The Rams headed to London with a job to do against the league leaders and although they didn’t manage the win put in an energetic, disciplined performance and most importantly, brought home a point.

Queens Park Rangers 0 vs. 0 Derby County

Monday 18th April 2011

Loftus Road - London

D. Deadman

Attendance:

16,745 (537 Travelling Rams)

Teams:

QPR:

Kenny, Orr, Hill, Derry, Taarabt (Agyemang 71), Helguson (Hulse 85), Faurlin, Gorkss, Routledge (Miller 83), Connolly, Smith.

Unused Substitutes: Cerny, Buzsaky, Ephraim, Shittu.

Yellow Cards: Taarabt

DCFC:

Jones, Brayford, Roberts, Ayala, Barker, Savage, Bailey, Pearson (Anderson 89), Robinson, Ward, S Davies (Leacock 90).

Unused Substitutes: Atkins, B Davies, Porter, Bueno, Doyle

Yellow Cards: Savage, Pearson, Ayala, Brayford

Match Stats:'s

Possession : QPR 59% - DCFC 41%

Shots On Target : QPR 3 – DCFC 4

Shots Off Target : QPR 8 – DCFC 5

Corners : QPR 7 - DCFC1

Fouls : QPR 11 – DCFC 14

Most Fouls : Faurlin (2) - Pearson (2)

D.Sawit's Match Report:

Too many have media reports have described this match as one in which the Rams simply stifled QPR and sucked the football out of the contest but to me it was far more than that.

Nigel went into the match by making one change with Robinson injecting pace on the right of midfield replacing Ben Davies who had picked up a slight knock and filled a spot on the bench.

That extra pace was on display in a 4-3-3 formation as Robinson, Ward, Pearson and Brayford in particular ran themselves ragged not just chasing down their opposition but also trying to attack at every opportunity. Although much effort resulted in little result it signalled the visitors had no intention of just sitting back.

QPR skewed comments on the match tried to suggest that the Rams just shut down their opponent in a defensive strategy but that does no justice to the pressure and intent Derby showed throughout the match.

As the pace went out of the match then things did become a bit more defensive but up until the Rams slipped slowly deeper they looked as likely to score as QPR.

The home side showed flashes of class which underlined why they sit at the pinnacle of the table but what they displayed in talent the Rams matched and doubled in hard work.

The other comments that seem to have been levelled with surprising ease at the Derby display was their aggressiveness and suggestions that some of those Rams yellow carded should have in fact been sent off.

If the QPR fans can open the other eye for just a moment, although some of the Rams tackles were slightly rash it would be tough to say they were malicious or dangerous in intent.

Ayala and Savage in particular were criticised when in fact replays clearly showed that Daniel didn’t even catch his man in the tackle and Sav, although far too keen to fly in, got far more of the ball than his opponent.

If any criticism could be levelled, it should be at the willingness of a team in the class of Rangers willing to go to ground at the slightest challenge. They are far too classy a team for such tactics but as the Rams tightened the screws and gave them less time and space it seemed their only option in relieving the pressure.

There were many good things to report from the match from a Rams point of view, the hard running and attacking nature of Ward, the willingness of Pearson to finally attack the box, Savage pocketing his man for a rainy day like a shiny coin, the continual return to form of Bailey and a back four who just keep getting better now the line-up has settled for a few weeks.

Brayford, Ayala and Barker threw themselves at everything and were a stone wall but special praise must go to Roberts. He continues his rise as he chased and kept touch with players who you would have expected to leave him behind in their dust. Respect Gareth!

The only down side for me was Robinson who although tried to frighten the life out of QPR with his pace, once again showed his lack of football smarts by turning his gut running bursts of speed into too many dead end options.

Theo was also brushed aside far too easily by his opponent and looked unwilling to commit his body to the cause. His running and speed kept the home side on their toes but could have and should have been so much more.

With all of this analysis you may ask about the match and what happened in terms of play but when all is said and done the match boiled down to two incidents that potentially could have won the game. Instead both keepers produced moments of gloved gold to ensure a share of the spoils.

Only once during the match did Adel Taarabt manage to effectively worm his way out of Sav’s pocket. While free he took a free kick that forced a top save out of loanee goalkeeper Brad Jones, launching himself upwards to tip over the dipping shot.

That was the highlight for both sides in the first half, especially for Jones as after a shaky start at Derby, looked decidedly nervous in the first half but after producing the stunning save seemed to build in confidence as the game progressed towards his first clean sheet for the Rams.

In return the second half reversed the situation as with over an hour gone Paddy Kenny tried to out-do Jones and did. Jamie Ward pushed the ball past his man on the left, impressively sprinted past him to glide into the box and produce a perfect cut back for Stephen Pearson. His shot was curling perfectly away from the keeper but Kenny some how followed the balls trajectory to impossibly turn it wide.

On any other day Pearson would have scored and he should feel aggrieved that what could be the save of the season prevented him and his team from taking the lead.

Those two moments defined the game and although the stats will say that QPR had more possession and more shots on goal, the Rams never looked in real danger of going behind but in saying that neither did Rangers.

Better still the seemingly never ending curse of ex-players scoring against Derby was broken. Both Smith and Hulse didn't manage to haunt their old club as most of us would have been expecting them to do. Amazing what sprinkling some holy water on the pitch can do!

Overall a gutsy display by the Rams which deserves praise all round as each and every player put their shoulder to the wheel.

Clough got his tactics right, the players proved Leeds was no fluke and that perhaps this squad is not as far away from the next step as many believed.

Add some more class and consistent performances like this next season and the Rams could very well be the one’s trying to seal promotion in April.

Dan’s Man Of The Match:

Jamie Ward was tireless but Savage found the fountain of youth as he single handedly ruled the mid-field. Dicing and dissecting a lot of what QPR tried to do. A master at work showing why he is a star and far more than just noise, teeth and hair.

Managers Reaction:

Nigel Clough was impressed by his team’s efforts:

"Two of our best performances have come against QPR and our form against the top six generally has been quite good. You measure yourself against the best team in the league and QPR are the best team in the league". 

"Despite being 19th, we honestly do not feel it is all doom and gloom. We didn't think we were a top-four team when we set out but nor do we believe we are a bottom-four team either.” 

"We have been beaten only once in the last six games, which is a good run, and we are just seeing a little bit of a pattern coming back to the team with players who will be around next season." 

"We certainly did not want to come and defend and be negative and I didn't think we were, we just wanted to be positive and wanted to try and leave Theo Robinson and Jamie Ward up against their full-backs as much as we could.” 

"We also wanted Robbie Savage to do his usual job, which he did on their most dangerous player, Adel Taarabt, and wanted Stephen Pearson and James Bailey to push on to Shaun Derry and Alejandro Faurlin.” 

"You have to defend here at times but our goalkeeper did not have too many shots to save.” 

"And we had the best chance of the game. It was an outstanding save by Paddy Kenny to keep it at 0-0. Had he hit it anywhere on the ground, Stephen Pearson would have scored but you have to put it down to a brilliant save." 

"Taarabt has got loads of ability but he knows Robbie is going to stick to his task and he was helped out by his team-mate the odd time Taarabt got free. He used his experience, especially when he was booked after 15 minutes, which he deserved."

Tarabaat In Pocket Reaction:

Robbie Savage taunted the Rangers star after his impressive performance in stifling his influence:

"It was hard playing with 12 stone in my pocket!!" 

"He's a talent, but sometimes when it is not going his way he can have a little strop like he did tonight but he deserves to be the player of the year because he has got great skill and great ability and he's very good on his day. “ 

"I would have preferred him to stay on because he was not doing anything."

Nigel Clough weighed in on the subject:

"I think it's a psychological thing. Robbie's done it to him a few times in the past. It's down to experience."

And so did Neil Warnock - on Sav:

"You either love him or loathe him - he's a bit like me. When you look at his ability he's done fantastically to make the living he has.”  

"He's long past his sell-by date but he does a job. He's been superb."

Next Match:

Derby County vs. Burnley

3pm Saturday April 23rd

Pride Park Stadium - Derbyshire

Photo: Action Images

pkay_brum added 15:52 - Apr 19 Taarabt is talented but also often goes down at the slightest touch, (and other Rangers' players sometimes made a meal of challenges) - and the ref was having none of it. Savage will have enjoyed doing a very effective job on Taarabt - and not forgetting that Sav was booked early on and had to be careful in the challenge for 75 minutes, it demostrates that Adel was not subdued by foul means. As for our other defenders, it's about time they showed some steel. But for Robinson's lack of composure and the Paddy Kenny save, Derby could easily have taken all the points. As the League leaders made their goalie the Man of the Match, that indicates it was hardly one-way traffic. Dress it up how you like, Hoops, we pooped on your party!

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