A great start was followed by massive pressure and what seemed like an inevitable equaliser. The Rams could have slipped to defeat but instead stood up and earned their point and very nearly stole all three.

M. Brown

Attendance:

33,010 (2,611 Saints came marching in)

Teams:

The Rams:

Fielding, Anderson, O'Brien, Shackell, Roberts, Hendrick, Bryson, B Davies, Ward, S Davies (Cywka 81’), Robinson.

Unused Substitutes: Legzdins, Doyle, Maguire, Kilbane.

Yellow Cards: Anderson

Goals: Robinson (3’)

The Saints:

Davis, Richardson (Hammond 73’), Schneiderlin, Fonte, Lambert, Cork, Do Prado (Harding 89’), Fox, Chaplow (De Ridder 59’), Connolly, Hooiveld.

Unused Substitutes: Bialkowski, Martin.

Goals: Lambert (61’)

Yellow Cards: Fox, Fonte, Schneiderlin, Lambert

Match Stats: Rams – Saints

Possession: 40% - 60%

Shots On Target: 7 - 9

Shots Off Target: 4 - 6

Corners: 6 - 5

Fouls: 10 - 11

Most Fouls: Anderson (2) - Lambert (4)

What I.Saw – RamZone Match Report:

“Now I'm the king of the whingers - Oh, the Championship VIP

I've reached the top and had to stop - And that's what botherin' me”

So might have sang Saints boss Nigel Adkins after a thrilling encounter at a packed Pride Park.

Whinge 1.

“I’ve watched the DVD of the first goal and the lad is half a yard offside when he puts it in so it shouldn’t have been a goal.” Reply 1. Last time I looked, going straight through the back of Steve Davies in the box is err… “a penalty” and it happened seconds before the offside. 

Whinge 2.

“We had belief that we would score goals because we do and we zipped the ball about well even though the grass meant it didn’t zip about as quickly as we’d like.” Reply 2. Tough, you would have been better moaning that we narrowed the pitch by a couple of yards each side (which we did btw).

Whinge 3.

“We had enough opportunities and Rickie was playing against a young boy and was very strong and didn’t get the protection that he needed with a lot of things let go.” Reply 3. This was the same Rickie Lambert that used his trailing arm throughout the match to fend off Mark O’Brien none of which was picked up upon by the referee.

Talk about tinted glasses.

Sunglasses, baseball caps, rolled-up programmes or just hands raised over the eyes. Obligatory to three quarters of the ground, as the October sun warmed and caressed; it felt like summer.

News that John Brayford was out filtered through to groans; news that Southampton Adam Lallana hadn’t made it to “phews”.

Barely had we adjusted our headwear before the first goal came, left-hand side Jamie Ward, inside to Jeff Hendrick, square across the area, Steve Davis clattered from behind in the box, ball rolls and Ben Davies unleashes his shot, Kelvin Davis, in goal, parries, Theo Robinson skips through and the ball is in the back of the net with three minutes on the clock.

A dream start, actually I doubt few Rams fans had dreamed of such a start, well not without some mind-altering assistance. Incredible, fantastic, wonderful, a turn to the left or right though and you could hear the home supporters mentally counting down the minutes.

Minute-by-minute the Saints upped their domination - their passing and movement was a joy to behold, they found teammates with ease and at times virtually walked through the Rams midfield. Wearing yellow shirts and blue shorts; it was like watching Brazil.

On the half-hour mark it needed a fine save from Frank Fielding as Guly Do Prado fired across the goal from the Derby right.  The resulting corner was blocked on the line before Fielding cleared.

We hold on through last ditch defending and are lucky to go into the break in the lead.

Second half and it’s more Southampton, the visitors control the game and the Rams chase, harry and when possession is finally won, resort to the long hoof downfield.

Like a Gantt Chart you know what’s coming, the only question is when.

Lambert draws a challenge, rides it, turns and then fires softly at goal, a let-off.

Same player, this time a one-two with David Connolly, and Gareth Roberts despairing block misses, Fielding is beaten by the pace of the shot and the Saints are level.

It’s deserved, make no mistake. We revert to trying to hold the draw.

Ben Davies clean through on the keeper, a 50-50 ball, a glorious chance but perhaps thoughts of Chicken Livers for tea came to the fore as Kelvin Davis collects with ease.

Steven Davies is carried off on a stretcher and Tomasz Cywka shows how to control the ball shield it and bring others into the play.

Both teams press for the winner, but as time ticks away both settle for the draw, a fair result that only flatters Derby slightly. 

Deserved applause then for all.

Back in the Travelodge after the match a group of travelling Saints ask how we saw the game. It’s no lie that Southampton is the best team we have played this season in pure footballing terms.

It’s no disgrace to admit that, well done guys you will be in the promotion mix I’m sure.

Final words though for are reserved for Mr Adkins: all I can say is -

“Oh, oobee doo, I’d hate to whinge like you - whinge like you, moan like you, too.”

Manager’s Reaction:

Nigel Clough was pleased with his team’s effort and the point:

"It was a fantastic, open game of football. Southampton had more of the ball for spells and showed some great movement, but in terms of battling qualities and physical hard work the lads gave it everything once again.”

"When they equalised we did worry about them steamrollering us but it didn't happen and they were the ones hanging on at the end. I think a draw was a fair result of the course of the game but either of us could have nicked it."

"Having got the goal so early we were a bit disappointed that they controlled the first-half from that point onwards. When we did get on the ball we gave it away cheaply and didn't really hurt them but I think that was more down to the quality of the opposition than anything.”

"It's a great point for us, it keeps us ticking along nicely and we can look forward to Reading on Tuesday and hopefully kick on again."

Player Reaction:

Ben Davies was happy to get something from the first match of what he sees as a huge month for the Rams:

"The next month is a massive test for us with some huge games and it will take a big effort to stay where we are but we're all ready for the challenge. We all want to be involved in big games and play in front of sell-out crowds at Pride Park; the atmosphere was brilliant today and it was fantastic to get off to a good start.”

 "I don't see the games we have coming up as defining fixtures in our season but they could have a big say in how things work out. We've got off to a good start today and we have two tough away games coming up this week but we're full of confidence and ready to give them a right good go."

"We were disappointed not to kick on from when we scored but a point is a good result and a fair one too. Southampton is top of the league for a reason and they showed that in the way they reacted to going behind.”

"Full credit to them, they restricted us in terms of chances and when they got the ball it was hard to get it off them."

Photo: Action Images

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