The Rams were by far the better team on the day but history will reflect that Derby and Bristol played out a stalemate when the visitors deserved much more.

Bristol City 1 vs. 1 Derby

Ashton Gate

March 31st - 2012

Gavin Ward

Attendance:

12,794

The Teams:

Derby:

Fielding (GK); Naylor, Buxton, Shackell, Roberts; Green, Bryson, Hendrick, B. Davies; S. Davies, Robinson (Tyson 79).

Unused Subs: Severn (GK), Bailey, Carroll, Thomas.

Goals: Bryson 20’

Bristol:

Gerken (GK); Skuse (Balosie 84), Carey, Amougou, Foster; Adomah, Cisse (McAllister 64), Kilkenny, Pearson; Ephraim (Pitman 72), Stead.

Unused Subs: James (GK), Wood.

Goals: Pitman 74’

Match Stats: Bristol - Derby

Possession: 50% - 50%

Shots On Target: 3 - 4

Shots Off Target: 4 - 6

Corners: 3 - 4

Fouls: 12 - 12

Most Fouls: Skuse (3) - Davies (4)

I.Saw’s Match Report:  Spoilt my day he did, Gavin Ward you're a ......

April fool came a day early at Ashton Gate with the visit of Derby County to strugglers Bristol City. No, it’s not the having to pay £25 for a seat with no back. Nor the fact the ground doesn’t sell alcohol.

The joke was Gavin Ward from Surrey, a man plying his trade as a professional referee.

A man who based on his interpretations of fouls would struggle to tell the difference between his arse and his elbow even if you said one was below the other.

This is the guy who went into Leicester’s changing room at half time and had the altercation with the Foxes manager Nigel Pearson.

A referee who has not one, not two, but three Facebook groups set up in his dishonour.

A joke though is on us.

An example, Ward fails to spot Steven Davies’ shirt being pulled from behind causing the player to go down, the ball is caught between his legs, the resulting drop ball is angled into the home player and then a free kick is awarded to Bristol as our player challenges.

This is an official who watches a Robins striker flutter into Tom Naylor on the edge of the box. Naylor couldn’t get out of the way; it was never a foul at best, obstruction at worse.

The whistle goes and it’s a direct free kick.

Another.

Theo Robinson is lying prone on the goal line, an arm to the chin the cause. Match ball is on the halfway line before Ward deems to stop play; it’s in the control of Craig Bryson.

The game is restarted dropping the ball at the feet of Reds keeper Dean Gerken.

And so it went on. Decision after decision going the home way, Ward frustrated and spoilt the whole afternoon’s football.

The only thing the Oxted official was consistent on was in turning down penalties, two good shouts from both sides waved away perhaps in the knowledge that had he given them he would have suffered the scrutiny of television.

You’d be embarrassed at local league level with a referee like Gavin Ward trust me.

As to the sections of the game not waylaid by the waster whistling, the Rams had the better of the play.

Jake Buxton had a small relief from his afternoon of agricultural defending to delightfully find Jeff Hedrick down the left channel and an inch perfect pass picked out Bryson who joyfully slotted home.

Steve Davies nearly made it two, a wonderful piece of control with his chest before powering his shot against the far post.

Bristol never really looked like causing any problems for Derby until Brett Pitman came on. The former Cherries striker given time and space conjured up a cracking goal that gave Frank Fielding no chance.

Bristol pressed for a second, we sang “Is there a fire drill” as the home supporters chose to best the rush but to be honest a point was the best City could have deserved.

One point out of ten though would be a compliment to the man in the middle.

Manager’s Reaction:

Nigel Clough was left to lament two points lost:

"The quality of our performance was excellent today so we're viewing the game as two points dropped. We played some excellent football and our goal came from a very, very good team move, set up superbly by Jeff Hendrick and well finished by Craig Bryson.”

"It was a lovely move and that's the type of goal we encourage every single week on the training ground. The only criticism we have with today's performance was that we didn't kill the game off and take advantage of the chances and situations we created for ourselves to go two goals ahead, with that little bit of quality lacking in the final third.”

 "It should be remembered that the play to get to that stage was excellent and once again you can see the players are relaxing and playing. It was so close to being the perfect away performance.”

"The lads are pretty disappointed they didn't get the win and we've told them if they keep performing like that we'll keep picking up the points to move up the table."

Next Match:

Derby vs. Ipswich

Pride Park Stadium

3pm – April 7th 2010

Photo: Action Images

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