times in their last nine home league games.
DERBY: Carson; Christie, Keogh, Shackell, Forsyth (Baird 66th); Hughes, Ince ( Bent 77th), Butterfield ( Camara 46th), Bryson; Russell, Martin ASTON VILLA: Gollini; Bacuna, Elphick, Chester, Cissokho; Ayew, Westwood, Gardner, Grealish (Green 83rd); Gestede (Kozak 28th) (Amavi 83rd), McCormack STAR MAN: Will Hughes Ref: P Tierney