Rooney relief after late strike avoids defeat in first derby Woods steps up recovery from crash in move to new hospital
The Brian Clough Trophy will remain at Nottingham Forest this season, though Wayne Rooney’s first experience of this derby as a manager ended unbeaten.
Derby have failed to beat their local enemies in the last eight encounters, but avoided their first defeat by Forest at Pride Park since January 2015 after a late equaliser from Colin Kazim-richards.
On the day the nomadic striker signed a new contract, Kazim-richards produced a brilliant finish to prevent Chris Hughton’s side from inching closer towards the play-off positions. Forest have lost only twice in the last 15 games, with Manchester
United loanee James Garner putting them in front with his first senior goal. Forest will retain the trophy in honour of “Old Big ‘Ead”after their 98th league meeting, but Rooney reflected on the late drama with a sense of satisfaction.
He said: “It could have been a lot worse. The players know how I want to work, and in the second half that wasn’t good enough. We didn’t do the basics. It’s small mistakes which we can’t afford to make, and sometimes it’s frustrating.”
The visitors took a 33rd minute lead, but it was not a moment for Scotland international David Marshall to savour, as the goalkeeper allowed Garner’s tame shot on the turn to beat him at the near post.
Forest were in the ascendancy in the second half, inspired by Anthony Knockaert while Joe Worrall was outstanding at centre-half. The equaliser came six minutes from the end and was a fine finish, with Kazim-richards picking up the loose ball and arrowing in a half-volley from 18 yards. Hughton said: “We had the better chances and with 10 minutes to go they were going direct, and you have to make sure you don’t concede. Two months ago we’d have been happy with this result, but the feeling in the dressing room shows how we’re improving.”
Derby County (4-2-1-3) Marshall (Roos 43); Byrne, Wisdom, Clarke, Buchanan; Bird, Shinnie (Gregory 64); Knight; Waghorn (Roberts 75), Jozwiak (Sibley 64); Kazim-richards. Subs Baningime, Edmundson, Forsyth, Mcdonald, Watson. Booked Wisdom.
Nottingham Forest (4-2-3-1) Samba; Christie, Figueiredo, Worrall, Ribeiro; Garner, Cafu; Knockaert, Krovinovic, Freeman (Blackett 83); Murray (Taylor 70).
Subs Smith (g), Ameobi, Colback, Jenkinson, Lolley, Mbe Soh, Sow.
Referee Oliver Langford (West Midlands)
Tiger Woods was yesterday moved to a new hospital in Los Angeles to continue his recovery from Tuesday’s
car crash that left him requiring surgery. The 45-year-old is hopeful he can return to Florida this week after an intensive operation on his lower right leg, that stabilised compound fractures of his tibia and fibula and put a rod and screws into a shattered ankle.
“Woods was transferred to Cedars-sinai Medical Center for continuing orthopaedic care and recovery,” a spokesperson from Harbor-ucla Medical Center said. “It was an honour to provide orthopaedic trauma care to one of our generation’s greatest athletes.”
With unsubstantiated reports claiming Woods has been in touch with friends via text saying “it cannot end this way”, one of his longest confidantes painted a more prosaic picture. Notah Begay, the former PGA Tour pro who was at college with Woods, simply expressed relief that he is progressing. “The good news is Tiger has moved to a critical part in this whole recovery phase,” Begay said. “He is post-surgery now and nothing seems to be critical. The most important thing is that he has also been able to receive some communication from family.”
Woods survived “what would otherwise have been a fatal crash” on Tuesday morning because the interior of his vehicle remained largely intact, according to LA county sheriff Alex Villanueva. He confirmed that Woods was “not drunk” and that the crash was “purely an accident”.
On the PGA Tour, Brooks Koepka shot a second-round 66 to move to 11 under and into a one-shot lead at the WGC Workday Championship. The former world No1 emphasised his resurgence – that saw him win in Phoenix three weeks ago – with a round featuring seven birdies to hold the advantage over Billy Horschel and Collin Morikawa, as well as the Australian Cameron Smith.
England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick is only one further back after a 69, while Rory Mcilroy recovered from a double-bogey to record a 70 for a five under total.
The European Tour, LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour have joined forces for a mixed tournament in Northern Ireland. The ISPS Handa World Invitational will take place from July 28-Aug 1 as part of the European Tour’s UK Swing.