Reliable Gareth Roberts stands out in list of left-backs
DERBY County’s team showed three changes for the game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
Mark O’Brien came in for his first start in more than a year and midfielder Craig Bryson returned after a knee injury.
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Gareth Roberts
The other change saw fit-again Gareth Roberts come back in for James O’Connor at left-back.
Roberts, Mr Reliable, performed like he had never been out and his presence was much-needed because City’s right winger Albert Adomah is capable of causing defences problems.
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Not only was Roberts solid in his 90th appearance in a Rams shirt, he also had a big hand in Derby’s second goal, when his delicious centre invited somebody to head it in. Bryson obliged by glancing the ball past Tom Heaton.
Roberts is 34 and he has almost 600 senior games under his belt.
He is a great professional who goes about his job quietly and effectively. No frills, no fuss.
He tends not to do much press before or after games but he is still a big character in the squad and a role model for young full-backs Kieron Freeman, Michael Hoganson and Rhys Sharpe.
Driving back up the M5 from Bristol, I started to recall Derby’s left-backs of the past 10 years.
Jay McEveley, Dean Moxey, Luciano Zavagno and Paul Boertien came to mind.
McEveley played 101 games, although some of his most dominant displays came when he filled in at centre-back. Boertien, a totally committed defender, was so unlucky with injuries.
Other left-backs include Jamie Vincent, Mo Camara, Richard Jackson – a right-back who could play on the left – and Alan Wright, who had a brief seven-match loan spell at Derby in 2006.
For me, Roberts has been Derby’s most consistent left-back since the club dropped out of the Premiership in 2002.
Comments
by rampitup
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 1:48PM
“John Richardson, John Robson, David Nish, Steve Buckley all good, but Chris Powell was the best.”
by MISTAWOOD
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 11:13AM
“Yeah we've never properly replaced Chris Powell and he was sold in the late 90's!!
I had high hopes for Zavagno, but he never really lived up to them. As has been said already, Roberts is the most solid left back we've had for years. Shame he's not 2 or 3 years younger”
by Chris_Ram
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 10:41AM
“Jordan Stewart. Hmm.
Further back: Chris Powell out, Stefan Schnoor in. Oh dear!
I liked Tony Dorigo.”
by JohnZFish
Tuesday, December 18 2012, 10:28AM
“Yes a very good player a stalwart -I would agree that he has been our best and most consistent left back for a long time. He is under rated and undervalued by the fans. He makes a big difference when he is fit and back in the team.”