Recovering from the deflation of a play-off final defeat inflicted in injury time has not been easy for Derby County, who at the fourth attempt won for the first time away from home in the league this season.
The victory, which takes Steve McClaren’s team to within five points of the Championship’s summit, was sealed in trying circumstances.
After drawing at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, an encounter which following this result McClaren described as “emotionally challenging”, Blackburn seized the lead here in the first minute when Ben Marshall’s shot deflected off both Derby centre halves and left Lee Grant helpless in goal.
McClaren was encouraged by the response, which included a double strike from Jamie Ward and a majestic finish by Will Hughes, whose midfield performance together with Craig Bryson in the first half was outstanding. “This league is tough and there are so many teams that see us as a big fish now,” McClaren said. “It’s going to take a while to reach the standards we reached last season.”
Most opponents have sat back and played on the counter-attack. There was none of that from Blackburn, who reduced Derby’s lead to one goal when Rudy Gestede toe-poked underneath Grant direct from a throw-in with 12 minutes remaining.
Gestede later had a header cleared on to the crossbar by substitute Omar Mascarell and Gary Bowyer, Blackburn’s manager, was left frustrated with the outcome, although his claim that “losing was a travesty” was a little excessive. “Steve [McClaren] was running up and down the touchline,” he said. “That tells you about the pressure we put them under.”
Details
Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2): Robinson; Baptiste, Hanley, Kilgallon (Varney 89), Olsson; Marshall, Cairney, Evans (Duffy 90), Conway (Tunnicliffe 69); Gestede, Rhodes. Subs Steele, King, Williamson, Taylor.
Derby County (4-3-3): Grant; Christie, Keogh, Whitbread, Forsyth; Hughes (Mascarell 82), Eustace, Bryson; Ward (Russell 73), Martin, Dawkins (Ibe 74). Subs Roos, Naylor, Thomas, Shotton. Booked Eustace, Ward.
Referee D Webb (County Durham).
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.