DERBY fans must be dreaming for the New Year and the arrival of Wayne Rooney already. But – with the way things are going at Pride Park – the Rams will be hoping that the England and Manchester United legend will not be plunged into a relegation fight. Last night their winless Championship run was […]
DERBY fans must be dreaming for the New Year and the arrival of Wayne Rooney already.
But – with the way things are going at Pride Park – the Rams will be hoping that the England and Manchester United legend will not be plunged into a relegation fight.
Last night their winless Championship run was stretched to six games and they lacked a real cutting edge at Pride Park.
Since winning their opening game at Huddersfield – they have now drawn four and lost three with new boss Phillip Cocu is already under pressure.
Robert Glatzel’s 19th-minute penalty cancelled out Scott Malone’s opener 13 minutes earlier for the Rams.
But Derby can rightly point to the fact they had a cast-iron penalty turned down just moments before Cardiff’s leveller.
Pride Park was evacuated about half an hour before kick-off – including both sets of players who were having their pre-match warm-up.
Thousands stood outside in the car park for five minutes before being given the all-clear to return.
The alarms sounded after flares were set off in the away-end concourse.
Derby got off to flying start when Duane Holmes drove forward in the box, cut the ball back for Martyn Waghorn. His shot was blocked before Tom Huddlestone saw an effort brilliantly parried by Alex Smithies.
But the ball eventually fell to Scott Malone to bundle home from a few yards out.
Waghorn incredibly had a stonewall penalty shout turned down by ref Darren English after he was clipped by Joe Bennett when running on to Krystian Bielik’s fine pass.
Rams assistant boss Shay Given climbed off the bench to remonstrate furiously with fourth official Tony Harrington.
And – to make matters worse for the Rams – English pointed to the spot down the other end, rightly, after Richard Keogh pulled back Glatzel by the shirt.
Glatzel stood up and did the honours from 12 yards to level things up for Cardiff.
Malone had a pot-shot from 30 yards but his volley was well saved by Smithies.
Cardiff almost went in front when Callum Paterson’s long throw caused chaos in the Derby box. Matt Clarke could not get a clean header and the ball bounced off the far post and nearly went in off Bielik but it bounced just wide.
After the break, Jack Marriott almost score a stunner for Derby – but his 20-yard cracker struck the crossbar.
And then Smithies had to be at his best to block a Waghorn effort as the Rams made a real fist of things.
Tom Lawrence then saw a shot deflected to take any sting out of it so it easily rolled through to the Cardiff keeper.
The Rams kept pouring forward and Waghorn was unlucky to see a hard-hit effort just flash wide.
Wily Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock made a double swap to counter Derby’s dominance by bringing on Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Junior Hoilett for Josh Murphy and Gavin Whyte.
Cardiff sub Junior Hoilett saw a curling effort easily saved by Rams keeper Kelle Roos.
Leandro Bucuna almost put the Welshmen in front after running through but seeing his effort saved.
In what was now turning into an end-to-end game, Waghorn drove forward into the box but his centred was cleared behind by Aden Flint.
Lawrence scooped an effort over the bar from close range as another chance went begging.
But Cardiff almost went in front when Glatzel saw an effort headed off the line by Matthew Clarke.
