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RamsWeek 29 - Opening Time
RamsWeek 29 - Opening Time
Sunday, 17th Jul 2011 23:53 by Paul Mortimer

Derby County’s pre-season build-up continued, as they got back into action with their opening friendly game.

There was media talk of winger Lee Croft playing a big part in Derby’s 2011-12 season from the off, which Rams fans will believe when they see it. The club also had the expectation that the same would apply to injury-prone reserve defenders allegedly on the mend, Jake Buxton and Russell Anderson - fans will believe that when they see it, too!

Right on top of those news items, it became apparent that Buxton would sit out the first pre-season training game at Burton Albion on Saturday, as would new signing Jason Shackell. Such early ‘niggles’ are part and parcel of getting players back up to full fitness. Jake has a groin pull and Shackell has a calf strain.

Ahead of the training game, the Rams had some good news on the progress of two 15-year old Academy youngsters, Kwame Thomas and Mason Bennett. The strikers have both been called up to the England Under-17 squad and will be involved in the Nordic Tournament in Iceland.

Let’s hope that Academy boss Darren Wassall can invigorate the throughput from the Moor Farm trainee ranks; many think that a club with Derby’s resources should be producing more top-class players ready to graduate to first-team duty.

Transfer news and public activity surrounding the Rams has slowed dramatically. Manager Nigel Clough declared his desire for another striker and some cover at left back, and reiterated his wish to pursue Watford captain John Eustace to help populate the midfield engine room.

The Rams have revealed a new Adidas ‘away’ kit, which sees Derby County in a purple strip, quite a change from the recent psychedelic fluorescent kit or the ‘beach’ designs of yester-year. You can rush out and lay down £40 for a replica shirt next month.

As is par for the course, the local media stories had various players champing at the bit in readiness for the new season, some newcomers, and some improvers. Croft, Cywka and Riggott all want to get started and make a new impact.

They reiterated how excited they were to be at Derby and optimistically talked up the team’s chances - but then you’d expect nothing less than eagerness and commitment from players who are contracted to a club having the facilities and support of Derby County.

This time around, fans will be looking to the players to reinforce their platitudes with consistent performances that propel the club into the leading pack in the Championship table.

Robbie Savage is set to return to Pride Park Stadium early next season when he’ll appear in a ‘Legends’ game to be screened on ITV4. It will be a Wales vs. England event on September 8th, on behalf of The John Hartson Foundation; Sav will captain the Dragon’s Legends to help his Welsh colleague Hartson to increase awareness of testicular cancer, and the game promises to be an all-star event.

Sunday evening saw the conclusion of the Women’s World Cup, staged in Germany. Japan became the first Asian nation to take the title of world champions, as they beat the USA on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time, with no further score in and extra-time.

Derby County took part in the 6-a-Side Masters Tournament to find the Midlands Masters on Saturday night - and reached the final, when they lost 4-2 to Notts County. The Rams had the satisfaction of stuffing Nothingham Forest 7-3 along the way, with Spanish ex-Ram Inigo Idiakez bagging a hat-trick.

Derby’s return to the business on the field came (as it often does) against local rivals and it was ‘opening time’ at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium on Saturday. Manager Nigel Clough rotated his available players for the game so that almost everyone got in on the action.

Long-term injury victim Paul Green was missing; captain Shaun Barker is still building up his fitness after his knee operation whilst James Bailey and Jason Shackell were also ruled out with minor injuries. A crowd of over 4,100 watched the game as Albion gave Derby a useful run out.

Burton snatched an early lead when the Rams’ England Under-21 goalkeeper Frank Fielding was caught asleep after just 7 minutes. Fielding expected a cross from Burton defender Marvin Hamilton - but the defender instead rammed in a fierce drive which the out-of-position Fielding could only help into his net.

Derby soon gained the upper hand with their superior movement and passing and it eventually became a case of ‘brewer’s droop’ for the cooper-troopers. Paul Peschisolido’s men were left impotent by Derby’s dazzle, as the Rams’ expected quality came through.

It wasn’t really a stiff footballing lesson for Burton, even though the Rams’ midfield enterprise turned the game to put right that surprise early reversal. Craig Bryson had to retire midway through the first half after a bright start, when he was withdrawn with a knock.

Steve Davies underlined his goal potential with a brace of strikes before half time; first, Bryson and Doyle combined to give Davies a chance he couldn’t miss and that made it 1-1 and then Steve doubled his tally from the penalty spot, after a foul on Jamie Ward.

The Rams kept Burton stretched in the second period even though the manager has supplanted a complete substitute eleven. Ben Davies blasted in a free kick to make it 3-1 soon after the break and Derby went close to adding to the scoreline on several occasions.

When Ben signed from Notts County last season he was feted as a dead-ball specialist but he found it difficult to get off the mark. If his opening goal on Saturday was a taste of things to come, he could make a significant contribution to the anticipated 2011-12 Derby promotion push.

Ex-Tree Nathan Tyson made a substitute appearance too, as did former Brewers’ goalkeeper Adam Legzdins. Derby will continue their build-up with more friendlies during next week. They take on Macclesfield on Tuesday and Morecambe next Friday.

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RamsWeek 29 last gave a distinct impression of ‘déjà vu’, as the Rams players stepped up their pre-season training and an injury-prone player fell victim of another serious setback.

Just after Nigel Clough uttered the fateful fall-back comment about players who were returning from injury - Kris Commons, Dean Leacock,  and Steve Davies -  being ‘like new signings’, striker Steve Davies twisted his knee and suffered ligament damage that was set to keep him sidelined for another six months.

Clough still had Pearson and Porter on the sick-list and Shaun Barker was being nursed back to fitness after his knee injury. Buxton and Addison were in recovery mode, too.

Derby revealed their new first team strip and fans still hoped that more new players would soon arrive to fill the smart white Adidas 2010-11 shirts.

The Rams took off for their initial pre-season training game at Burton Albion (where else?) and won 1-0 courtesy of a rare goal by Dean Leacock.

Derby used a 4-3-2-1 formation with fit-again Kris Commons fitting in well. Rams fans would enjoy him for just half the forthcoming season, however…

Photo: Action Images



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