McLAREN WAVES MAGIC WAND AS HIS MEN ENJOY RAM RAID

WHATEVER has gone right or wrong in Steve McClaren’s coaching career, it seems Derby is the one club where everything works.

He has been there as player, coach, and now manager twice, and since going back in October for the start of his second spell in charge, the magic dust has been sparkling.

Some 5,400 were bouncing around the Smethwick Road end as two goals in three minutes from Darren Bent and Tom Ince left in-form Albion, who had been leading from a first-half Matt Phillips strike, completely stunned.

‘It was a heroic performance,’ said McClaren, who had been forced to pick a team despite seven injuries and two players suspended.

‘To come here and win you have to fight and to show character and you have to stand up, and the team did that.

‘We scored great goals, but the way the team fought to hold on to them in the last 20 minutes was heroic.

‘I have never seen so many balls going into our box, but we talk about defending with our lives and the players did that.’

However, if anything typified the way McClaren has made such a difference it was the performance of Ince.

‘I don’t know why he’s improved so much,’ admitted McClaren.

‘We just allow him to go and play and he does the work as well. He should be a Premier League player, he’s had opportunities, but you’ve seen the fight today that he wants to get back there.’

It was tough on Albion boss Tony Pulis, who picked the strongest team he could — the only senior player he rested was goalkeeper Ben Foster and that was the change that came back to bite him.

Boaz Myhill moved slowly for Bent’s 25-yard stunner and never moved at all for Ince’s winner.

‘Boaz had done well for us whenever he has played,’ said Pulis. ‘I can’t criticise the team — 30 shots and 60 crosses. You can’t ask for a lot more.’

Sadly for Albion, only one of those chances was converted — by Phillips on 35 minutes.