Disappointment for Derby County last weekend as their unbeaten run was scuppered in defeat at the hands of improving Peterborough. Is this Derby team good enough to break free of its perennial tread-water Championship existence?

A large contingent of boisterous Rams fans at London Road creditably sustained loud and loyal support for the Rams as they were beaten 3-0 by lowly Peterborough last Saturday. The fans expected better after the team’s decent recent run.

The team doesn’t lack vocal support, especially away, though the dwindling home gates tend to register that the PPS faithful (or perhaps ex-faithful, in increasing numbers!) remain unconvinced about Derby County’s squad strength, the entertainment factor on offer and the sincerity of the club’s ownership regarding their stated ambition of restoring the Rams’ Premier League status.

Without human dynamo Craig Bryson and the busy Jamie Ward, both out injured, a fair element of Derby’s forward threat was missing from the last match. The team played well only in patches.

Derby had a few moments of threat on the Posh goal in the first half but couldn’t score; Rams’ ‘keeper Legzdins also had to pull of several fine saves to keep the game at 0-0. Peterborough scored after half-an-hour when Bostwick struck the ball home from a half-cleared corner.

Derby came out with purpose after the interval but didn’t capitalise on some good approach play. Legzdins had to prevent ‘Boro moving further ahead with a fine penalty save from Tomlin’s spot-kick.

Derby didn’t benefit from that let-off and were on the back foot after Jake Buxton was red-carded. The referee didn’t cover himself in glory with some of his decisions (manager Clough tried to hide his exasperations in his post-match interview) but the Rams found that Posh were no longer the division’s whipping-boys.

The home side took a 2-0 lead after Legzdins made a crass error in letting a routine Berahino long-range shot slip his grasp and trickle into the net. Derby’s threat vanished and a faltering rearguard action for damage limitation was all the team had to offer.

With only 5 minutes to go, that was that - and the same player escaped the Derby defence in injury time to make it 3-0. A most forgettable afternoon - and Derby must get that performance out of their system and gain points from their upcoming two home games.

Even if the 0-3 scoreline might flatter Peterborough a poor first half showing from Derby and then persistent failure to show finishing power and ruthlessness when chances were created, meant that the Rams lost comprehensively to a side that a week earlier, were propping up the division.

Only Paul Jewell’s hapless Ipswich team were worse than Posh ‘on paper’ last Saturday, but they had spirit, speed and purpose and made the most of their ability, notably through the eye-catching George Boyd and tricky Berahino.

The messageboards and pubs are well populated by Derby fans reiterating grumbles about the lack of investment and the sheer time-scale of Derby’s recovery since relegation from the Premier League before the end of the last decade.

GSE posited a ‘five-year promotion plan’ in 2008 but then reiterated it after four years’ tenure – and fans will be very interested in the approach new CEO Sam Rush takes to the job of pushing Derby County upwards. Will he be a catalyst to real achievement or a puppet of remote investors who have a higher level of interest and commitment to their American sporting interests?

Seasons come and go, then the plus-points are stressed by the club in the summer analysis of achievements; an exciting new brave face is put on through the press releases when it is season-ticket renewal time (at 10% more this season, remember) - and the pre-season optimism pours forth as a well-rehearsed burst of positivism at Derby, as it does at every club.

The Rams have had some pleasing results so far of course, stuffing Forest again; thrashing Watford and dumping Jewell’s Tractor Boys at the bottom of the League are the smile-worthy memories.

There have been forgettable moments too; the home draws with Brighton and Blackburn, the League cup defeat at err...I-forget-where-now. Will it all trundle on yet again for a safe but perfunctory mid-table finish? The merciful threshold of 50 points might be reached well in advance of May, though with the club remaining several furlongs behind the excitement of hitting 70 points with a stake in the promotion-chasing pack.

Send in your opinions now! I personally don’t see any tree-pulling scenario this season (except in the return fixture vs. Forest, of course) unless there is more investment in January to make us stronger with more goal threat to take chances and win games rather than putting caution and security first.

Is that pessimism, or realism? Your guess is as good as mine. We are at the stage where the table starts to take on some meaning but of course, as the cliché goes, there’s a very long way to go. November will shape the season, though, with 6 games during this month.

At the moment, Derby aren’t at risk of being dragged into the bottom three - but the front-runners are hardly sweating on our results either, as we are off the pace for a top-six spot.

Mid-table anonymity beckons again at this rate and there’s not yet sufficient cause for supporters to be rashly optimistic on a significant improvement upon last season’s final placement in the Championship table.

Blackpool and Barnsley at home are followed by Millwall and Palace away, before two more home games against Brum then Cardiff. They will all be competitive games and it’s hard to predict how many points Derby will gain from those opponents.

I don’t think Derby’s League position will have changed much by the time December rolls around but am happy for the team to confound me, as long as it is half-a-dozen places in the right direction!

Photo: Action Images

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