Hopes were high after an opening day win at Leeds and although the Rams looked good in patches, Cardiff took all three points with a late strike.

Derby County 1 v 2 Cardiff City 

Referee: Mr. N.Miller

Attendance: 25,103

Goals: Chopra 15’ (Car), Cywka 25’ (Der), Burke 78’ (Car)

Cards: Barker (Der) , Matthews (Car)

Teams:

Derby County:

Bywater, Brayford, Barker, Leacock, Roberts, Bailey, Savage (Doyle 70'), Cywka (Porter 87'), Green, Commons (Pringle 76'), Varney.

Subs: Deeney, Martin, Moxey, Buxton.

Cardiff City:

Marshall, McNaughton (Matthews 45'), Hudson, Gyepes, Whittingham, Chopra (McCormack 84'), Bothroyd, Burke, Olofinjana, Drinkwater, Blake.

Subs: Heaton, Rae, Quinn, Gerrard, Taiwo.

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RamsFan Match Report by Daniel Brooks:

After the brief joy of victory at Elland Road, the Rams returned to Earth with a thud, succumbing to the usual cup debacle at Crewe before yesterday’s affair at home to Cardiff City.

The cup defeat, whilst disappointing, was not altogether unexpected, but defeat in the first home game of the season, against a decent but not spectacular Cardiff outfit, is a bit hard to take. The Rams lined-up in the new 4-2-3-1 formation but without either Rob Hulse or Chris Porter available to start, Luke Varney made a shock return to the scene.

To say the news didn’t raise expectations is an understatement but to be fair to Varney, he did as well as could be expected of a player who clearly knows he isn’t wanted and hadn’t played a competitive match for his club in over a year.

Before the match, a silence for the late Adam Stansfield, who died this past week after a battle with colorectal cancer; may he rest peacefully.

The match begins and immediately you see the Rams are going to be on the back foot; Olofinjana imperious as he strolls around midfield, forcing so many errant passes from those in white.

Robbie Savage very pedestrian in comparison, constantly demanding the ball from the obviously better yet sidelined James Bailey; the captain is poor and allows Cardiff the ball on far too many occasions.

The Rams try to play through Commons and Cywka, but the spaces available at Elland Road are not visible here as the visitors press the gaps that Leeds could not.

Commons gifts the ball to Burke in midfield and Cardiff are away, the ball comes to Chopra, still playing for the Welsh side despite rumours of departure, which makes the Rams defence look silly before slotting past Bywater.

Fifteen minutes and the good work of a week ago totally undone; the Rams play the ball around but it is a disjointed affair with little invention.

Commons cannot find the space to work his magic and Varney gets little to no service with which to make an impression.

Despite that the Rams do find the net; a throw in on the right comes to Varney who spins and crosses straight into the path of Cywka, no doubt as the Pole opens his account for the Rams in straightforward fashion.

It’s an easy goal and a poor display from the Cardiff defence and suddenly you think the Rams may just move forwards here.

Chances are exchanged as the half draws towards its end; Barker involved at both ends with a header saved by Marshall and then a terrific block to stop Chopra adding to his tally. He-who-should-be-captain may not be fully fit yet but he is always at the forefront of anything the Rams do.

A bad looking injury to Cardiff’s Kevin McNaughton delays the end of the half by several minutes but the referee appears not to be counting properly as play closes well before it should and the Rams go into the break not behind but far from in control.

HT: 1-1

The second half continues as before; Commons and Savage continue to struggle and the Rams simply cannot get on the front foot with Olofinjana barring their way at every turn. Drinkwater blasts over the bar when he should score but chances are few and you think a point may be on the cards.

Savage and Commons are replaced by Doyle and Pringle but before the Rams can take advantage of the fresh legs they are behind; Bywater manages to get to Whittingham’s long range effort but can only parry the ball straight out and in the effort of trying to claim the ball the keeper gets into a tangle with Roberts leaving Chris Burke with the easy finish.

It’s more twister than football league as the goalkeeper and defender look foolish but it’s a harsh break when perhaps a draw would have been fitting.

The Rams try to push on for a late evener but it was not to be, the home opener spoiled and optimism of the past week soured.

FT: 1-2 

Forty-four games to go.

Dans Man Of The Match:

Tomasz Cywka - Looks the goods, bright and energetic while running at defenders and trying to create. If the Rams can get Tomasz and Commons doing this at the same time it will make life tough for opposition.

Managers Reaction:

Nigel speaking to the official site:

"I think we deserved a point today, the difference was they got a break, and we didn't".

"Cardiff are a very good side who have been together for a good few years.

"In general play they probably shaded it, but we created a few good chances and we just needed that little break".

"We could have had it late on with a few situations and on another day we'd have got a goal to take a point. Both goals were disappointing in their own way. It is frustrating".

"It was a bit tentative at times and the young lads were perhaps a little nervous early on, but they will be better for it today in front of a big crowd."

"There are some good, encouraging signs out there. We have a squad of young lads and they are assembling nicely. We believe they can improve and become good players at this level".

"As we've always said, they will need time."

Man Of The Match Reaction:

Tomasz Cywka speaking to the official site:

"I was delighted to score but I am also very sad we lost the game".

"It is a just a shame we lost the game because I think we deserved better to be honest. Cardiff are a strong team and we performed well against then".

"It is disappointing and we believe we can get plenty of positives results if we play like that".

"We don't want to lose three on the spin; so we want to get back to our best against Coventry next Saturday."

"I hope I can score more, I have no targets though, it was a great feeling and I want to taste that feeling again".

"But, I want the team to win too. That is the most important thing."

Photo: Action Images

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