A report barely need be written about an inept display that defied belief even in a season of more lows than highs for Derby County.

Derby County 1 v 4 Scunthorpe United
Coca Cola Championship
Pride Park - Derby
9th January 2010 - 3:00 pm

Goals:  

Derby: Williams 59 (og)

Scunthorpe: Hooper 14, Thompson 45 / 80, Forte 89.

Referee: Mr. Woolmer

Attendance: 28,106 (754 - Traveling Irons) 

Teams:

DERBY COUNTY:

Bywater, Hunt (Connolly, 79), Addison, Buxton, Moxey; Green (Davies, 71), Savage, Pearson, Johnson; Hulse, Porter (Commons, 46) – Unused Subs: Deeney, McEveley, Teale, Campbell.

SCUNTHORPE UNITED:

Lillis, A Wright, Byrne, Mirfin, Williams; Thompson, O'Connor (Sparrow,90), J Wright, Woolford (Togwell 71); Hooper (Forte 84), Hayes – Unused Subs: Slocombe, May, Picton, Coleman.

Match Report:

A report barely need be written about an inept display that defied belief even in a season of more lows than highs for Derby County.

If one were to be composed, all that would need to be said is that on the whole the Rams were abysmal and made Scunthorpe, who are normally abysmal, look like Championship frontrunners.

Let’s just say that goals were scored, five in total and none by Derby. Even when they did manage to get on the score sheet, even then the opposition had to help them do that with Kris Commons's goal taking a deflection.

Many fans will be quick to blame Nigel but it was a day when the manager could do little from the sidelines. There can be no excuses for his players turning in a performance such as this, especially after showing bucket loads of fight and determination at Newcastle.

Neither can the conditions be to blame as Scunthorpe managed four goals in the same stadium. Packed with home fans, a good display would have kept the players warm but as the game went on the feelings of the fans must have plunged the stadium to the lowest temperature Britain has experienced yet.

The last three home performances have been well below what even this limited playing group is capable of. Those in charge need to shoulder some of the blame but the ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ like displays from the Rams players is verging on an extreme case of Schizophrenia.

If ever there was a proof that investment is required, then the match on Saturday brought it before the judge. Otherwise Nigel Clough and Derby County could be in serious danger of slipping into unemployment and relegation respectively.

Then all talk of balancing the books and having to loan rather than buy would be pointless. The damage would already be done and the board would need to shoulder a massive part of the blame for trying to just get by, rather than strengthen to consolidate and build.

Something has to happen and happen soon but hopefully it will be in the area of support and assistance rather than sharpening the axe to behead scapegoats.

The only goats worth beheading after the game were the eleven that took the field, they seemed more intent to use the game as an audition to gain a role in a seasonal panto.

Unfortunately they all seem destined for the same role, the rear end of a pantomime horse.

Dans Man of the match:

Forget man of the match. The only heroes for Derby were the 27,352 Rams fans who turned up in the worst of conditions to watch the worst of performances. They deserve better Mr. Glick.

Best of the match Reports:

The Rams.co.uk

Sky Sports

DCFC Official Site (Never has 1 - 4 sounded so close!)

Irons Official Site (What really happened)

Photo: Action Images

Derby County Polls