4:57pm
There was a reasonable amount of applause from home fans for their team, who had not deserved to lose.
4:56pm
That proved to be the final chance of the game as Derby ran the clock down.
Final: Albion 1 Derby 2
4:54pm
LuaLua was again fouled in the five added minutes and this time David Lopez got his delivery right from wide on the left. Upson rose highest but the ball glanced off his head and harmlessly wide of the far post.
4:51pm
Coutts was booked for bringing down LuaLua on the Albion left but David Lopez's resulting free-kick failed to beat the first defender and the subsequent counter raid almost killed off Albion as Ward angled a shot inches past the far post.
4:47pm
Derby now appeared to have weathered the storm.
4:45pm
Forsyth was booked for a foul. Before play could resume, D'Urso showed yellow to (seemingly) Upson and (definitely) Ulloa, on the advice of an assistant, after a melee away from the ball.*
However the second of those yellows was interpreted as being for Martin, rather than Upson, by some sources.
Ince received a good ovation from home fans when he made way for LuaLua.
Then, when the free-kick was at last floated in, Ulloa rose well but headed a foot too high.
Albion's next attack ended when Keogh fouled Ulloa and was booked but this time David Lopez's delivery into the box was poor.
Derby sent on defensive midfielder Eustace for playmaker Hughes for the final stages while Albion introduced March for Buckley.
4:35pm
Ward had an angled*cross or shot deflect behind - and then Martin almost met Coutt's low cross as Derby lifted the pressure.
4:30pm
Coutts dragged a shot weakly across goal on the counter but it was mainly Albion pressure now.
Agustien checked on to his right foot and let fly from outside the box with a fierce drive which Grant fingertipped over.
The corner caused chaos - and Calderon eventually fired in a shot which hit a defender, looped up and landed on top of the net.
Andrews made his debut in the 71st minute, replacing Barnes.
4:27pm
Albion were inches from levelling in the 63rd minute as Ulloa met a cross with a towering header which beat Grant to his right, hit the inside of the post and and came out behind the grounded keeper - but just in front of goal.
Home fans were really finding their voices now and, when Barnes chased a loose ball and got in a cross which was deflected up into the air, Ince had them off their seats with a well struck volley from outside the box which went narrowly wide.
Derby sent on Ward for Russell before play resumed.
4:22pm
Martin used his experience to gain two fouls in quick succession off Maksimenko - and the defender was shown yellow after the second.
4:19pm
Albion had a hint of a chance when David Lopez's free-kick into the box led to a scramble beneath the gaze of the North Stand. But*Hendrick got the ball away.
Then*Buckley got in behind the defence, albeit very wide of goal to the right. He still managed to fire in a right-foot shot which would probably have found a way inside the far post had Grant not dived to his right to parry.
4:10pm
Derby went ahead in only the second minute of the second half and again it was a combination of Martin and an attacking full-back that did the trick. This time right-back Freeman got forward after Maksimenko had been dragged forward to make a tackle near halfway. Coutts nicked the ball away from him to release Freeman, who*made ground and played a terrific low ball between the defence and Kuszczak. MARTIN arrived at the far post to finish.
4:05pm
Second half is in progress.
4:03pm
Well, my half-time attempt to find a replay of the free-kick from which Albion claimed a penalty proved unsuccessful. Looked very much like the ball hit an outstretched arm in the wall.
3:49pm
There was barely time for the resulting free-kick to be taken.
D'Urso was booed off at half-time.
Half: Albion 1 Derby 1
3:48pm
D'Urso further incurred the wrath of home fans by booking Greer for a foul and/or subsequently kicking the ball away.
3:45pm
Kuszczak set alarm bells ringing in the home support when he dropped a routine corner and the defence were at full stretch to scramble the ball away.
3:43pm
It looked very much like Albion had been dealt an injustice - and Derby almost added to their displeasure when Coutts sliced a shot past the top corner from just outside the box
3:41pm
David Lopez curled a free-kick in from a deep position on the right which Derby cleared at full stretch.
When the ball was played back in, Ulloa took it down and was bundled over inches outside the box, in line with the right-hand post.
Keogh was booked for dissent.
David Lopez curled the free-kick on target and it seemed to hit an outstretched arm in the wall. But ref D'Urso waved play on to the disgust of the home team, fans and management.*
3:37pm
For those who have been showing a keen interest in such matters, Oscar is wearing a suit and tie today!
3:30pm
Again Forsyth's willingness to get forward was a factor. He played the ball into MARTIN at the near post and the striker somehow forced his way past a couple of defenders before poking the ball past Kuszczak from close range.
3:28pm
Again, Albion could not hold on to or build on the 1-0 lead.*
3:27pm
Derby responded with two decent moments. But Kuszczak clutched a Martin header as it floated across the goalmouth, then Coutts saw his shot deflect wide.
3:22pm
Albion went ahead with a terrific goal in the 17th minute. Calderon swapped passes with Barnes and went charging down the right before curling in a cross which ULLOA, coming in from beyond the far post, met with a super downward header back across Grant and inside the post.
3:17pm
Agustien also earned public approval for a couple of early passes - but there was no hint of a goal until the 14th minute when Russell drove low past the post from 20 yards after a rapid Derby counter.
That came moments after David Lopez had seen his shot blocked after Albion worked him into the Derby penalty area.
Derby looked tidy in possession and Forsyth was clearly keen to push forward from left-back. He was involved in a move which led to Coutts letting fly from 25 yards. The ball, though, deflected well wide and ref D'Urso spotted some pushing by a Rams player at the subsequent corner.
3:10pm
Ince made another valuable contribution by heading away a dangerous free-kick in the Albion goalmouth.
3:06pm
Albion fans raised the volume when Calderon sent Buckley away to cross low from the right. But the ball in was cleared and, in any case, Barnes was fouling his marker.
3:05pm
Albion, defending the North Stand goal, had a minor scare in the first minute. Hughes led a Derby move which worked space for left-back Forsyth to get forward and guide in a dangerous cross which found the gap between Kuszczak and the outfield players and went right across the goalmouth.*
Derby looked the more comfortable and composed team in the very early stages but Ince earned applause when he slid in to win a 50-50 ball.
3:00pm
The match is in progress
3:00pm
There will be no change of ends. Decent atmosphere around The Amex. And he we go.
2:57pm
The pre-match vintage goal sequence is back.*A few tweaks though - Storer's*strike appears*early on and the video climaxes with Buckley's winner v Doncaster.
And there's no "it's the stuff of dreams"
2:56pm
Meanwhile Fanzone seems to have lost Hey Jude from the end.
2:50pm
Allow me to introduce Steve Nicholson, chief sports writer of the Derby Evening Telegraph....
2:47pm
Bridcutt was pitchside a few minutes ago (in club tracksuit and polo shirt) receiving a player of the season award from one of Albion's supporters clubs.
2:45pm
Derby will playing a 4-3-3 switching to 4-5-1 with former Crystal Palace loanee Chris Martin likely to be their lone frontman but using his tidy touch and keen footballing brain to bring others into play. I understand Nigel Clough’s keynote when planning to play against Brighton is to keep Liam Bridcutt quiet. No need for that today!
2:36pm
Of course one silver lining from the various absences with which Oscar Garcia has had to deal is that a couple of players revert to their more favoured positions. We are expecting Inigo Calderon at right-back and David Lopez in midfield today.
2:36pm
There quite a few early arrivals already in place at The Amex. They offer a warm ovation to welcome the Albion team as they run out to*limber up.
2:32pm
Well, this is going to be interesting isnt it? A rather unexpected Albion XI to take on a very settled Derby County.
No Bridcutt or Orlandi, Ince in front of the back four, Maksimenko at full-back, Andrews on the bench, Agustien and David Lopez together in midfield. Let’s see how it goes.
*
Original article
There was a reasonable amount of applause from home fans for their team, who had not deserved to lose.
4:56pm
That proved to be the final chance of the game as Derby ran the clock down.
Final: Albion 1 Derby 2
4:54pm
LuaLua was again fouled in the five added minutes and this time David Lopez got his delivery right from wide on the left. Upson rose highest but the ball glanced off his head and harmlessly wide of the far post.
4:51pm
Coutts was booked for bringing down LuaLua on the Albion left but David Lopez's resulting free-kick failed to beat the first defender and the subsequent counter raid almost killed off Albion as Ward angled a shot inches past the far post.
4:47pm
Derby now appeared to have weathered the storm.
4:45pm
Forsyth was booked for a foul. Before play could resume, D'Urso showed yellow to (seemingly) Upson and (definitely) Ulloa, on the advice of an assistant, after a melee away from the ball.*
However the second of those yellows was interpreted as being for Martin, rather than Upson, by some sources.
Ince received a good ovation from home fans when he made way for LuaLua.
Then, when the free-kick was at last floated in, Ulloa rose well but headed a foot too high.
Albion's next attack ended when Keogh fouled Ulloa and was booked but this time David Lopez's delivery into the box was poor.
Derby sent on defensive midfielder Eustace for playmaker Hughes for the final stages while Albion introduced March for Buckley.
4:35pm
Ward had an angled*cross or shot deflect behind - and then Martin almost met Coutt's low cross as Derby lifted the pressure.
4:30pm
Coutts dragged a shot weakly across goal on the counter but it was mainly Albion pressure now.
Agustien checked on to his right foot and let fly from outside the box with a fierce drive which Grant fingertipped over.
The corner caused chaos - and Calderon eventually fired in a shot which hit a defender, looped up and landed on top of the net.
Andrews made his debut in the 71st minute, replacing Barnes.
4:27pm
Albion were inches from levelling in the 63rd minute as Ulloa met a cross with a towering header which beat Grant to his right, hit the inside of the post and and came out behind the grounded keeper - but just in front of goal.
Home fans were really finding their voices now and, when Barnes chased a loose ball and got in a cross which was deflected up into the air, Ince had them off their seats with a well struck volley from outside the box which went narrowly wide.
Derby sent on Ward for Russell before play resumed.
4:22pm
Martin used his experience to gain two fouls in quick succession off Maksimenko - and the defender was shown yellow after the second.
4:19pm
Albion had a hint of a chance when David Lopez's free-kick into the box led to a scramble beneath the gaze of the North Stand. But*Hendrick got the ball away.
Then*Buckley got in behind the defence, albeit very wide of goal to the right. He still managed to fire in a right-foot shot which would probably have found a way inside the far post had Grant not dived to his right to parry.
4:10pm
Derby went ahead in only the second minute of the second half and again it was a combination of Martin and an attacking full-back that did the trick. This time right-back Freeman got forward after Maksimenko had been dragged forward to make a tackle near halfway. Coutts nicked the ball away from him to release Freeman, who*made ground and played a terrific low ball between the defence and Kuszczak. MARTIN arrived at the far post to finish.
4:05pm
Second half is in progress.
4:03pm
Well, my half-time attempt to find a replay of the free-kick from which Albion claimed a penalty proved unsuccessful. Looked very much like the ball hit an outstretched arm in the wall.
3:49pm
There was barely time for the resulting free-kick to be taken.
D'Urso was booed off at half-time.
Half: Albion 1 Derby 1
3:48pm
D'Urso further incurred the wrath of home fans by booking Greer for a foul and/or subsequently kicking the ball away.
3:45pm
Kuszczak set alarm bells ringing in the home support when he dropped a routine corner and the defence were at full stretch to scramble the ball away.
3:43pm
It looked very much like Albion had been dealt an injustice - and Derby almost added to their displeasure when Coutts sliced a shot past the top corner from just outside the box
3:41pm
David Lopez curled a free-kick in from a deep position on the right which Derby cleared at full stretch.
When the ball was played back in, Ulloa took it down and was bundled over inches outside the box, in line with the right-hand post.
Keogh was booked for dissent.
David Lopez curled the free-kick on target and it seemed to hit an outstretched arm in the wall. But ref D'Urso waved play on to the disgust of the home team, fans and management.*
3:37pm
For those who have been showing a keen interest in such matters, Oscar is wearing a suit and tie today!
3:30pm
Again Forsyth's willingness to get forward was a factor. He played the ball into MARTIN at the near post and the striker somehow forced his way past a couple of defenders before poking the ball past Kuszczak from close range.
3:28pm
Again, Albion could not hold on to or build on the 1-0 lead.*
3:27pm
Derby responded with two decent moments. But Kuszczak clutched a Martin header as it floated across the goalmouth, then Coutts saw his shot deflect wide.
3:22pm
Albion went ahead with a terrific goal in the 17th minute. Calderon swapped passes with Barnes and went charging down the right before curling in a cross which ULLOA, coming in from beyond the far post, met with a super downward header back across Grant and inside the post.
3:17pm
Agustien also earned public approval for a couple of early passes - but there was no hint of a goal until the 14th minute when Russell drove low past the post from 20 yards after a rapid Derby counter.
That came moments after David Lopez had seen his shot blocked after Albion worked him into the Derby penalty area.
Derby looked tidy in possession and Forsyth was clearly keen to push forward from left-back. He was involved in a move which led to Coutts letting fly from 25 yards. The ball, though, deflected well wide and ref D'Urso spotted some pushing by a Rams player at the subsequent corner.
3:10pm
Ince made another valuable contribution by heading away a dangerous free-kick in the Albion goalmouth.
3:06pm
Albion fans raised the volume when Calderon sent Buckley away to cross low from the right. But the ball in was cleared and, in any case, Barnes was fouling his marker.
3:05pm
Albion, defending the North Stand goal, had a minor scare in the first minute. Hughes led a Derby move which worked space for left-back Forsyth to get forward and guide in a dangerous cross which found the gap between Kuszczak and the outfield players and went right across the goalmouth.*
Derby looked the more comfortable and composed team in the very early stages but Ince earned applause when he slid in to win a 50-50 ball.
3:00pm
The match is in progress
3:00pm
There will be no change of ends. Decent atmosphere around The Amex. And he we go.
2:57pm
The pre-match vintage goal sequence is back.*A few tweaks though - Storer's*strike appears*early on and the video climaxes with Buckley's winner v Doncaster.
And there's no "it's the stuff of dreams"
2:56pm
Meanwhile Fanzone seems to have lost Hey Jude from the end.
2:50pm
Allow me to introduce Steve Nicholson, chief sports writer of the Derby Evening Telegraph....
2:47pm
Bridcutt was pitchside a few minutes ago (in club tracksuit and polo shirt) receiving a player of the season award from one of Albion's supporters clubs.
2:45pm
Derby will playing a 4-3-3 switching to 4-5-1 with former Crystal Palace loanee Chris Martin likely to be their lone frontman but using his tidy touch and keen footballing brain to bring others into play. I understand Nigel Clough’s keynote when planning to play against Brighton is to keep Liam Bridcutt quiet. No need for that today!
2:36pm
Of course one silver lining from the various absences with which Oscar Garcia has had to deal is that a couple of players revert to their more favoured positions. We are expecting Inigo Calderon at right-back and David Lopez in midfield today.
2:36pm
There quite a few early arrivals already in place at The Amex. They offer a warm ovation to welcome the Albion team as they run out to*limber up.
2:32pm
Well, this is going to be interesting isnt it? A rather unexpected Albion XI to take on a very settled Derby County.
No Bridcutt or Orlandi, Ince in front of the back four, Maksimenko at full-back, Andrews on the bench, Agustien and David Lopez together in midfield. Let’s see how it goes.
*
Original article