United 3 Derby 1 - report

[Deadbat_DB]

United –

Take your pick from Man of the Match….Baldock, Egan, Sharp or McGoldrick. I’d give it Billy for his sheer effort and desire even though he missed chances.

Henderson 7/10 – I do not feel he had any chance on the goal. He did sort of move a bit to the left but he would not have saved it anyway. It was a tremendous goal that went in off the bar. He saw another fly wide soon after. Outside of this not sure he had a save to make. He was rounded once by Baldock got back. His kicking was good as he was given the ball back quite a bit. Celebrated wildly on the third goal as he ran to the South Stand.

Freeman 8/10 – Best he has been since he came back. Energetic, skilled and committed and a real attacking threat. The only critique is the final part of his play as he sometimes takes too long to execute final part or his cross is poor. He did mess up or hesitate when his superb running took him into such good areas. The rest of his game was excellent. Full of energy, running up and down, involved in some great moves and a real threat. They struggled to pick him up or stop his overlap second half. Needs to keep to these standards.

Stevens 8/10 – As above. Thought he was very good. Good on the ball, used it well and linked well with others. He too got up and down and he put some decent balls in amongst some poor ones. Showed he is quicker than you think as he got in twice second half roaring down the left side. He defended well and did all the basics. Only black mark is a poor booking.

Egan 8/10 – Thought he was very good. Headers, clearances and blocks but read the game well too. He was able to marshall the defence and limited some dangerous players to only long-range efforts. He was key in the second half as his powerful defending and play helped us recycle the ball quite a few times.

O’Connell 7.5/10 – Defended well and did what he had to to nullify any real attacks and helped keep us on the front foot. He got in a few key clearances. A few times let Marriott get away but did get back and stop any clear chances. His assist on the first goal was a belter and finally a good cross. He got stronger as the game went on and made some ***** interceptions and helped us keep the ball moving the right way in an attacking sense.

Basham 7.5/10 – As with the other defenders, he played the game on the front foot. Won the tackles and first to the ball through but also, he got forward and won three free kicks with this play. One led to a booking for Wilson. He just was really solid all game and both ways, defending and attacking he did what he had to do and was first to most things. He made some key hooks and pulls when he had to as they had some chances on the break. His reaction and celebration on McGoldrick’s goal sums up his passion.

Fleck 7.5/10 – First half I thought he carried on his patchy to poor form and was a bit sloppy and not that involved. He let the game pass him by and was not able to get on the ball too much. He showed bits and pieces but nothing that outstanding. 2nd half a different player and more like the Fleck of old as he ran at defenders, put some great crosses in and looked a real attacking threat as the no fear, energetic football we often saw last season came back and he was a big part of that last year and again today in the 2nd half. Hopefully he can get confidence from this improved display as when he plays like that and we are on the front foot, he is a great player to watch as he dribbles, penetrates, commits men and sets people up with crosses/driven balls. Made the 2nd and nearly another one for Sharp and then the 3rd came from his free kick.

Norwood 7.5/10 – He played his usual array of lovely long pinged balls and diagonal stuff but mixed in with some silly give aways and daft fouls. Still for this knock of his game; he keeps going and will keep trying these ambitious balls knowing they can come off. He did get stuck in and won a few tackles and interceptions. His touch on the ball is class though and he can create space and allow us to have control of the ball for a spell as he just settles things down by bringing it down and then knocking it to a man in space. We did control midfield for long spells. I would mark the Derby lads a mark or two lower and even though Huddlestone did a job and the loan two showed a threat on set plays; I felt Bryson struggled and our lads did win this area of the field on and off the ball.

Duffy 6.5/10 – Mixed bag. Some decent bits first half and looked to probe and prompt but not many things came off. Still felt he was always a threat but Huddlestone sat on him and made it hard for him to get on the ball. Did give it away quite a bit and I felt on the chance first half he let Huddlestone run off him. Got booked for a foul and the final stages of the first half passed him by. Came again 2nd half but his final ball was lacking and took too long to do things. Despite this I still felt he was never hiding and always looking for it and helped us dominate the football for long spells.

Sharp 8/10 – Worked his socks off all game. Led the line, held it up, won free kicks and always a threat. Some games he is quiet and you don’t notice him until the odd chance but today even with the chances; he was always in the game. He chased things down and looked about 10 years younger than he is! He gave the defence a torrid time. Scored one and on another day, he could have had another two goals with some decent chances. Like the fact we left him on and kept an attacking threat.

McGoldrick 8/10 – At times he looks so languid but that is his style. He is not lazy; he just plays in a way where he tries to control it, make a body swerve to find space for a pass or flick to a teammate. That is just the way he plays. At times not, everything came off and his link play was mixed but he always comes into those areas to receive the ball and this causes problems for defenders. He links well with the midfield and always tried to keep possession. Had a very good curled effort just wide early on and then a good chance when Sharp pulled it back and maybe took too long. His finish for the decisive goal was a joy to watch and superbly executed. That goal just showed what he can do and what he is all about. Turned a half chance into a brilliant goal and changed the game after they had to got back into the game. Love watching him play. A proper footballer with intelligence and lovely feet/skill. A really positive surprise success.

[Deadbat_DB]

Subs –

Clarke – Came on and did everything he has not done in most (Brentford apart) games when he been introduced. Ran around, pressed, competed, showed for the ball and played for the team. Chased down two balls to keep it and linked well. Scored his header, albeit with a slight deflection but good to see all three strikers notch.


Wilder 8.5/10 – Three points against a hugely expensive squad and a performance where individually and collectively we were better than them and deserved to win. Played well for half an hour and pinned them back but then they had a spell but we scored. After the break we stepped it up and actually played well after so many 2nd half fade outs. Even after they scored, we came again. Seemed delighted to get the monkey off his back in terms of finally beating a fellow side high up. I felt we had all the intensity and also moved the ball quicker today at times and this led to making Derby more disorganised in terms of not being set when w attacked with numbers.

Nice even at 2-1 that he put Clarke on for Duffy and even though McGoldrick came back, he kept the attacking initiative. Too often he had settled for what we have had and this has led to problems with us not being able to keep what we had but today he tried to stay in a relative attack mode. It worked as Clarke got the ***** clinching goal.

Referee – Geoff Eltringham. Odd game. At times he wanted to try and play on and wanted to keep his book away but then went a bit card happy. Lost it a bit when players and coaches seemed to want a bit of aggro 2nd half. I thought Keogh raised his hands twice in the melee and was lucky to stay on the pitch. He also missed the penalty although his assistant needed to help him here. This was a key moment as could have seen the game go a different way especially when they scored 2nd half. It could have been a penalty and Derby with ten men but then it was 1-1. Some said McGoldrick was offside but looking back he was on I believe. The back pass was odd. I felt it was and it was almost as if the crowd had to tell him but then having seen it back, it did come off Sharp on the way. He did seem to lose control for spells and I felt was poor for both sides and needed to be a bit stronger. He could have sent Wilson off for a pull back on Fleck (after he had been booked) and then Norwood (kicked ball away after he had been booked). Still ended up with 8 bookings (5 for them and 3 for us). His assistants also were very indecisive too and added to a lot of indecision. They all seemed to let players take free kicks/throws from wherever they wanted. He also did not have a clue that you could put a white line 10 yards away but that does not mean players could stand 5 yards in front of the kicker at an angle!

Crowd – I have been critical of the United home crowd at times this season. Today not so. I felt the crowd were superb. We fed off some controversial decisions and some feisty moments and this helped turn the crowd into a frenzied bunch. I thought 2nd half after it being ok 1st half; that the United crowd were very influential. There was a lot of noise and encouragement and it was a proper atmosphere. The Derby fans made a fair noise too (the bouncing at least only lasted a few minutes) and 29,000 inside the Lane (2nd highest to the Wednesday game) made for a rare old din.

The home crowd really willed the team on and the noise levels were louder than they have been all season. In turn the team responded and you felt the belief rise. It felt like everyone was together and the team were galvanised to go on and win the game and make all the big tackles, interceptions and extra belief to get the loose balls. When the Lane is like that, it is rocking and a special place. It felt like one of those cup ties from a few years ago and everyone as one willing the team on. Came out and proud of the manager/team as the Christmas music blared out and the team saluted all four sides.