Derby County Football Club sent their fans home swelling with pride after they comprehensively dissected the Championship front runners.

Derby County 3 v 0 Newcastle United
Coca Cola Championship
Pride Park, Derby
Tuesday 9th February 2010 - 19:45pm

Attendance: 28,607 (2,413 Travelling Toon)

Referee: Andy Taylor

Goals: Hulse 40’ - Commons (pen) 60’ - Barker 63’

Teams:

Derby County:

Bywater, Hunt, Buxton, Barker, McEveley, Tonge, Green, Savage (Anderson 89), Pearson, Hulse (Martin 89), Commons (Vidal 81) Unused Subs: Deeney, Moxey, Teale, Porter

Newcastle United:

Harper, Nolan, Hall, Williamson, Guthrie, Routledge, Simpson, Van Aanholt (Smith 68’), Gutierrez, Best (Ameobi 68’), Carroll (Lovenkrands 68’)
Unused Subs: Pancate, Krul, Kadar, Donaldson

Match Report:

Derby County Football Club sent their fans home swelling with pride after they comprehensively dissected the Championship front runners.

The Rams giant killing status gained momentum by ending Forests 19 game unbeaten streak. On Tuesday night it kicked up to an even higher gear by condemning Newcastle United to their first defeat in 15 games and also knocked them from the top of the table.

Perhaps at the end of the season we will all look back and agree that 23 minutes of football changed the Rams season. That period of time either side of the half produced 3 unanswered goals.

Newcastle arrived at Pride Park having not beaten the Rams in eight years but with their 5-1 thrashing of Cardiff on Saturday, they looked set to change that fact.

For the first time this season Nigel Clough was able to name an unchanged side and anyone who claims that injuries have not influenced the struggling squad only need look at that stat to know it has played a massive factor.

The game started with striker Andy Carroll attempting to win a 3rd minute penalty but was ignored by referee Andy Taylor to the delight of the home faithful.

From their Derby were causing the Toon massive problems as they began attacking in waves with Stephen Pearson causing massive problems on the left.

Rob Hulse went close to burying a good cross and Commons could only find Stephen Harper with an effort from six yards.
Derby were running RAM-pant, so much so that it took Newcastle until the 30th minute to threaten when Nicky Hunt gifted the ball to Jonas Gutierrez who crossed only for his cross to be narrowly cleared to safety by the ever solid Barker.

Robbie Savage was involved in everything, even the ref’s book as he received a yellow card for a “just letting you know I am here” challenge on Wayne Routledge after 37 minutes.
Then came the first of the hat trick, when in the 40th minute Hulse connected with Commons pinpoint cross to put Derby in front and fans in raptures.

Newcastle responded well and created a couple of good chances before the break but Derby held firm as Bywater kept both Routledge and Nolan’s effort out.

HT: 1 – 0

The Toon did exactly what was expected from them as they came out firing on all cylinders and it seemed Andy Carroll had scored when he headed home a Routledge cross but referee Taylor had already blown for a foul on the winger. So much for the advantage rule!

The Rams held firm against the building pressure and released much of it by scoring a second goal in the 59th minute.

Stephen Pearson put through a ball that found Michael Tonge clear. Gutierrez showed bad composure in the face of danger as he brought the midfielder down inside the box although it seemed to have run too wide to pose a genuine threat.

Kris Commons stepped up to the spot and fired a confident penalty kick that sent Steve Harper the wrong way.

In the 63rd minute the Rams completed their treble as the Toon defence failed to clear a corner and as the ball found its way back into the area, Barker found himself on the end of it and fired truly from six yards.

Derby fans in heaven as the fat lady finished warming up and began her performance.

Newcastle manager Hughton tried everything to get on the scoreboard bringing on Ameobi, Lovenkrands and Smith but Derby were now determined that the thrashing would only be complete if accompanied by a clean sheet.

They need not have worried as although the Toon huffed and puffed, the Rams house stood firm and once again David had given Goliath some of his own medicine.

Full time and Derby County announced to the Championship that they were well and truly ‘back’.

FT: 3 - 0

And instead of my opinion of the game in the match summary I’ll leave it up to some of the RamZone team who were there:

I.Saw – RamZone Match Reporter:

Derby thoroughly deserved their victory, Commons worked harder than I have ever seen him work in a Derby shirt, maybe the penny has dropped with Kris as he fought for the ball tackled back and often the sort of attacking options that would value him in the millions.

Hulse was chosen as the supporter’s man of the match and whilst he led the line exceptionally well I would personally have gone for Commons.
 
Carroll centre forward for Newcastle gave a committed performance and caused Barker and Buxton quite a few problems aided and abetted by a referee who saw everything in yellow. (it was the lino who flagged for the penalty - extremely soft Tongue surrounded by two/three shirts never first to the ball went down under a challenge and a chequered flag did the rest).
 
Bywater immense a brace of world class saves which owed a lot to his positioning, if only his kicking was as good.
 
Overall though this was a TEAM  performance every single man working for his colleagues nobody hid nobody argued and mistakes when they happened (such as a couple of brahmas from Hunt) were quickly forgotten and put behind them.
 
It's the first time this season we have really played as a team if and it's a big if I know but if we continue to play together as a unit like this I see no reason why a play off place should be discounted. We dominated and when we didn't we defended with backs to the wall mentality.

It was a joy to watch, shame it wasn't on sky for all to enjoy!

 
Paul Mortimer – RamsWeek writer:

Another tremendous team effort from Derby - straight up and at Newcastle so as not to let them find any rhythm and pattern, it was soon clear once again that we have stopped showing teams too much respect..
 
Buxton and Barker were powerhouses again, Savage prodigious. I do think that United occasionally made a meal of challenges, hence Derby had 5 players booked - but we again, as with Forest, and we made sure that they shalt not cross!
 
Bywater stood up well and showed his ability and concentration to deny United several times as Mick said. Just occasionally he put clearances needlessly astray when if he'd kept the ball in the park, United would have been under renewed pressure.
 
There were also a couple of occasions where United players went down laughably in the box - sort of thing you see Premier League refs flashing a yellow for 'simulation' IMHO - but nothing was awarded. Makes a change for a referee not to buy the drama but it did look like a tactic from Newcastle!
 
Commons buzzed brilliantly, he tackled and chased all night too - and if you thought that the Commons - Hulse goal that beat the Trees was quick as a flash, Derby's first goal from the same combination was even quicker!
 
Pearson got through a lot of lung-busting work and his passing and thrust was improved, perhaps he is beginning to believe in himself a bit more.
 
A flashing cross, a nod of Hulses hard-boiled forehead and Newcastle later realised they were 1-0 down!
 
The penalty was a bit soft but how much crap luck and mediocre refereeing have we had to stand for this season? We'll take all the luck we get.
 
It was a very important goal to score in the context of our season, that penalty. Derby kept belief that they could win after that, and when Barker bundled in the third, it was dreamland!
 
Cloughie perhaps made a point to the officials with a rash of late substitutes that halted the game and prevented Newcastle from camping out in the Derby half. They had been getting some dangerous possession in the closing stages.
 
Dave Martin and Javan Vidal got a few minutes under their belt; how's that, cruising to 3-0 against the runaway league leaders and able to pop on a couple of debutants to help see the game out!
 
But right to the end, there were determined tackles, hefty clearances when needed, some neat short passing when possible to play out of trouble or put United on the back foot again, as we saw the game out with none of the late disappointing drama that marred the Plymouth and Sheffield away games.
 
Bring on the Bluenoses on Saturday!

Mick McDermott – RamZone Match Previews:

Bywater made several superlative saves and was the man of the match for me.

Barker & Buxton stood firm and while Hunt was not as effective as he has been recently improved as the game went on.
Routledge gave McEveley a torrid time but he stuck to his guns. Pearson, Green & Tonge did well in midfield.

Savage got about but was lucky to survive a rash challenge that he got a yellow for.

Commons & Hulse - whats to say? where have they been all season.

Newcastle is a very good side and on another day they would have won. We played to our strengths and contained them and it was an excellent victory.

Men Of The Match:
Bywater, Barker, Savage, Hulse, Commons - Too hard to choose just one. Apologies to the other 6 players who started as you were all heroes on the day!

Match Highlight:

Finding out Forest had lost and been unable to take advantage of the RAMpage!

Words From The Manager:

Nigel Clough speaking to the official site after the match:

"It is an excellent result and just reward for an outstanding performance. We feel like that result has been coming; we should have won comfortably on Saturday but were denied”.

"It all clicked into place against Newcastle and we showed what we can produce when everyone does their job and works hard”.

"The first goal was a super move, with a great cross from Kris Commons and a terrific header from Rob Hulse. The penalty for the second was the right decision and well dispatched by Kris. And Shaun Barker's goal was the icing on the cake and rich reward for him personally, because he has been a colossus in recent weeks”.

"I also want to mention the contribution of our goalkeeper, Stephen Bywater, who again made a couple of crucial saves at crucial times; although he didn't have a lot to do on the night”.
"It is no coincidence that the results are improving now we have the majority of our players back. Paul Green is a perfect example of this; he's not just back but now he's finally back to full fitness and showing what he can do”.

"The consistency of team selection is leading to a consistency of performance and in return better results. We know we still have a lot of hard work to do and we need to maintain this level of performance now”.

"It all starts again on Saturday in the FA Cup against Birmingham City and we will be asking the players to give the same effort and commitment that they have given us over the last few weeks".

Photo: Action Images

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