Conor Sammon is given backing by Derby County manager Nigel Clough after his penalty miss
NIGEL Clough has backed Derby County's under-fire striker Conor Sammon.
The £1.2m summer signing from Wigan Athletic has gone 10 games without a goal.
He had a golden opportunity to bag his eighth goal of the season against Crystal Palace on Friday night but his 87th-minute penalty was saved by Julian Speroni.
Derby slipped to a 1-0 home defeat and Sammon is finding it tough to win over some of the fans.
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But Clough says the player should not shoulder the blame and believes he will shake off the disappointment of the late penalty.
"Conor is our second in line to take penalties when Jamie Ward isn't on the pitch," said Clough.
"Although he isn't having the best of times, he stood up and wanted to take the penalty.
"He was so unlucky and the blame doesn't fall on his shoulders.
"We had more than enough chances and the penalty pretty much sums his luck up but he will keep working."
Clough says he was unable to criticise his players following the Palace game.
"The last two home performances, against Bolton and Palace, have been as good as we've played all season but we've come away with one point from a possible six," added the manager.
"The quality of our play was excellent and how we've come off the pitch against Palace with not even a point is disappointing.
"The lads were on their knees in the changing room, shattered and wondering what they had done wrong.
"We told them that they had done nothing wrong at all. There will not be any criticism coming from us.
"We created chances, hit the target, hit the bar and missed a penalty.
"It was one of those nights and it's more evident now than it has ever been that we need a break in both penalty areas.
"We're not getting a break at the moment."
The defeat, coupled with other results at the weekend, saw Derby slip into the bottom half of the Championship with 11 fixtures left to play.
Palace have their sights on promotion. They sit fourth but manager Ian Holloway was relieved to leave Pride Park with the three points.
"I knew it would be a tough game as Derby have been unlucky this season," said Holloway.
"Derby have a young side who are so enthusiastic and energetic and they deserved better than they got."
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by Balanced Funding Solutions Ltd
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 3:10PM
“Derwentx
Tadly doesn't boo he just breaks into a chorus of "we want our Billy back" as per the previous thread on Fridays result ! Judas
Personally I prefer the tippy tappy football as mentioned by him previously !
See post below:
Billy Davies constantly gets his teams into the playoffs,( just for you that means the top six) would you bet against him doing it again thus season???
Yes, he made some poor signings, but he got us there, Clough has made some poor signings and will never get us there. What would you rather watch tippy tappy football without winning or grinding out three points, and I don't know if you went to Watford - the football we played was DIRE and we lost, winners and losers in football, if you try to knock Davies,s record versus Clough - for me your arguing against facts, have a word with yourself!!!! Also just for you one win out of twelve :-)"”
by ridgey27
Monday, March 04 2013, 11:08PM
“dont back him drop him??theo sneezed and he got shipped out...tyson was scoring quick get rid....I would work hard on the pitch...so??darryl powell worked hard but he was as bad...if your name wasn't "clough" he would be gone...he couldn't manage a slice off toast!
BREAKING NEWS!!WE HAVE SIGNED BRUCIES BROTHER!!sheff wed have lita and wickham up front we have a samnon not a wild salmon a salmon that's from an overpopulated salmon farm that doesn't taste nice...
had enough
Clough out!!”
by derwentx
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:36PM
“Reading some of the other comments re our new loan signing I can't believe how low the standard of comment has sunk, its shameful stuff. Some posters ought to engage their brain before launching into spiteful tirades against the manager and some of the players. Whatever anyone thinks the team ARE giving 100% and the manager clearly cares about the club. We all have our views but some of the personal attacks are mindless.”
by derwentx
Monday, March 04 2013, 10:33PM
“Tadley are you one of the people who boos at half time and full time, irrespective of how well we are playing? Where did that originate from? How does it help players if they have to listen to booing and read constant spiteful comments on message boards? Sammon is playing to the best of his ability, we all have our views about how good or bad that is but some of the comments have been way over the top, mostly from keyboard warriors who would never have the balls to say it to his face. I have no time for players who give 50%, or cry off through injury every other game, but if a Derby player gives his absolute all I won't get on his back. You ought to try it some time. You could just try to say something remotely helpful or positive for once in your life.”
by lcfcmikecrisp
Monday, March 04 2013, 9:34PM
“Didnt think i would get a decent response back of a few of you guys shouting Cloughy out.
Paul72 stop dreaming you little Ram Nugent or Austin? No chance.
Maybe if you lot backed Sammon instead of blasting him all the time he would bag a few more, and maybe he was the only striker who wanted to come to you lot, anyway i dont think you will get relegated as you have been playing decent tbh.”
by Tadley-Rams
Monday, March 04 2013, 9:32PM
“Derwentx - derby fans vindictive, I would say that Rams fans on the whole are very passive and patient and loyal to the name Clough.”
by Tadley-Rams
Monday, March 04 2013, 9:27PM
“Derwentx - are you real, other players get a lot more stick than Sammon, he cost £1.2 million and on the whole has been rubbish!!! Poor lovey should get some stick. Really, Clough has not helped him one bit, against Watford he never got one ball to attack - no width, the only balls he did get were hopeful rubbish punts from our defence.
He could be more physical, he us a big lump, but us too nice, the opposing defenders should know and look like they have been in as battle, its all to easy for them.
And just for you Cloughy, i am more than happy winning ugly, nicking a game when we don't deserve it, how many games have the players been on there knees, we could not have given any more and we got nothing - come on, you must start to question why?????? Surely......”
by jillycarol
Monday, March 04 2013, 7:22PM
“I'll stick my neck out and predict that direby will get something in Cardiff tomorrow. It sounds like your performances have been better than your results indicate and If you perform well against the red/bluebirds I can see you nicking a point or even all 3. Cardiff lost on Saturday against a Boro side who have not been on top form lately and if the sheep take the game to them then then why not believe you can win? I see fester n weeds drawing which will be a useful outcome for Forest who I fancy to narrowly beat the tractor boys....Keep The Faith!”
by SnennyRed2
Monday, March 04 2013, 6:51PM
“Squeaky bum time for you Rams. Its a tight division this year, it will take 51/52 points to stay up. You are currently on 44 point swith 11 games to go and have got 7 points from the last 10 games so could be touch or go. By the way Paul72 not seen you on the NEP site or over 2 weeks, no longer giving it large I see. Usual internet troll, next time you appear on there I will be pleased to remind you how you disappear when things don't go your way.”
by paul72
Monday, March 04 2013, 5:26PM
“Sammon lacks basic football skills his heading is poor he struggles to hold the ball up because he has a poor first touch! We have struggled to score recently and this is where sammon lack of goals really hurt us . If we had a Nugent or a Austin up front we would be in top 6 the amount of chances that go begging is ridiculous! Ultimately a forwards job is to score goals sammon looks clumsy infront of goal !”