MONDAY MARDLE: A nervous ending but still victory over some feisty Rams

09/30/2024 08:17 AM

'I hope we can be better than this'

Not the words of a head coach who has just suffered a poor defeat away from home. These were the words of JHT in his post-match interview following the 3-2 victory against Derby.

While I wouldn't necessarily choose those words, 'Unnecessarily nervous ending'  was my reaction as I filed my way out of the ground on Saturday.

For most of the first half, City were firmly in control of both the ball and the game’s tempo. Towards the latter stages of the first half, Derby began to exert some influence on the proceedings, quickly extinguished following Borja Sainz’s superb flick to establish a lead.

Until then, although Derby were initially pressing City quite high, the home side dropped into their own half, with the defence squeezing up with a high line, cutting the oxygen to the City attacks.

For all their domination of possession, City were creating few chances.

From the away end, where I was 'sat', it was impossible to see that Josh Sargent's cross had gone out of play. However, the finish from Sainz was in full focus. What a great piece of innovation, flicking it in with the instep of the heel on his trailing foot.

The noise at the start of the second half was intense. It was almost inevitable that the home team would score. And so it came to pass. It felt like the home fans almost sucked the ball into the net. 

And just as City's goal was an infringement, so was the first Derby goal.  A clearly offside player, interfering with Angus Gunn’s line of sight, it should have been 0-0.

There was an extremely humorous attempt by Class 6A from Derby High School to 'break through police lines' and 'get at' the City fans.  The thin blue line remained steadfast, although it would possibly have been funnier had they been let through, just to see what they would do – they seemed extremely brave from the safety of a police cordon.

Just to be clear, I'm in no way condoning violence. More that these particular specimens seemed to be relying on the police line to hold them back…

Between that and a drummer who could barely continue for more than two repetitions of a chorus, the 'football in a library' chant was extremely apt.

Of course, City struck back with a superb breakaway goal. I haven't seen the 'Full 90' replay, but in my mind’s eye, it stemmed from a Gunn collection and roll-out, and ended with a Borja Banger,

The third was equally clinical. Sainz' shot squirmed under the keeper's arm, despite him getting a solid hand to it.

Then Thorup made what I think was a tactical error.

Derby had made some changes, including swapping Mendez-Laing for Blackett-Taylor on the left wing.  Other than an early chance, Kellen Fisher had done a fine job of keeping the Derby skipper in check, despite the obvious physical disparities. Swapping him for Jack Stacey seemed a pragmatic load with 10 minutes to go.

However, Thorup also withdrew Ante Crnac and brought on Ben Chrisene. City went to a three-at-the-back system, with Stacey and Chrisene providing the width.

It didn't work. Without the wide midfielder tracking back, City were exposed on the flanks and Derby used this to good effect.

From my position, Blackett-Taylor was given far too much license to run by Shane Duffy. When the substitute cut inside, the defence opened up and his shot left Gunn no chance.

And so to a nervy six minutes of added time, crowned by a superb Gunn save to preserve the three points.

Surely the day belonged to hat-trick hero Sainz?

'He was good when he was about to score the goals', was the verdict of Hoff Thorup, who went on to note, 'There were also moments where he can do better, to keep the ball for the team'

Candid opinion or a tactic to keep the young Spaniard grounded? I suspect the former, based on Thorup's earlier news conferences.

What do you think?

When asked about the final few minutes, Thorup replied 'Very delighted and happy about my goalkeeper'.  He was right, the Son of Bryan Gunn did us all proud with a save in the dying minutes. And it was Thorup who manhandled Gunn to the front to take the plaudits from the City fans and a version of… I just don't think you understand, before Sainz was similarly propelled to the front to take his bow, firmly clutching the (a) matchball.

It was an entertaining game, although there were quiet periods in the first half when City tried to unpick a crowded midfield and allowed the tempo to drop.

The second-half was typical Championship, with much graft, little substance. It says it all when both sets of supporters are grumbling about the referee.

So on to the pick of the week. Today its solely because of the Band – Ram Jam by Black Betty.