Steve Bruce is under no illusions about Latics’ plight after his team ground out a 1-0 victory at Pride Park. It’s hard to come to any other conclusion that we are still firmly entrenched within the relegation warzone.
In a high-stakes fixture, the play was often laborious and was ultimately tedious to watch, despite the hope three points would bring to such teams that are struggling at the foot of football’s elite pile.
Paul Jewell fielded five new players in his starting eleven – handing the captain’s armband to debutant Robbie Savage, but Derby still looked nervous from the off, and Latics dominated.
'One goal was going to decide the game,' said Jewell. 'It's always difficult when you put so many new faces in the squad. You have to hope they get by on adrenaline.'
And so Jewell’s prediction proved accurate. Antonio Valencia’s early effort was blocked by Andy Todd after he picked up a loose ball and Marcus Bent spurned a chance from ten yards out after Emile Heskey and Valencia had linked well during a brisk counter-attack to set him up.
After 33 minutes the linesman ruled Heskey to be in an offside position after Micheal Brown’s blocked shot fell to him. He squared the ball to Bent, who fired home, but the raised flag meant Bent wouldn’t add to his seven goal tally this afternoon.
Antonio Valencia smashed a gilt-edged opportunity wide just before half time. The ball ricocheted ar
ound the area before falling to him seven yards out and he amazingly thrashed his effort wide.
Derby had their work cut-out in the second half when Claude Davis was sent off in the 57th minute. Having been booked in the first half, he led with his arm in an aerial battle with Bent and struck him on the back of the head. Referee Mark Clattenburg had no option but to reach for a second yellow, and Davis, after a moments remonstration, trudged from the field for an early bath.
Click to EnlargeLatics struggled to make their numerical advantage count and the game looked like it would peter out until Steve Bruce brought on Antoine Sibierski to enhance Latic’s attacking options. With his first touch he drove Bent’s header beyond the despairing dive of Lewis Price into the bottom left-hand corner of the net, to send the Latics travelling support into ecstatic waves of relief.
Steve Bruce: 'We should have been out of sight in the first half. It's one of those games when you're thinking: "Are they going to break away and score?" Thankfully, we didn't get punished and the better team won.'
Price, Mears, Davis, Todd, Mills, Fagan, Savage, Ghaly (Macken 85), Robert (Edworthy 59), Villa (Teale 71), Barnes.
Subs Not Used: Hinchliffe, Lewis.
Sent Off: Davis (58).
Booked: Davis.
Latics: Kirkland, Melchiot, Bramble, Boyce, Kilbane, Valencia, Brown, Palacios (Koumas 64), Landzaat (Sibierski 81), Heskey, Bent (Olembe 90).
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Aghahowa.
Booked: Brown, Boyce.
Goal: Sibierski 82.
Att: 31,658
Ref: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear).
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has reportedly spoken to Steve Bruce regarding the availability of Latics’ utility man, Paul Scharner. Fulham may offer an initial £3million, but Bruce won’t be keen to let such a versatile player leave.
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