The Rams went into the final day undermanned and under pressure from a massive crowd. The win gave a much needed positive boost to loyal fans who have endured a largely forgettable campaign.

Derby County 2 v 0 Cardiff City
Coca Cola Championship
Pride Park, Derby
Sunday 2nd May 2010 - 3:00pm

Referee: C Webster

Attendance: 31,102 (2,257 Wailers from Wales)

Goals: McEveley (Derby) 48’, Martin (Derby) 62’

Teams:

Rams: Deeney, Hunt, Barker, McEveley, Moxey, Savage, Tonge, Martin (R Connolly 90’), Commons (Teale 75’), Pringle, Cywka (Ball 85’)
Unused Subs: Atkins, P Connolly, Hendrick, O'Brien

Cardiff City: Enckleman, Quinn, Capaldi, Gyepes, Hudson, Taiwo (Morris 83), Wilding, Feeney (Magennis 55), McCormack, Etuhu, Burke
Unused Subs: Marshall,, Matthews, Meades, Ledley, Jarvis

Match Report:

A win and a solid performance; what better way to send home the Rams faithful ready for a summer contemplating a better season to come, rather than the dreadful one we can now thankfully wave goodbye to.

Cardiff, playoff bound and without their main trio of stars played like a team disinterested with lowly Derby but that doesn’t discount a good performance from Ben Pringle. Every inch a worthy replacement for Paul Green, all running and forward momentum while David Martin, whose shaky crossing was balanced out by a tremendous low drive for the second goal.

All in all it was a satisfying end to a dissatisfactory season; by quirk of the results we finished just two spots outside of the top half but forgive me for stating that as we were never that good this year, except for in odd patches when Kris Commons was fit and on song.

‘Injuries’ were again the watchword for our struggles but even they don’t excuse some of tepid showings from this past season. A fit Kris Commons would have worked wonders but even then it would have been difficult to achieve anything.

As I’ve talked about before the problem for me lies in midfield where there hasn’t been the forward drive the likes of Paul Green would previously have instilled, which is why it was so refreshing to see Ben Pringle getting beyond the strikers at every opportunity.

The former Ilkeston man impressed with his engine and passing ability and perhaps we might just have uncovered a gem after all.

Quite what we should expect from Pringle next season is up in the air; Danny Bujis should soon join the midfield ranks and I would hope he will lessen the need for ageing Captain Robbie Savage to play quite so much, allowing Paul Green to spend more time going forward rather than covering for his partner.

With that addition in mind there will be more than a couple of central midfielders on hand unless Green departs (Sunderland?) but if he is capable of performing at this level every week then there’s no reason why Pringle can’t make himself a more permanent fixture in the coming years.

For the most part the Derby performance in this game was good; the defending was strong and the trio of Pringle, Commons and Tomasz Cywka presented a capable playmaking triangle that played some refreshingly good football in the absence of hoof targets like Chris Porter.

The first goal was a simple header from Jay Mac, who is likely going to be leaving us this summer after his best season at the club, although with Dean Moxey around and looking decent, the need for an expensive and inconsistent full back isn’t exactly strong. The ball in from Commons was excellent and I just pray he can manage at least thirty games next year but I will not hold my breath.

The second goal came from Pringle’s excellent burst forward; he played in David Martin, who as I said made up for some woeful first half crossing with a crisp low finish to seal what is going to become a permanent switch from Millwall in the summer.

So another season done and more disappointment; if we can get all these players on the pitch we can be good team but help is needed.

Have a good summer.

Man Of The Match:

Ben Pringle – Young, energetic and full of running. Everything about his performance was much of what the Rams midfield has lacked this season. Hopefully a sign of things to come rather than a one off cameo.

Managers Reaction:

"It is an improvement that is for sure, especially with what we've had to contend with this season. We've had so many injuries, but we've improved our league position and that is something to build on for next season".

"It was great to have 31,000 here today and I hope the majority of them come back next season to support us”.
"We played some good stuff today, especially in the second half”.

"It was nice to finish the season with a win and a clean sheet as well, which I think was a huge boost for Saul Deeney as well. He made some good stops and he will go into the summer buoyed by that clean sheet".

On David Martin:

"We were a bit disappointed with David in the first half but he stepped it up in the second half. He took his goal well by smashing it low and hard which was pleasing."

On Ben Pringle and his first Rams start:

"It was lovely to see Ben out there; he has been ever so patient this season. He didn't look out of place either and he can certainly learn off Robbie Savage in the midfield."

On Academy players Callum Ball and Ryan Connolly coming on as late substitutes:

"It is a good experience for them to sample playing in front of 30,000 people here and be in the dressing room on a match day. It is all part of the learning process for them."

Next Match:  August 2010

Photo: Action Images

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