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What I.Saw: It Took A Large Slice Of Luck But We Did It
Sunday, 21st Feb 2016 07:01 by I.Saw

A trip to the Thames, a day on the road following the Rams. Game two 'A.C.' (After Clement).

We arrive, Brentford High Street undergoing transformation. Some things though never change. And that is good. The Magpie & Crown, six real ales and cider, craft keg for those who choose, bottles for a difference and fifteen different wines by the glass. Welcoming hospitality.

Drink beer, watch Cardiff score for a pastime, three goals in the first thirty minutes and Brighton aren't really that bad.

Team news. Bent & Russell upfront, Butterfield, Hendrick, Hanson and Johnson in midfield, the back five unchanged. With no width it promises to be direct football, hit and hope, run and chase.

Is this “The Derby Way”? What do we know?

A walk to the ground, it blows the cobwebs away, it's wet and unpleasant, just like you imagine the cockles and winkles were that went round the pub as we leave.

Griffin Park, a traditional football ground, standing at two ends, we sit at £30 a pop, feeding the weasel owners. Hungry, it’s more traditional fare. Sausage Roll and a cup of tea £3.20, undecided if it's a bargain or a rip off.

Teams out. DW Sports a suit and a tie. He chews gum. He looks hard.

We are tied too. The ties that bind. That's why we're here.

Game underway we sit, legs planted first you slide down the back of the seat to fit. We suspect there is more leg room in the back of a Peugeot 1008. With the front seat fully back.

Fully backed up Jeff Hendrick gets forward, he tries to exchanges passes with Darren Bent, the ball never reaches him, it deflects back and Jeff shoots. David Button, the keeper saves; back to Hendrick again, he has another go. Same result. Five gone. This though is positive.

Derby another couple of good attacks then it's all Brentford. Alan Judge a pair of testing free kicks bought as the home team drop like dead trees in a storm. One forces a good save out of Carson, the other flashes past the post our defending is woeful.

Our best strike of the half, a floated cross and under no pressure the Bees Jake Bidwell almost scores in his in own net but Button was bright and saved point blank.

It galvanises the Rams. We take heart. We shoot through Johnny Russell, the keeper saves.

Darren Bent has the ball in the back of the net. He is, of course, offside.

The home side strike like lighting in their attacks, we on the other hand amble with ours, sending telegraph signals for the next ball. A good call for a Derby penalty is ignored and whilst the Bees continue to drop like flies we, like sheep tics, are resilient, we though couldn't pinch a fowl in a chicken coop.

Half time scores level, we stand to relieve our knees. The blood begins to flow back as the rain keeps falling. Thoughts of a piddle or a pie as likely as a lottery win such is the tightness at the back of the stand.

If Brentford have an evacuation plan for the Away Stand, then a calendar would be more appropriate than a stop watch.

Second half, a throw to Brentford in their own half, the ball finds Judge; he runs and runs down the Derby left. We part like the proverbial Red Sea and Judge rifles the ball from a tight angle past Carson into the far corner of the net. Déjà vu.

Wassall plays his subs, Martin first then Blackman and finally Ince.

With eleven minutes to go we have a slice of luck. A ball in, a clearance, the ball hits Blackman’s arm, we get a definite advantage, the Bees stop mid flight and appeal.

Meanwhile Hendrick doesn't stop, the ball at his feet, he stitches up Button with a sweet nutmeg and the ball hits the net. It's one all. Lucky, lucky Rams.

When one’s luck is in it’s best to make the most of it. Christie finds Johnson, a tame shot rebounds directly into the full backs onward run and Christie pokes the ball home. We lead by two goals to one.

Brentford throw everything forward and finally we have the room to exploit. Ince in acres of space picks out Martin in space and with time. The ex Norwich striker turns and blasts the ball into the back of the net. Ince inches towards Martin for the celebration. It speaks volumes.

There's barely time to kick off. The Rams have won 3-1. We are back to winning ways, it took a large slice of luck but we did it.

Wassall pumps his fists at the Derby fans, milking the captive audience long after the players have gone. Perhaps he's entitled, we don't mind; just don't try to tell us this was a perfect performance. We were lucky today.

As the three other stands had long since emptied, as the lawn mowers had been out and cut the far penalty area, as we still queued patiently to squeeze down the narrow staircase to the exit we reflected on three points, our first win in what seems Donkeys and the performance of Hendrick.

Today Jeff was a colossus in midfield, he thundered his way through the match, he scored the first goal, he was my man of the match. I sincerely hope he was the managers too.

Returning home, the son says Wassall claimed it was an “almost perfect performance”…..


Match Highlights:


Gaffer / Player Interviews:

Paul Clement was very happy with his first win.


Cyrus Christie was relieved to finally score his first Rams goal.


COYR!!



Photo: Action Images



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