3 Things I didn't like about the First Leg

Super Steve Earle said:

1) I didn't like the attitude of the Derby players. Played like a bunch off Dan H ardings - too good to be on the same pitch as us. Chris Martin celebrated his penalty goal with a finger to his lips at the Brighton fans. Hate that! Plus they were another team who seemed to have the officials in their collective pocket, especially the centre back marking Leo who got every decision.

2) Which brings me to the officials as above. A ref who certainly played the first 20 minutes as if we were a lower league outfit trying to raise our game against a classier team and therefore Derby should get a benefit of the doubt even where there was none. We should surely have had a couple of pens, but he couldn'even give us a foul early on, or at least until Derby were back in it.

3) Their fans had a collective smugness and air of entitlement after they got their pen. Silent up till that point. But singing Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio was over confident smugness personified. They are one goal up with 90 minutes to play for goodness sake!

This tie has a few twists and turns in it and at least there will be a different ref at their place. Let the expectation pile the pressure on them instead. Despite last night, we have the defence to keep a clean sheet and the pace to rattle any defence. Luckily this isn't over by a long chalk.

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Super Steve Earle said:

1) I didn't like the attitude of the Derby players. Played like a bunch off Dan H ardings - too good to be on the same pitch as us. Chris Martin celebrated his penalty goal with a finger to his lips at the Brighton fans. Hate that! Plus they were another team who seemed to have the officials in their collective pocket, especially the centre back marking Leo who got every decision.

2) Which brings me to the officials as above. A ref who certainly played the first 20 minutes as if we were a lower league outfit trying to raise our game against a classier team and therefore Derby should get a benefit of the doubt even where there was none. We should surely have had a couple of pens, but he couldn'even give us a foul early on, or at least until Derby were back in it.

3) Their fans had a collective smugness and air of entitlement after they got their pen. Silent up till that point. But singing Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio was over confident smugness personified. They are one goal up with 90 minutes to play for goodness sake!

This tie has a few twists and turns in it and at least there will be a different ref at their place. Let the expectation pile the pressure on them instead. Despite last night, we have the defence to keep a clean sheet and the pace to rattle any defence. Luckily this isn't over by a long chalk.

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nwgull said:

On number 3: I really thought that the celebrations from the away end at the end were OTT for what is effectively half-time. I hope that the over confidence and expectation of the fans spreads to their team on Sunday.

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seagull_in_malaysia said:

Much like our fans last season at Selhurst (and that was only a draw).

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Greg Bobkin said:

Bit of Devil's advocate:

2) Certainly didn't get all of the decisions right, but I didn't think he/they were as bad as you make out. The East stand lino limply raising his flag for a throw-in, just about after said throw-in was taken was a bit poor, though.

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Icy Gull said:

I didn't like our set pieces one bit, if we had a 9ft player on the far post he might just about get his head to a couple of the over hit balls into the box, although some would be too high even for him.

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Biscuit said:

They've been poor all season. Please God can we work on them before Sunday. A corner or a freekick could win us the game. It's vital we do something more dangerous than a shithouse lofted ball to the far post that misses everyone.

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Icy Gull said:

It's completely bizarre that we KEEP persisting with the same ball that as far as I recall never works. How hard can it be to have a bit of variety to set pieces?

Now watch us get the winning goal on Sunday from exactly the ball I'm moaning about

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Super Steve Earle said:

1) I didn't like the attitude of the Derby players. Played like a bunch off Dan H ardings - too good to be on the same pitch as us. Chris Martin celebrated his penalty goal with a finger to his lips at the Brighton fans. Hate that! Plus they were another team who seemed to have the officials in their collective pocket, especially the centre back marking Leo who got every decision.

2) Which brings me to the officials as above. A ref who certainly played the first 20 minutes as if we were a lower league outfit trying to raise our game against a classier team and therefore Derby should get a benefit of the doubt even where there was none. We should surely have had a couple of pens, but he couldn'even give us a foul early on, or at least until Derby were back in it.

3) Their fans had a collective smugness and air of entitlement after they got their pen. Silent up till that point. But singing Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio was over confident smugness personified. They are one goal up with 90 minutes to play for goodness sake!

This tie has a few twists and turns in it and at least there will be a different ref at their place. Let the expectation pile the pressure on them instead. Despite last night, we have the defence to keep a clean sheet and the pace to rattle any defence. Luckily this isn't over by a long chalk.

Click to expand...

Icy Gull said:

It's completely bizarre that we KEEP persisting with the same ball that as far as I recall never works. How hard can it be to have a bit of variety to set pieces?

Now watch us get the winning goal on Sunday from exactly the ball I'm moaning about

Click to expand...