It was the perfect crime. The steal of the season. Derby County emerged from Loftus Road with all three points from a contest with Queens Park Rangers, where labelling them second best, would be a massive compliment to the Rams.

As time ticked away, Tom Ince latched onto substitute Abdul Camara’s cross and fired a left footed volley into the back of the net. It was a great goal, superbly taken by Ince after Camara had reached the bi-line and picked out our diminutive striker with precision.

It was all so unlikely. Almost surreal. Eighty Five minutes of playing second fiddle without a bow, all we had was pluck. Plenty of it but in truth it never looked enough.

The goal gave us a second wind. We held on for the remaining five minutes and the obligatory four of injury time before the referee closed the contest and Derby County jumped back into the Play Off’s - as the travelling supporters bounced and sang their celebrations.

Steve McClaren had made one change to the team that deservedly beat Forest 3-0 last time out, Andreas Weimann replacing Johnny Russell.

Derby started slowly, reserved, restrained, Q.P.R didn’t, all energy, a high line, a compressed game.

Indeed Ian Holloway’s Hoops were well drilled. Short passes, standing to attention, standing in space, looking to receive the ball then move it quickly. Fluid like mercury on lead. We didn't close down, didn't come close even. The home side made all the running.

Four minutes on the clock and Tjaronn Chery cuts through and fires a shot at goal. Scott Carson dives one way and gets a hand on the shot, the ball is deflected in the opposite direction over the bar and out for a corner. A fantastic save from a shot which swerved after being hit.

It was an early indication of the match although Ince coolly slotted past Alex Smithies in the Rangers goal but the offside flag had long since been fluttering on the sidelines.

It was a brief respite as Carson was again called into action as the home side dominated.

The referee’s yellow flashed twice in our direction yet not once at a Hoop but that aside we could have no complaints.

Derby’s determined rear-guard held but it wasn't pretty football, long balls hit with hope for Darren Bent, the sort of hope that you have when waiting for your lottery balls to magically appear from Merlin or whatever machine is being used that week. Hopeless balls that wouldn't even win a free lucky dip.

And, when we didn't hit it long, the short passes were slow, laboured and laborious. Will Hughes, cast pained green to match his shirt, found himself the attention of three as did the rest of our midfield with the ball. It should have meant we had at least two over, in space.

There was though no show, no options, and the possession was ultimately turned over and we chased the game again. Nothing stuck anywhere and we were lucky to be level at half time. The best way to describe it was that it we were playing “Clement” football.

Half time and the possibility of changing cramped seats, with a pitch suited more to six-year old’s, and small ones at that, for a heaving concourse and the delights of watching a poorly trained catering guy fight with an electronic till.

Fight wasn't really the word as he pressed button after button with rounds of £50.50 coming up for a hotdog, a pint and a packet of crisps. Frustrated he went for the time-honoured solution of switching it off and starting again. £7.80 sub totalled, £15.60, then £23.40 and all the time nowt served.

And as the fingers pounded the buttons we waited, we waited, the till opened and there was no change.

Each customer got the “on-off” treatment on the till and taking the bull by the horn we started paying him the correct money and just asking for our order. Eventually served, my coffee with no lid (they hadn't any) reached my hand just before the second half got underway.

If you want a dictionary definition of living dangerously, try taking an open coffee cup back to your seat when you have less than 15” of space to squeeze past those who stand up to let you go past. 15” of which their feet by necessity take up nearly a foot of said gap.

The gap on the field between the two sides widened after the restart, we were more ragged, less composed as the ball spent more time in the visitor’s hands.

Carson was again called into action from Chery, and his spilled shot was turned behind by the quick reactions of Alex Pearce.

In a desperate attempt to change things and pull back into the game McClaren brought on Matej Vydra for Bent. It made little effect, indeed the closest we came was after 75 minutes when Carson lashed the ball downfield and Ince managed to get in front on his man.

A little nudge in the back just as he was about to shoot saw the ball fly wide of the goal. In today's game a penalty would have been the correct decision and Ince remonstrated strongly.

The Rams had been lucky some 20 minutes earlier when Bradley Johnson took out Conor Washington in the box, a clear-cut penalty in any bodies book had the Assistant Referee not flagged for offside in the same play.

A double substitution and Craig Bryson and Camara entered the fray as Hughes and the rusty looking Weimann left.

Five minutes later and Camara makes the difference, the difference being a ball into the box that found its man and Ince is the man.

The man scores. Derby County win.

The slow journey back via tube and rail. I'll be home early Thursday morning, home ready for an early morning start on Saturday, a similar journey to Craven Cottage, let hope for a similar result.

When you win, and don't play well there's always hope isn't there!

Match Highlights:

Post Match Reaction — Gaffer & Players

COYR!!

Photo: Action Images

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