Frustrating away day as Clough sets sights on improvement
NIGEL Clough was disappointed and frustrated after Derby County returned empty-handed from Ashton Gate.
Clough felt the Rams played well enough to take something from their final away game of the Championship campaign against Bristol City.
A double from striker Nicky Maynard put Bristol City two up before Stephen Pearson pulled a goal back with his first of the season.
But Derby slipped to a 2-1 defeat – their first defeat in five away games.
Clough said: "It was as good a performance as we have put in in those five away games.
"It reminded me a little bit of the match at Ipswich in October, when we had the majority of the game and had enough chances to get something but we gave two poor goals away.
"The game typified the season as much as anything. It is the sort of performance that next season we have to turn into a good result.
"For all the good football and things we did, we have to get something out of games like this."
Derby have won only three of their 23 away games in the League this season.
Clough will be looking for an improvement on the road next season.
"It is two things – you don't give goals away and you get better quality and better decision-makers in the final third," he said.
Bristol City had lost one of their previous seven games going into the match and had appointed Steve Coppell as their new manager two days earlier.
Coppell was not at the game, Keith Millen took the team, and the Robins were determined to sign off with a win in their final home fixture.
"I thought we dealt with all that well," said Clough. "I thought we played a lot of good football. I thought it was a good open game
"Once we got the first five to ten minutes out of the way, we played some good stuff away from home.
"We had the majority of the game, the majority of the possession and probably the majority of the chances as well because there was not a lot of clear-cut situations."
The victory saw City pass last season's points total but Derby remain one short of last season's tally of 54 with their final game coming up on Sunday when Cardiff City visit Pride Park Stadium.
"We have said to the lads that we want to keep going right to the last kick against Cardiff, that's the aim," said Clough, who handed goalkeeper Saul Deeney his first start as a replacement for the injured Stephen Bywater.
Deeney was beaten after only three minutes and then again in the 79th minute when Maynard dispatched a penalty.
"Saul did not have an awful lot to do.
"He had no chance with Bristol City's goals and looked absolutely fine on everything else," said Clough.
2 Comments
by Belperram, Belper
Monday, April 26 2010, 1:17PM
“I think Mr Clough must have been at a different game to the one I watched at Ashton Gate . Derby were poor value and only started to play in the last 10 minutes when it was too late . We fans expect passion ,skill , organisation , effort and committment but rarely get it . Thnings need to change from an coaching and tactical aspect or we will be in the same position in 12 months time . All we expect is year on year improvement and if getting past last years points total by the odd point is the only ambition at the club then we can expect to get into the top half of the Championship by maybe 2020”
by david, Planet earth
Monday, April 26 2010, 1:03PM
“First off, I'm a Bristol City supporter so admittedly I may be a tad biased.
From what I saw, Derby have some decent players but absolutely no end product. They had one chance where it was probably easier to score but didn't and the goal - I didn't see anything else created other than a couple of chances which our keeper caused.
Savage did ok for about 70 minutes then disappeared - he looks a bit clapped out to me.
Your manager and Savage say you played well, "exceptionally well" according Savage. But I'm sorry to say that is complete bunkum. I've seen probably a dozen sides at Ashton Gate who looked far better and played much better football, but it was a game between two sides playing for pride and nothing else so maybe I'm being a bit harsh.
Anyway, for what it's worth, it seems to me that you have a captain who is a legend in his own mind and unable to complete a game at the same tempo he starts, and a delusional manager who can't see that Savage is past it.
With your fantastic support and facilities, you should be doing much better - get rid of those two and maybe you will.”