What I.Saw - Rams Misfire As Mason Makes History!
Monday, 24th Oct 2011 13:54 by I,Saw

The Rams probably deserved to be behind at half time but in the second 45 could have easily scored 5 or 6. The woodwork and the keeper left the Rams with nothing - on a day when the ball just wouldn’t go in!

Middlesbrough 2 vs. 0 Derby County

Riverside Stadium

Saturday October 22nd

Referee:

C. Boyeson

Attendance:

17,407 (931 Travelling Rams)

Teams:

Middlesbrough:

Steele, Hoyte, Bennett, Zemmama (Ogbeche 67’), McManus, McDonald, Emnes (Martin 76’), Bailey, Williams, Arca, McMahon (Kink 81’)

Unused Substitutes: Tchuimeni-Nimely, Haroun

Yellow Cards: Bennett, McMahon

Goals: Williams (45’), Emnes (52’)

Derby County:

Fielding, Croft, O'Brien, Shackell (Kilbane 57’), Roberts, Ward, Hendrick, Bryson, B Davies, Robinson (Maguire 64’), Bennett (Cywka 78’)

Unused Substitutes: Legzdins, Doyle

Yellow Cards: Bryson

Match Stats: Boro - Rams

Possession: 57% - 43%

Shots On Target: 14 - 5

Shots Off Target: 7 - 7

Corners: 9 - 8

Fouls: 11 - 15

Most Fouls: Kink (2) - Davies (4)

I.Saw’s Match Report:

A buzz in the concourse, Bennett is starting.

Mason Bennett, aged 15 years and 99 days becomes the youngest Rams player ever, it will be the third “Youngest Ever” I’ve seen following on from Lee Holmes and Stevie Powell, I feel old.

Mason though belies his age; he puts himself about like a seasoned pro.

He's Stronger than the opposition, a shoulder charge here, a push there this is not a "fragile" young lad. He could and perhaps should have scored when he leans back and smashes his shot against the crossbar. Had he done so it would he been the youngest league player ever to record a goal.

He still might.

It's not all about Mason though and Derby struggle, mid way through the first half and Jason Shackell is injured, he's hobbling and unable to jump. He receives treatment yet Nigel Clough keeps him on.

It's a decision which comes back to haunt us. Jason can't get off the floor and gets no distance on his headed clearance, in the ensuing chaos Rhys Williams deflects the ball up and over Frank Fielding into the net, a lucky goal and arguably avoidable.

Half time and Shackell is sent back out, the wonder sponge or whatever the physio uses these days hasn't worked and he sits really deep as he struggles to move. We scream for a replacement, Nigel, who can give us a wave normally, ignores us.

As sure as eggs is eggs, a predictable second goal arrives when Shackell unable to jump, stands watching and Marvin Emnes heads easily home. Two nil and Clough must take the blame.

Belatedly Shackell is replaced by Kevin Kilbane and we look better.

Ben Davies moves to right back and Lee Croft plays right wing we look much more dangerous, Croft actually beats players with the ball and when he doesn't, he passes back to Davies who is better at crossing.

Chris Maguire replaces Theo Robinson, Tomasz Cykwa for debutant Bennett and we begin to play football. You know the stuff where you pick out players pass the ball to feet, run with the ball at the opposition. Scary stuff, we did it last year for a short period too.

We hit the cross bar three times; their keeper makes a couple of world class saves.

It's not to be and whilst we could had won 3-2 the overwhelming feeling is that had Clough replaced the obviously injured Shackell earlier we might not have conceded two goals and could have at least left with at least a draw.

It's not the first time Clough has been stubborn which his changes and this time once again it cost us the game.

Rams Man Of The Match:

Chris Maguire, a spark that provided the creativity the Rams lacked in the first period matched with a healthy work rate.

Whistle Watch:

Finally a word of praise for referee Carl Boyeson, a man you hardly noticed

which is exactly what you are looking for from a referee. He ignored several penalty claims, quite correctly in my opinion, and booked a 'Boro player for diving.

Wasn't overawed, refereed in a smooth, fair and efficient manner 9/10.

Well done sir.

Manager’s Reaction:

Nigel Clough was finding it hard to believe his team ended up point-less:

"I was very pleased with second half performance and it is just frustrating we didn't produce that sort of performance for the whole game. We should, have gone in at 0-0 at half-time and kicked on from there but the goal, a minute before half time, had a massive impact.”

"We actually thought Jason Shackell was fouled in the lead-up to the goal, which was a deflection from a shot which was going well wide, and that pretty much summed up our day.”

"Sometimes it isn't your day in football and today was one of those days where nothing went right for us in front of goal. I was very pleased with the chances we created; we had more than enough to get a point.”

"If we had got a goal at any time it may have been different but it just didn't quite run our way today. The performances have been there and if we keep creating chances the results will come.”

"We want to win games but we're remaining positive and the chances have been there to win games, so that suggests a result is not too far away. The spine of our team had teenagers right down it today which says a lot for how important we view bringing players through the Academy at Derby County.”

"Injuries have given Mark O'Brien, Jeff Hendrick and Mason Bennett a chance to come into the team. We are encouraged by the first 12 games so we will keep battling away and a break will come our way again."

Nigel was also very pleased with the efforts of his fifteen year old debutant:

"Mason hasn't been fazed by anything in his young career so far and I think the same can be said of him after today. He did really well and we're delighted with him and for him.”

"We started with Mason as we felt he would provide something of an unknown package to Middlesbrough and also because no-one has yet grasped the opportunity to play up front alongside Theo Robinson."

"It is far too much to expect him to be involved every week but he really impressed us today with his maturity and how he handled everything, and he didn't do too badly on the pitch either.”

"We wanted to play exactly the same as he has been for the under-18s; we don't want him to change. As he gets more and more experience we know he will improve. For just over 15 he has the physique of a man and he didn't look out of his depth. Being a level-headed lad as well he has every chance."

Player’s Reaction:

Mark O’Brien explained the dressing room was a quiet place after the clash:

"We were speechless in many ways in the dressing room how we didn't get something from the game. Perhaps we weren't up to scratch in the first half but we really upped our game in the second half and had so many chances to score.”

"I think it's a mystery how we didn't get a goal but we have to just accept it was one of those days, learn from the mistakes we made and move on. We want to be able to play how we did in the second half every week and if we can do that more often than not we will score.”

"We've not had a clean sheet for a while so that's something we know we need to work on as well because getting those gives you a great base to build on, and we've not done it enough lately."