Ikpeazu strike leaves Roo cursing
UCHE IKPEAZU came off the bench and floored Derby with an 85th-minute sucker punch that leftWayne Rooney’s side fuming.
The Rams skipper Curtis Davies felt he had been fouled by the on-loan striker as he stretched to reach Perry Ng’s cross from the right.
It was a goal that was a kick in the teeth for Rooney’s hard-working team and left them one off the bottom.
For Steve Morison’s men, it was further relief as they moved 17 points clear of the drop zone, banishing their recent back-to-back defeats the top two teams in the Championship. It was the start of a massive week for Derby against two teams just above them in the table.
Barnsley, who sat two points ahead of them coming into this game, head to Pride Park on Saturday.
It was the visitors who posed all the early problems and Rooney’s recall of his teenage Irish star Festy Ebosele caused many problems for the left-hand side of the home defence. Twice he outpaced Joel Bagan before putting in teasing crosses, although they amounted to nothing in the end.
The first major chance of the game came in the 17th minute when Manchester City loanee Tommy Doyle smashed a 25-yard shot against the crossbar. That was Cardiff’s best chance of the half.
At the other end, Lee Buchanan should have done better after he wriggled into the box only to shoot wide with his left foot. Ebosele also carved out a great chance but his leftto footed attempt just sailed over the top.
Cardiff skipper Joe Ralls was left cursing his luck 10 minutes from time when he got the ball back after taking a corner on the right, drove into the box and smashed a left-footed shot that grazed the crossbar for another close shave for the visitors.
Then came the late drama as Ikpeazu swivelled to meet Ng’s cross from the right, steal the glory and leave Rams boss Rooney cursing.