It had been 38 years since the Rams won two successive games at the beginning of a campaign. Despite Watford pressing for much of the game, the Rams didn’t just manage to hold on - they stole all three points!

13th August 2011

Referee: D. Deadman (Hallmark Distributor)

Attendance

12,263 (946 Travelling Rams)

Teams

Hornets:

 Loach, Dickinson, Eustace, Taylor, Mariappa, Yeates, Iwelumo (Deeney 71) Forsyth (Massey 87), Doyley, Jenkins, Sordell.

Unused Subs: Gilmartin, Buaben, Mirfin.

Yellow Cards: Eustace, Jenkins, Yeates

Rams:

Fielding, Brayford, Shackell, O'Brien, Kilbane, Bailey (Hendrick 46), Bryson, Croft, B Davies, Ward (Roberts 68), S Davies (Robinson 59).

Unused Subs: Legzdins, Maguire.

Yellow Cards: O'Brien, Bryson, Bailey, Robinson, Croft

Goals: S.Davies – 51’

D.Sawit’s Match Report

Before the match, the record books were against the Rams, having not managed victory in the first two matches of a season since way back in 1973, under the guidance of a certain Brian Clough.

Nigel, although unaware of the long-standing record, was hoping to bounce back from the Cup disappointment on Tuesday night.

While on the subject of records, Vicarage Road had not been a happy hunting ground for the Rams who were without a win there since 2009. Standing in Clough’s way was an ever-increasing injury list and a referee who gave up his job as a casino card dealer - to do pretty much the same on a football pitch.

With little change to his squad for the match (mainly as barely anyone else was available), Nigel stuck to the combination that ran over the Blues but was overrun by the Shrews. Clough was able to welcome back Bailey and Ward, and the availability of Hendrick proved important.

Watford could have easily taken an early lead when Mark Yeates played the ball to Marvin Sordell, who shot from inside the box - but Frank Fielding was on hand to keep the Rams safe with less than 5 minutes gone.

Lloyd Doyley was causing the Rams problems in what was his 300th league appearance for the Hornets and a good move allowed Craig Forsyth to get a header in on goal but it sprayed wide. Martin Taylor spurned a good chance when he found himself in a good position, only to make a meal of the finish.

The Rams were under immense pressureue to the height and pace that Watford could combine, which meant the visitors needed all hands to the pump. Derby were finding it hard to find any attacking thrust as the home team continually pushed them back into their own half.

With just over a quarter of an hour on the clock, Derby finally found some attacking thrust of note through the hard working Jamie Ward. He fired from long range but the trajectory of the ball continued to increase as it fizzed over the top of the crossbar.

Not to be out-done, Sordell shot from nearly 20 yards; his effort was comfortably saved by Fielding and then Forsyth shot wide from the right of the area as the half drew to a close.

The referee was working overtime to keep up with the yellow cards he was distributing to Rams players during the first forty-five. Most seemed like nothing more than good solid challenges and even the not-so-solid ones only required a warning. Instead, the whistle-blower must have been feeling heavy in his top pocket, as he was intent on lightening his load by booking nearly half the Rams team in the first 45.

In contrast, the home team were being allowed more levity - and an obvious foul on James Bailey in the build-up to a last-minute move from the Hornets nearly ended in disaster for the Rams, but Sordell could only head wide after some desperate defending in the box.

HT: 0-0

The Rams returned to the field having been dominated by Watford but there was no doubt they had been resolute in defence. Hendrick replaced the injured Bailey after the break. The reason the Hornets had not capitalised was as much to do with the Rams not allowing them time and space to steady themselves as it was poor finishing from the home side.

With only 6 minutes gone in the second half it was Steve Davies who, as he did last week, popped up with a stunning strike. After collecting the ball from Croft 20 yards out, he produced a thunderous left-foot effort that proved unstoppable and the ball tore into the top of the net.

Confidence is a very important factor in football and the goal seemed to lift the weight of the Rams' midweek Cup defeat and reassert the team attitude that put an end to the Blues on opening day last week.

It was suddenly a whole new attitude from Derby who woke from their attacking slumber and could have doubled their advantage when Ward once again tried from distance; although on target, it was well saved by Scott Loach.

Watford tried to counter the Rams' growing dominance and Sordell attempted to do a Davies ,but his well-hit 20-yard effort was tipped around the post by Fielding.

With 10 minutes to go, Yeates produced a cross that found the head of former Ram John Eustace but the Rams hero between the sticks was once again on hand, as Frank reacted brilliantly to save the shot with his feet.

Watford substitute Gavin Massey found his header on target with only two minutes left but that man F.F. continued to taunt Watford as he once again appeared in a puff of smoke to put the effort in a two-handed vice.

The referee was running on Old Trafford time when he added a near unexplainable 5 minutes at the end of the match, but besides Massey heading over, the Rams played the ball into corners, tried to play keepy-off and generally ran down the time in the fashion that Clough often demanded but never saw last season.

The other thing Clough would have seen last season is his team concede a heart-breaking late goal - but encouragingly with only two games played, twice already his Derby team have obtained and held a lead.

FT: 0 - 1

Forget Shrewsbury – performances like this, if continued, will be the cornerstone of any improvement the Rams achieve in 11/12.

An old-fashioned hit-and-run away victory that the fans should be proud of.

Dan's Man of the match – D.Deadman

This preening peacock pranced around the field with his chest puffed out, posturing and pointing like he was the main attraction under a big top.

13 Yellow and 4 Red cards in 3 matches is nothing to be proud of; he needs a shift cleaning out the official’s lavatory to remind him of who the fans pay to see. If the Rams had lost, it would have all about him - and I get the feeling he would like that.

Dan's Man of the match without a whistle - Frank Fielding

Some massive saves kept the points from the Rams and although Davies strike was wondrous and Shackell was once again enormous, without Frank the result would have been a win to Watford. Top job, Frankie!

Managers Reaction

Nigel Clough spoke to the official site after the match:

"It is lovely to keep a clean sheet and hopefully that will give everyone a lot of confidence. We're beginning to learn how to see games out, which we were crying out for last season on countless occasions.”

"That comes with experience and better players, which something we talked about last year too. We weren't very good at all in the first half today, but the difference was last season we would have conceded a few goals - I'm sure of that.”

"But this group is full of heart and character and the defence kept us in it in the first half and that allowed us to step it up in the second half. It is a great start and we're delighted with it, especially with so many players still out injured.”

"We know from our experiences last season that we need to get points on the board as quickly as we can. If we can get through to the international break in two weeks with a few more points on the board, we hope to have a few more players back to help us kick on from there."

"It was another screamer, Steven knows we can still see a bit more from him but with his ability to get a goal, he is our main man. He needs to get fitter, he was on his knees after 60 minutes today but he will improve with more games he plays."

Cracking Goal Scorer Reaction

Steve Davies was pleased to once again have won the day for his team:

"I'm delighted to get another goal and help the team get three points, but I've wasn't too happy with my overall play today. I wasn't in the game really and didn't think I had a kick to be honest until the goal which, for me, was better than my one against Birmingham.”

 "I suppose strikers are judged on the goals the score, but I felt I could have offered more in my performance. I will be working hard in training to improve and I know if I keep working hard, it will all come together.”

"As long as the goals keep coming, I will be happy and I don't suppose I can complain too much as that's what I am paid to do. Watford is a tough place to come to at the best of times."

"We had to hang in there when we needed to, so to come away with three points is a great feeling. We rode our luck but you have to give credit to the defenders and Frank Fielding in goal, they were brilliant.”

"Our opening two games of the season have been really tough, so to look at the table and have six points is a great effort."

Next Match:

Photo: Action Images

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