Angry, angry folk abound. It’s the ticket office, it’s a problem. Queuing for Stoke tickets patiently, initially it’s good humoured as fans emerge with their own seats after the debacle of unreserved seats for the previous round.  Then it turns nasty.

First, a steward advises those who want today’s tickets to go to the old collection office the other side of the BBG. A few leave and those left shuffle up.

Then comes the bombshell.  It’s half an hour before kickoff and the ticket office is closing; the Manager has made the decision. Come back later, after the game, tomorrow. No amount of reasoned or unreasoned argument stands. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve queued for.

That’s your lot. And whilst they don’t use the words “P*** Off” they treat us like shite. “Customers” what a joke! If I was a customer rather than a fanatic I’d tell ‘em exactly where to stick their chuffin “entertainment”.

Inside it’s a cold chilly Pride Park, sitting under clear skies and a double vapour trail heading east whilst any warmth from the sun is denied to us customers as it hides behind the main West Stand just prior to kick off. For that I don’t blame the club.

Kick off and Jason Shackell and Gareth Roberts between them make a mess of a routine bread and butter hoof from the Green and Blue Striped Coventry.

It’s a theme that continues as the whole of the Derby team look to be performing some bizarre form of soccer speed dating where they have minutes to find out about their teamate before moving onto another player.

Coventry meanwhile offer slick passing and understanding, the ball seems to stick to their boots as flick and pass meets players like long lost friends. In the stands some think it’s luck, but it happens too often to be luck.

Luckily their end product is poor, Gary McSheffery the most dangerous of the Sky Blues forces Frank Fielding into a save low to his right, elsewhere Clive Platt, a big bustling centre forward plays his part without ever really threatening.

Eventually the Rams find each other, they bond and they begin to play as a team.

Shaun Barker from a corner is headlocked by James McPeake, it’s as clear as day, it’s a penalty to twenty odd thousand fans, and possibly the odd customer too. In the eyes of Roger East it’s nothing.

Astounded we offer our opinion on the referee, thirty seconds later and the travelling fans offer theirs as a decision goes the Rams way. It’s similar to ours. All I can say is it’s a good job the men in black, amber, green, pink, pale blue and various other hues are not considered a “race”.

Scoreless at half time Coventry have played the better football but it’s poor fare even for the Championship.

Second half and the tempo is higher, the visitors make the most of a free kick in front of the East Stand, Sammy Clingan firing in a cross from the starboard bow, McSheffrey glances his header towards the top of the net only for Fielding to acrobatically flip the ball over for a corner.

If that was a shock for Derby then they respond well, Paul Green feeds Craig Bryson on the wing and an intelligent pull back into the path of Callum Ball is finished in the style of an experienced striker as the youngster places the ball into the corner of the net for his third goal of the season.

All that was left was for the Rams to play out time, that they did quite comfortably in the end to make it five wins in a row and move up to eighth place in the table.

I.Saw's Player Rankings:

• Frank Fielding 7 - Two excellent saves one in each half, handing of crosses good today.

• John Brayford 7 - Now regaining his fitness and it shows.

• Jason Shackell 6 - Struggled to get to terms with McSheffrey’s pace.

• Shaun Barker 8 - Fought hard and battled for every ball, a captains performance.

• Gareth Roberts 6 - Timid start but put in a good shift by the end of the match.

• Paul Green 6 - Not yet imposing himself on the action that he has shown he is capable of.

• Craig Byson 8 - My man of the match, flair invention and pace the spark today on the pitch.

• James Bailey 5 - In danger of falling into the “Savage Syndrome”, i.e. running around a lot without making much difference.

• Jamie Ward 7 - Promises a lot but sits too deep to influence the game, whether that is what’s been requested of him or his own choice you have to draw your own conclusion especially with the number of clean sheets we are keeping.

• Callum Ball 8 - Another hardworking performance giving everything for the team and a cracking finish too, a very close call for man of the match.

• Theo Robinson 6 - You can’t fault his effort, played his part in Derby’s victory.

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls