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The Weston Report: Looking For A Reaction? - I Think We Got One!
Monday, 25th Aug 2014 01:15 by Ryan Weston

The buzz word after Tuesday’s disappointing defeat at the Valley was ‘reaction.’ Would the Rams be able to provide a reaction and kick-start a week of three home games with a positive result?

The answer was an emphatic yes, as we rediscovered our goal-scoring touch to pile more misery on pointless Fulham.

A pleasing line-up saw the return of Eustace in the much-talked about holding role. More skilful players are in the squad without question, but people have been very quick to disregard his performances pre-George Thorne in the last campaign. Will Hughes however could count himself unlucky to drop to the bench. Russell also replaced Dawkins in a less than surprising move.

In pleasant iPro sunshine, you felt a quick start would be evident from the Rams and so it proved.

With a little over two minutes gone, Christie, who is already up there with the most attacking full-back I have ever seen, produced a trademark run and cross to find Russell unmarked far-post. With perfect body-position, the Scot smashed a volley just over into the South Stand.

An early warning for a beleaguered Fulham, an outfit that included supposed 'quality', including record Championship signing Ross McCormack. More on him later…

As the game settled, it was apparent that the game was to be a free-flowing affair, with the first foul not committed until the fifteenth minute. What was also apparent was the fact that we would get joy out of the visitors’ defence, with Martin immediately involved more than in any game so far.

After Fulham saw an effort trickle wide on their first attack, we again threatened down the right, with Hendrick and Christie combining for the latter to cut inside but shoot straight at Joronen. The visiting keeper seemed as commanding in his area as a flyweight in the ring with Mike Tyson in the early going, with two or three pleas from his defenders to come and gather ignored.

For all of our early pressure, particularly out wide, our final ball was lacking. Ward smashed across goal before Russell chose to shoot under pressure, both times with Bryson well-placed. Nevertheless, after Fulham had seen a low centre just evade McCormack, we were in front.

Again down the right-hand side, Christie and Russell combined for Johnny to whip in a delicious near-post ball. Ward, who had sneaked in behind his man, finished effortlessly with his first-time volley leaving Joronen stranded.

Scoring first you felt was crucial. Surely Fulham’s fragile confidence would now be exploited? Well no, not immediately anyhow.

Despite some decent football and more than one quality corner from Russell, we were unable to add to our advantage soon-after. Instead, Fulham, with the impressive Scott Parker pulling the strings, like a headmaster trying to pull his youthful pupils into line, were the better side before half-time. On saying this, despite enjoying good possession, Lee Grant was rarely troubled.

Previously mentioned waste-of-money McCormack did bring about a smart stop from our stopper though, with an audacious effort from just inside the Rams half seeing Lee scrambling under his bar. With possession hard to come by, the Rams were perhaps grateful to hear the half-time whistle.

The second half began much like the first, with Christie haring down the right with speed almost as impressive as his namesake in Barcelona 1992 (our younger readers can look it up on YouTube!). Despite this, it was the visitors who went on to haul themselves level.

Unfortunately, with all of the stability that Eustace brings, he does have the ‘needless free kick’ in his locker. While telling Ross he was a waste of money, he brought the ex-Leeds man down twenty-five yards from goal. McCormack picked himself up and drove the free-kick….straight into the wall.

Before we could even sing, ‘what a waste of money,’ though, he had collected the loose ball and clipped into the centre. Williams brought down before teeing up Parker on the edge of the box, who showed his measurable class by stroking into the corner off the post, despite three Derby players trying to close down.

A second goal that meant the third would be crucial. However, any worries that Rams fans would have had about gifting Fulham a first victory were very quickly extinguished.

We should have been back in front within a minute, with Hendrick stealing in down the right to cross to Martin, who somehow blazed over an unguarded net from inside the six-yard box left-footed. Was it to be a frustrating day? Well, no, it definitely wasn’t.

After McCormack had tested Grant’s handling with a swerving volley, from more or less the next move, Hendrick was given the freedom of the midfield to play a great ball to Russell in the box. His superb cushioned volley was met by the on-rushing Bryson, who didn’t even have to check stride before striking his own side-footed volley into the net.

A timely goal for Bryson, who by his own admission, has started the season quietly. Before the celebrations had stopped, it was three. Christie again broke down the right, before releasing Martin down the right channel of the area. He was allowed to cut-inside his man far too easily before taking a touch and drilling hard and low into the net.

Another timely goal for the big-man which opened his scoring account in the league. Let’s hope those Sunderland rumours go away before deadline day….with Sammon gone we would have no hope!

To their credit, Fulham battled bravely but lacked the quality to really threaten a comeback. A header wide from a corner was probably their best effort in a game which was quickly going out of reach for their young side. Derby were dominant in the final twenty, with Martin unlucky to head a Ward cross just wide at the near post, before Russell blazed over.

What Fulham did not want to see was Will Hughes and Simon Dawkins coming on for a ten-minute cameo. That though is exactly what they saw and their worst thoughts did indeed materialize.

Hughes, playing in his more favoured attacking midfield role was like a cat in a room of tired pigeons. Getting on the ball at Will, there was little doubt that we would add to our tally.

After more tireless work from the excellent Ward, Will picked up the ball and drove towards the Fulham defence, which had more holes than Augusta, before slipping in his fellow sub.

With the freedom of Pride Park, Dawkins picked his spot and shot across the keeper...only to see his shot rebound off the post. This was Derby’s day though as the ball fell straight to Martin, who was presented with a chance that my Grandma would put away, even on her mobility scooter.

Literally straight from re-starting, Fulham folded like a pack of the most expensive dominos in Harrods. Martin challenged, gave to Hughes who again strolled forwards. In an almost identical move, he cleverly slipped into Dawkins, who, despite being at a tighter angle, drove across the keeper and saw his effort hit the post but this time go into the net.

Fulham had capitulated and cries of, ‘we want six,’ echoed around the ground. It very nearly was too, with Hughes trying to find Martin for a hat-trick instead of pulling the trigger himself.

Soon though, Fulham’s youngsters were out of their misery and we had a confidence restoring rout.

Not a perfect performance by any means for the Rams, with another couple of gears in the locker no doubt. That said; how many other sides can score five without playing at the peak of their powers?

What was that word, reaction?

I think we got one.


Weston’s Player Ratings:

Lee Grant — 7: Didn’t have an awful lot to do but when called upon he looked good. No chance with the goal.

Craig Forsyth — 6: Being upstaged in the going forwards stakes by his right-back but looked solid.

Cyrus Christie — 8: Excellent once again. Passed well, came forwards excellently and tackled well too.

Jake Buxton — 7: Another good display from Bucko.

Richard Keogh — 7: Solid enough when faced with the waste of money.

Jeff Hendrick — 7: Worked hard in the midfield and played a great ball for Russell in build-up to second goal.

Craig Bryson — 7: Much more threatening with Eustace in the side. Trademark runs and a confidence-boosting goal.

John Eustace — 7: Finally back in the side after a ,’poor’ (McClarens post-match words) pre-season. Did everything simply and effectively as always.

Jamie Ward - Weston’s Star Man 9: Definitely had his Weetabix. First to every ball, linked up brilliantly and showed a real appetite. Scored a well-taken goal to complete a good week.

Johnny Russell — 7: Relatively quiet but still provided two quality assists!

Chris Martin — 8: Best display of the season, aided by a poor defence. Took his first goal very well and looked a threat throughout.

Subs:

Will Hughes — 8: Two assists and looked as if he was loving picking holes in the tired defence!

Simon Dawkins — 7: Should have got two but bagged one which again may be a confidence boost.

Leon Best — 6: On after we had wrapped it up 6


Match Stats — Carlisle / Derby:

Possession: 47% / 53%

Shots On Target: 9 / 4

Shots Off Target: 9 / 5

Corners: 4 / 5

Fouls: 12 / 5


We Said / They Said - Match Reaction:

We Said — Steve McClaren:

"In the last 15 minutes we were totally dominant. We wanted to make sure we put a marker down and we've done that but it's no good doing it in one game, we've got to do it consistently."


They said — Felix the cat… sorry… Magath :

"That was the worst performance but the good thing about today is that it is clear we have to change something. A few minutes after the game is not the time to talk about what we will change but for sure there will be new players in."


Match Highlights / Interviews:




Up Next For The Rams:

Derby vs. Charlton

7:45pm - Tuesday 26th August

iPro Stadium - League Cup 2nd Round


COYR!!




Photo: Action Images



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