Rams hold off leaders to claim point in Hawthorns stalemate
ROONEY’S MEN KEEP BAGGIES AT BAY IN GOALLESS DRAW
DERBY County frustrated Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion in a goalless draw at The Hawthorns last night.
The Baggies had climbed to the top of the table at the weekend but slipped down to second as the Rams battled to keep them at bay.
Wayne Rooney made three changes to his Rams team.
In came Jason Knight, Dylan Williams and Kamil Jozwiak for Max Bird, Ravel Morrison and skipper Tom Lawrence.
It was Knight’s first start of the season having recovered from the ankle injury he suffered in pre-season.
Williams, who turned 18 on Monday, made his first League start, while Jozwiak was available having missed the 2-0 defeat at Birmingham City on Friday night. The winger had played 80 minutes for Poland in a World Cup qualifier against England in Warsaw less than 48 hours before the Birmingham game.
The changes saw Derby switch from their normal 4-2-3-1 to more of a 5-2-3/3-4-3, with three centrebacks in Phil Jagielka, Curtis Davies and Lee Buchanan, and wing-backs in Nathan Byrne and Williams.
Derby needed one of their centrebacks to keep them level early on. Albion worked a short-corner routine and Semi Ajayi’s effort from close range was cleared off the line by Davies.
The Rams looked to frustrate the home side but pressure from the Baggies started to build.
Kelle Roos twice punched clear in a crowded area before the keeper dived to his left to push away a curling free kick from Darnell Furlong. Back came Albion.
Alex Mowatt’s drive was blocked and Jagielka did well to get his body in the way of Callum Robinson’s strike.
Buchanan was booked for a late challenge on Grady Diangana, the Rams defender could have no complaints, and Derby reached the break having been relatively comfortable after the early scare, although they had failed to register an effort on target.
The Baggies made two changes at the interval, Jordan Hugill and Matt Phillips going on for Karlan Grant and Robinson.
Knight tried his luck from distance two minutes into the second half when Sibley’s corner was headed clear but the effort was deflected over the bar.
At the other end, Adam Reach whipped in a dangerous cross for the home side in the 51st minute but neither Hugill or Furlong could reach it.
Furlong then headed well wide at the back post in the 57th minute before missing a great chance to put the Baggies in front a minute later.
Roos made a fine save to deny Diangana but the rebound broke for Furlong.
He took time to compose himself but then sliced his shot over the bar.
Diangana then hit a low strike across goal but Phillips, sliding in, couldn’t reach it.
Rooney made his first substitutions in the 67th minute when Lawrence and Jack Stretton went on for Jozwiak and Baldock, while the home side made their third and final change in the 72nd minute, Robert Snodgrass replacing Jake Livermore.
Roos saved with his feet in the 79th minute to deny Phillips but the Baggies continued to push for a winner and the Rams keeper was in the right place to catch Kyle Bartley’s header after he met Conor Townsend’s cross.
The Rams made their final change in the 81st minute when Bird replaced Knight.
There were five minutes added time and Roos had to save the Rams again, keeping out Furlong’s diving header before also stopping Phillips’ deflected effort moments later.