Double The Derby & Double The Davies Beat Burton!
Sunday, 17th Jul 2011 13:24 by Daniel J Sewart

The Rams started their pre-season campaign with a victory over Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium. Two separate Rams teams won their respective 45 minutes in what was a serviceable first hot out for the squad.

A common belief across sport is that there is nothing better for any team than a winning culture. DCFC will be looking to create such a culture in 2010/11 and got off to a good start on Saturday afternoon.

Nigel Clough fielded two separate teams during the match looking to get some game time into his chargers legs and begin shaping his starting line up for the coming campaign.

It was good to see all injured players in attendance with Bailey, Shackell and Buxton all unavailable due to minor injuries while Green & Barker are recovering from more serious issues.

Derby County First Half:

Fielding, Croft, Brayford, Anderson, Roberts, Bryson (Connolly 26), Doyle, Ward, Pearson, Maguire, S Davies.

Playing with a 4-1-3-2 formation as they did for much of last season, the Rams started the way they played for most of last season by conceding a goal.

Brewer Marvin Hamilton opened the scoring with a shot that bamboozled Frank Fielding. An expected cross became a swirling shot that beat the Rams keeper.

Derby fans did not need to wait long for the Rams to show their dominance as efforts from both Steve Davies and Craig Bryson went close.

The Rams began to look a class above their lower league opposition and it soon paid dividends, when on 18 minutes, Steve Davies completed good work by Dyson and Bryson to slot home an equaliser.

Craig Bryson got a knock before the half hour mark and as a cautionary measure was replaced by Ryan Connolly.

Just before half time as Steve Davies was about to fire, he was fouled in the box by Hamilton. He stepped up to the spot to calmly secure a brace for what had been an impressive first half performance from the striker.

HT: 1-2

Derby County Second Half:

Legzdins, Jones, O'Brien, Leacock, Blanchett, Witham, Cywka, B Davies, Martin (Tyson 75), Robinson, Boulding.

The Rams stepped up the pressure in the second half with a totally new 11 players featuring names that, in all honesty, are those who will be fighting to break into the squad this season.

Former Crewe left-back Danny Blanchett was one of those faces introduced as he continues his mission to impress Nigel enough to earn a contract for the coming season.

Things got underway again with Michael Boulding (yes he is still knocking about!) finding the back of the net but the goal was adjudged offside.

Tomasz Cywka made a fabulous run forward that only ended when he was crudely brought down outside the box.

Rams fans had begun to doubt the quality of Ben Davies much talked about dead ball skills last season but if his first effort this year is any indication – Ben intends to set the record straight. From 20 yards he launched a rocket that beat the Burton keeper that cannoned off the cross bar and into the back of the net.

Both Boulding and Davies had good efforts denied as Derby pushed to extend their lead - while Nathan Tyson was introduced for his first Rams bow with a quarter hour left on the clock.

Burton also created some decent chances but the Rams defence and second choice keeper were more than up to the task of keeping the Brewers out.

What began badly, ended well as the Rams started with a positive performance that is but the first building block in the lead up to the 11/12 season.

The pre-season matches continue this week with trips to Macclesfield on Tuesday and Morecombe on Friday.

Nigel Clough was pleased with his team’s efforts at Burton:

"It is early days, but there were some good signs and it was a good start, to get three goals and look fairly solid at the back, you have to be satisfied with that."

"When we were doing well last season our movement was good and there were options for the men on the ball, and we hope that will come with the more games we play in pre-season."

"It was a good workout in general. It is all about game time, trying a few things out and seeing who is best in which position. Jamie Ward and Chris Maguire are just two of our versatile attackers, so we need to get the balance right now."

"Both of Steven's goals came from good team moves and it will do him no harm to get a goal or two. The same goes for Ben as well. His energy and all-round play was good and he rounded it off with a great free-kick, which we all know he is capable of."

"He knows he needs to mature as player having stepped up to the Championship, and displays like today won't do him any harm in getting into the side."

"The only downside was Craig Bryson going off, he just overstretched and felt his hip, so we thought it was best to get him off and take no chances. When he was on the pitch, I thought he was excellent. He is a reliable and solid midfield player and I think he will be a very good signing for us."

"We will vary things again next week with who plays, but we want to get towards playing a stronger side. We want to get players playing 60-70 minutes in a game, so some will get that on Tuesday and the rest will get that on Friday."

Ben Davies was pleased his radar seems to be working early this season:

"Results don't matter in some ways, but you want to go into the season in good form. The first two weeks of pre-season have been about getting fit so now that is behind us it's all about match sharpness for us as players and playing the way the manager wants us to play.”

"The first couple of games are about getting back into the swing of things, but getting a few wins along the way does no harm. Next week's games at Macclesfield and Morecambe will be similar to today, I think.”

"We looked sharp today and we have to slowly build things up to make sure we're hitting peak fitness and form by the time we play Aston Villa and then take it into the Birmingham game on the opening day."

“It was nice to get off the mark. If a free-kick comes our way around the edge of the box, I will always fancy my chances. I hit it well and luckily enough it went in, so it's a good start for me."

"Some players don't look at performances early in pre-season and concentrate on fitness, but I want to do well in every game I play and always look at how I've played.”

"I want to make an impression and be in the side. If I can do well and score a few goals, then hopefully I can take that into the season. I don't want to sloppy and I need to hit the ground running. Last year was a learning experience and now it's time to kick on."