Noone hits the heights
ONE-TIME roofer Craig Noone brought Carabao Cup giantkillers Derby crashing down to earth.
It is only 13 miles from Old Trafford to the University of Bolton Stadium but for Rams boss Frank Lampard it was a million miles from the ecstasy of knocking Manchester United out.
He confessed to being shellshocked in the aftermath of that sensational penalty shootout victory over Jose Mourinho’s side.
This time around the shock waves were all negative as a few tiles came flying off their promotion charge.
And it was Scouser Noone, who during his parttime days used to mend roofs, who caused the damage with only his second goal for the club.
Lampard (above) admitted: “It was frustrating to lose after good performances in the last two or three games. We weren’t quite at it.
“When you concede early against a team who are happy to sit back it makes the afternoon difficult. We can’t keep conceding early goals and getting back and winning games. It happened to us at Rotherham in our last away league game and it makes it tough.”
It was also a sickener for the on-loan Mason Mount – literally. The Chelsea man threw up on the pitch just before the kick off but lasted the whole game and almost rescued a point for the Rams, forcing debut making keeper Remi Matthews into a fine stop from a volley.
“Mason was sick before the game but with him you feel he is going to make something happen for us, ”added Lampard.
Bolton’s first victory in six games left Phil Parkinson speechless, the Bolton manager losing his voice urging his side on.
He watched winger Will Buckley atoning for an earlier lapse when he failed to capitalise on a slack Derby back pass, whipping in a cross following a long clearance from keeper Remi Matthews for Noone to nod past Scott Carson in the 10th minute. Cue wild celebrations as Noone and his team-mates raced to the dug-out area to hug Stephen Darby who has announced that he is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease.
Derby bossed the possession but Bolton hung on with central defender Jack Hobbs outstanding.
Bolton assistant boss Steve Parkin said: “The spirit, drive, concentration of the team to do the job we set out to do was impeccable.”