LENNON’S SONG OF PRAISE
Add to that Danny Mills – the player he dropped during his time as manager at Manchester City – claimed Pearce does not have the depth of footballing ability to succeed as manager.
Pearce added: “I’ve got no interest in that. My respect for people in professional football is for those who have been in the technical area when the pressure is on.
“I know what job I’ve got to do. I know my limitations as a man. I know my limitations as a coach. I am pretty unshakeable in terms of criticism.”
The Pistols sang about having no future and Derby certainly wanted the killing rights on the man who claimed he would rather be on the dole than work for his sworn enemies.
The “getting sacked in the morning” chants were out as soon as Lansbury sent the iPro Stadium bouncing by heading Johnny Russell’s corner into his own net at the near post.
Derby’s only failing in a first half of dominance was not to increase their lead, with Dorus de Vries making one excellent save to deny Jamie Ward, and they lost their way without the BOLTON boss Neil Lennon was delighted as his men raced into a quickfire lead.
Liam Feeney scored after only two minutes and Darren Pratley put the Trotters further ahead before the half-hour mark.
Chris Maguire scored from the spot for Wednesday following Matt Mills’ foul on Atdhe Nuhiu.
But the Owls’ escape route slammed shut in the 83rd minute when Sam Hutchinson, who had been on the field for only 14 minutes, was sent off for a second bookable offence. Lennon said: “To come injured Will Hughes in the second half.
Derby boss Steve McClaren said: “We stopped trying to play in the second half. We got over-excited trying to win. We did not show the maturity needed. It’s a harsh lesson.”
Osborn’s free- kick created the confusion for Assombalonga to prod in his 14th goal of the season on 75 minutes, and Osborn sealed it with his own injury-time winner.
It was too much for one home fan and Derby will face an FA charge for away from home and play as well as we did is very pleasing. We got off to a great start and played some super football.
“With our performance in the first half and the chances we created in the second, it could have been more comfortable.
”There were a few decisions for both teams that were debatable, to say the least, but I don’t want to talk about the referee because it was a very good game of football.
“Both teams went at it with a great sort of attitude and there was high quality at times on the pitch as well. We can maybe look forward to challenging the top 10.” failing to stop him running onto the pitch at the end and throwing punches at Forest’s Kelvin Wilson.
But for jubilant Pearce, the expected knockout blow did not arrive... and he lives to fight another day. Owls head coach Stuart Gray complained: “We started so poorly and then we gifted them a second goal, so we gave ourselves a bit of a mountain to climb.
“We got back in the game with the penalty and it was hard enough playing Bolton with 11 men, but then with Sam getting sent off it was very, very difficult.”