LOW-ENERGY RAMS STILL TOO MUCH FOR VILLANS
Rowett: We can only get better
DERBY County may be one of the Championship’s form teams, but boss Gary Rowett believes the Rams have plenty more still to give despite defeating promotion rivals Aston Villa.
Andreas Weimann opened the scoring against his former club and Johnny Russell sealed victory late on as Derby opened up a fourpoint gap over Steve Bruce’s side with their fifth win in six games.
It ended a run of more than seven hours’ football since the Rams last scored against Villa too, but Rowett believes defensive solidity was at the heart of the victory.
“We lacked a little bit of energy, and our decision-making wasn’t great at times, but I don’t think – as much of the play as Villa had – Scott Carson’s had a meaningful save to make,” he said.
“Again, it’s another game where we’re saying the same thing – we know we can play better and we know we can have a little more control of the ball, but it’s a good side we’ve faced in Villa.
“And we’ve kept a clean sheet – defended brilliantly, limited space for them at the right times – and it’s another excellent, excellent result.
“It’s one of those at the moment – we keep talking about performances and we’re not playing as well, but you can’t keep winning games and not be playing well.
“Controlling possession and passing nicely are just one part of the game and we’ve defended resolutely. We have defended stoically when we’ve had to.”
It took Matej Vydra less than 30 seconds to carve open Villa’s makeshift defence with a superb through ball, but Neil Taylor’s last-gasp, goal-saving tackle denied David Nugent.
Nugent went close again in the second minute, shooting over with an acrobatic overhead kick when Albert Adomah’s headed clearance was worked back into the box.
Those chances set the early tone and on the quarter-hour Nugent snuck in again, when Craig Forsyth’s left-wing cross was allowed to bounce in the area, but Sam Johnstone parried over.
When the goal arrived on 24 minutes, however, it was a gift from Glenn Whelan. His attempted backpass went straight to the retreating Vydra, and the Rams’ top scorer squared for Weimann to tap in.
Villa produced very little in the first half, yet five minutes after the restart were nearly level when Robert Snodgrass, in space at the back post, shot beyond Carson but Keogh cleared off the line.
Derby, meanwhile, threatened from set-pieces – Johnstone saving Keogh’s header from a Joe Ledley free-kick on the hour, and then more spectacularly when Bradley Johnson met Chris Baird’s 72nd-minute corner at the back post.
Villa enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and penned Derby back as the half wore on, but they rarely tested Carson as they were restricted to long-range shots.
And Russell sealed Derby’s victory just as the fourth official’s board went up for stoppage time, racing on to Keogh’s through ball to prod in past Johnstone.
Villa boss Steve Bruce admitted: “We made so many mistakes – I can’t remember us making that many all season.
“Individual errors are something we have to eradicate because we’ve made too many mistakes. For all we’ve huffed and puffed, we’ve gifted them the game really.
“We all make mistakes, but if you’re going to win football matches, you can’t make as many as we’ve made.
“It’s the first time we’ve been beaten in weeks. There are no guarantees in this league as we’ve seen, but I’m quietly confident we can get through this sticky patch.
“Second half I was pleased the way we played – we had enough possession, but not enough shots on target.
“Glenn has been very, very good for us and will continue to be. He made a mistake but he wasn’t alone. There were far too many for my liking.”