Better.

Derby County 1-1 Manchester City
Jihai o.g. 46       Sturridge 63

Not great it must be said, but significantly better than the Preston debacle on Saturday and in this dreadful season a point at home against Manchester City must be considered a massive positive. Eight straight home defeats must be some kind of record and to even stop that seemed an impossible task before tonight’s game.

Paul Jewell was without the suspended Lewin Nyatanga and Andy Todd was dispatched to the bench as Dean Leacock and Darren Moore came into the side. So did Rob Earnshaw after his goalscoring appearance against Preston in place of Emanuel Villa, who is understandably yet to find his feet since his move from Mexico.

Sven’s men were without big hitters Micah Richards and Elano, the latter of whom was on the bench. Darius Vassell and Daniel Sturridge made up the attacking pair for City but it was Martin Petrov that carried the biggest threat from the left wing; how well Dean Leacock stood up to the Bulgarian international would be the key to achieving any sort of result in this game.

Petrov really is the sort of player who captures the imagination; a Beckham-esque player who is unlikely to take on and beat defenders but whose delivery from the left wing is impeccable and which causes all sorts of problems as we found out to our cost.

It was one such moment of sheer class from Petrov which should have resulted in the game’s first goal; Corluka’s long diagonal ball was hit first time into the box by the Bulgarian, a cross that was so perfect I would have scored it; of course I’m a better finisher than Darius Vassell, who was tackled by Darren Moore with the goal at his mercy.

I’m getting ahead of myself mind as I’ve forgotten about Claude Davis’ near disaster; his Todd-style back pass almost put the Rams to the sword but that man Vassell couldn’t find the target with his left foot snapshot.

Rob Earnshaw had perhaps a better chance when he had one of those moments of magic that have convinced the likes of West Brom, Norwich and ourselves to shell out millions of pounds; Fagan burst through the centre of midfield before passing to Earnie who got the ball out his feet and rifled a low shot that struck the post with Joe Hart beaten all ends up.

It was the sort of chance that so often hasn’t gone in for us this season but it was least some encouragement for the Derby faithful. Although it nearly went down the pan again when another superb cross from Petrov was only half cleared by Davis but the Jamaican redeemed himself for his early errors but getting a fine block after Ireland’s well-struck rebound.

If anything the half ended with the Rams marginally on top and no collapse in sight; it was a refreshing change of pace.

It got better just a minute after half time as the Rams got a piece of that luck that has so deserted these parts; Leacock’s long ball was poorly dealt with by Richard Dunne, Miller picked up the pieces and found Ghaly who looked for a moment like he had made a mess of it but the ball found its way back to Miller whose half volley was going well wide until it was deflected past Hart but the unfortunate Sun Jihai.

The Rams then held possession for a good while but when Elano was introduced on the hour we were always going to have problems and so it turned out; the little Brazilian played a neat through ball behind Leacock and into the path of Petrov who in turn delivered another fine cross for Daniel Struggle to convert to restore parity and dint the Rams’ hopes for a first win since September.

After that both sides huffed and puffed but there was no real sign of that house being blown down. The point is largely irrelevant but at last a performance of fight and desire from the Rams; the Birmingham game looks suddenly winnable – or is that a bit much?

Full-Time: Derby 1-1 Man City

Man City: Hart; Jihai; Ball; Corluka; Dunne; Petrov; Fernandes; Ireland; Etuhu (Elano); Vassell (Mpenza); Sturridge (Giovanni).

Referee: S. Bennett.

Attendance: 31,368.

Give your player ratings here!

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls