angieram

Just a comment on this midfield controlling games ideal. I thought the Port Vale midfield last night were neat and tidy passers, retaining the ball well but they created little as by the time they released the ball forward our defence was well set. We all know players like Bird, Smith and Hourihane could play like that if instructed to, but they aren't. They are asked to move the ball forward quicker, which carries a greater risk. I think Bird has given the ball away more times this season than in his career, but his creative work has also gone up a notch as a result. The risks are greater, yes, but so are the rewards of playing like this. Has our current midfield got the legs to quite carry this style off? Probably not in the long term, but I think they are growing into their task. And we have Fornah gaining more experience, Tommo when he gets back from injury to add to the mix. I think they are the future, but they need the help of the experienced hands in the meantime.

I was at Port Vale last night and the last word I'd use to describe it is boring! There was a great atmosphere among the Derby fans from kick off. We were brought together by the shared endurance of traffic jams, crap facilities (again), lack of organisation and over-officious stewarding pre-match. I thought we played well and always felt confident of the win. Yes, they had some possession in midfield with neat and tidy play that contributed to a good game but they created very little, whereas we looked dangerous every time we attacked - direct and strong. Their goalkeeper was clearly man of the match (didn't he have a stormer against us at our place last season, too?) Another night, one of those early chances goes in and the scoreline would have looked more comfortable. As it was, I felt sure we would score eventually as they tired. Wilson is rapidly becoming one of my favourite footballers. You can tell he's revelling in being fit and playing in front of the biggest set of fans of his career. But everyone played their part; I don't get the hate for Collins as he worked his socks off again and could have had two on another night. What a dollop that Ikpeazu is! Referee should have booked him early for his wrestling/diving, would have cut it out. Instead it just gave Cashin an opportunity to make him look clumsy, which he did with aplomb. Hourihane needs to let someone else onto set pieces occasionally as the lack of delivery is noticeable. He worked hard across the rest of the pitch though against their busy midfield and closed down well. What a classy goal to decide the game. Barkhuizen's harrying won the ball back, a peach of a low cross from Mendez-Laing and JJ finished with aplomb. Anyone else would have took a touch and the defender cleared it. But that young man has quality and he showed it just when needed. In his celebration right in front of us he looked quite emotional, another player hoping to put his injury demons behind him. I hope he does, because if he can keep fit he could help fire us to promotion this season. Come on you Rams! ⚽️

Port Vale 1 - 3 Rams FRGS Mendez-Laing

Cheap as chips! Get down to support the lads - a trip to Wemberley on the horizon. ⚽️🤍🖤

They gave us the whole of their social club at the ground last year, and provided extensive external catering outlets. There was plenty of food on sale up to 30 m8nutes before the game. I presume they ran out for later arrivals? We are at the opposite end of the ground tomorrow as they have switched their away end. I presume that we won't get into the social club this year as it will be the home end.

Me, too, especially Thomson because he is more experienced. I think he'll get his chance when he's fit again. Could be really important for us next season with Hourihane and Smith gone.

And Sibley, and Cashin. Yet we're calling for Weston to be rushed through on the basis of one good game. Yep, throw him to the slaughter!

Except he was doing this week in, week out for our academy for a long while. He came into the first team and because he wasn't immediately doing it for us there, a section of the fan base were straight on his back. Morgan is a lovely, quiet guy - he did a lot of voluntary work with DCCT for example. He was hurt by the boo boys and it took him a while to recover his confidence. I hope he's a lesson learned for some of our brain dead fans, but I doubt it.

Thank you!

Misprint methinks. Good price for Oxford, Wigan is a bit steep (in more ways than one!) Unless you're a pensioner, that is.

Yep, Cheltenham much more organised with their new manager and again, it was timing. We played them just after he came in.

🤞

I love lists like this, thanks for compiling. My hope is Stevenage and Oxford will fade - the latter in particular are suffering from losing a good manager. In that respect, other top 8 teams who play them now may have the advantage over us. I just want Stevenage to fade because I don't like their playground bully persona! The rest appear to be in and around it on merit so our biggest advantage is that they'll be taking points off each other over the next few weeks. We have to keep winning to capitalise on this.

After next?

Thanks, Ellafella.

That's a good point, we had to take ours in to the office to get our refund.

1Wildsmith 7 that one save kept us in the game. Handled the ball well when we were under pressure at the end. 24Nyambe 6 love his defending but he's not the best going forward and misplaced simple passes 35Nelson 7.5 effective as usual and a good partnership with Cashin 6Cashin 7.5 effective as usual and a good partnership with Nelson 17Sibley 7 did more than some gave him credit for yesterday, more involved in this role and actually his challenges started both moves that led to our goals 4Hourihane 7 looks laconic but kept the ball moving upfield 7Barkhuizen 5.5 rather out of form in front of goal and offers little else 2Wilson 6.5 direct and makes things happen 12Smith 5 lots of moves break down with him; needs to be stronger on the ball 22Fornah 7 much stronger than Smith and full of energy; great assist and would have had a tap in from Mendez's cross ball if the defender hadn't got there first! 8Bird 7 played well under some physical pressure from their number four, who was leading with his elbow all game; shame about the miss 5Bradley 6 hard having to come in between Nelson and Cash but won his share of the ball; Hourihane got in his way for Martin's header 11Méndez-Laing 8 our best player again, loving his directness and confidence - long may it continue. 9Collins 6.5 worked really hard again first half; faded when we changed shape 10Waghorn 6 didn't do any better than Collins but he smiles more so he doesn't get the same flak; I would have brought JJ on instead - and earlier B4 tribute 10 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻⚽️ ATG

I'm not really sure about this one player carrying a team malarkey, just based on the fact they are the one who is currently scoring. We could have said the same for Waggy early in the season, or Collins more recently. Mendez-Laing is one of my favourite players and the only difference I see in recent matches is his confidence has soared now he's started to find the net again. Yet there were plenty slagging him off on here earlier in the season when he just couldn't seem to find the net.

Port Vale had 73% possession yesterday and lost at Shrewsbury. Apparently have a stacked midfield but no bite in the final third. It might suit us if we get space to play on the break. Patience will be needed again, I think.

The ticket office will always take the tickets back and give a full refund if there is time for them to resell them to someone on the waiting list. They took my Stevenage tickets back on the Thursday morning before the game.

He started last season on fire and faded badly. This season he's getting better as the games go on. The lack of a goal weighed heavily on him, but he's kept plugging away and now getting his reward.

Forgot to mention , they showed the fans clapping on the big screen too. Lots of us standing to applaud around the ground.

So emotional today, hearing the applause ring out for Daniel. I was very heartened to read that both RamsTV and Radio Derby mentioned him in their commentaries. Thanks, @Owen87ITK. If anyone has either snippet, those of us at the match would love to hear them. The moon rose over East Stand this evening in his memory. B4 will live long in our memories. Go well, young man. 🐏⚽️🖤🤍