Steve Nicholson's Tuesday Talk: Nothing new about the road trouble being experienced by struggling Rams
BRISTOL City have the worst away record in the three divisions of the Football League.
Derby County have the second worst.
Defeat by Birmingham City at St Andrew's on Saturday was the Rams 11th on the road this season in 19 attempts.
They have won only three and their points tally is 14 from 57.
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But struggles on the road are nothing new.
Derby's average in the previous five seasons is four away wins per season.
They have averaged 12 away defeats per season in that time.
So the away statistics this season, disappointing as they are, are pretty much on a par with other seasons.
When Derby reached the play offs in 2004-05 and in 2006-07 they equalled the club record of 12 away wins on each occasion but generally they have found life tough on their travels.
Last season, Derby had a side capable of scrapping out aways wins.
They won 1-0 at Watford, Blackpool and Hull City when winning goals from Steven Davies, Craig Bryson and Theo Robinson coupled with a defensive stubborness was enough to take all three points.
Derby also chiselled out 2-1 away wins at Nottingham Forest, Doncaster Rovers and Portsmouth.
The one at Forest was achieved with only 10 men for virtually all of the game following Frank Fielding's red card in the second minute.
On the evidence so far this season, the present Derby side is not set up to or contains the personnel to grind out many one-goal victories.
Nigel Clough admitted as much when he told me: "The best way for us is to take the game to opponents and don't look to shut up shop.
"We are not that brilliant defensively to shut up shop, I don't think we are that sort of team."
Derby beat Forest 1-0 at the City Ground in September when Bryson grabbed the decisive goal and recorded a 2-1 victory over Ipswich at Portman Road in October.
Strangely, the quality of the performances on the road this season have been as good as at any time under Clough, yet points have been scarce.
The last time Derby emerged from an away game with what you would call a smash-and-grab win was probably at Watford in August 2011.
They were pounded at times that afternoon but they dug in and displayed great resilience.
"Derby picked our pockets, and as a team you have to be able to do that sometimes," said Sean Dyche, the Watford manager at the time.
To achieve such results a team must be at it defensively all over the pitch, from front to back and vice versa. There must be snap and desire, and mistakes must be kept to a minimum.
Derby have failed to do that enough on their travels this season.
Their tally of clean sheets last season in the League was 12.
This season it stands at six with nine games left to play.
8 Comments
by rikkibobbie
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 10:15AM
“Sorry for repeated comments boys and girls, It kept failing to send but turns out it never stupid thing :)”
by Balanced Funding Solutions Ltd
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 9:28AM
“Nothing like stating the obvious Nigel.
The more he opens his mouth the less confidence I have in him.”
by Balanced Funding Solutions Ltd
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 9:26AM
“Nothing like stating the obvious Nigel !
The more he opens his mouth the less confidence I have in him.
What a muppet !”
by rikkibobbie
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 3:59AM
“The camera's are at PP on Saturday evening.. Maybe its time all those in favor of NC's time being up and time to go, need to voice it! I would love to be there but Sadly I am not based in Derby no more but will be there in thought watching it in the pub!
As far as I am aware of NC admitting: The best way for us is to take the game to opponents and don't look to shut up shop.
"We are not that brilliant defensively to shut up shop, I don't think we are that sort of team.
All you ever seem to hear is we was unlucky, lucks not our way, blaming the young lads and blasting them straight after the game, the injury list building.... I'm sorry i've had enough of it for the past 4 years!
Shame he not admit that he got it wrong for a change....
I really wanted him to do welll as everyone did, not for the surname, just for the plane simple reason of wanting better than we have had recently! And I can't see him taking us any further than he has done.
OK people blame the board for not backing him, but when they have he has brought nothing much better into the team... I.e. A defender who was relegated last season with Coventry. A 1.2m striker who will never be a 20 goal a season striker! his work rate is great but thats it... or he goes on a long chase for a player, never uses them or falls out with them and never see them again.
I agree ware 1970, his record would be sack-able at any other club and like you say McDermott was better albeit in the EPL and got sacked.. So why are the Yanks keeping him here...”
by rikkibobbie
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 3:58AM
“The camera's are at PP on Saturday evening.. Maybe its time all those in favor of NC's time being up and time to go, need to voice it! I would love to be there but Sadly I am not based in Derby no more but will be there in thought watching it in the pub!
As far as I am aware of NC admitting: The best way for us is to take the game to opponents and don't look to shut up shop.
"We are not that brilliant defensively to shut up shop, I don't think we are that sort of team.
All you ever seem to hear is we was unlucky, lucks not our way, blaming the young lads and blasting them straight after the game, the injury list building.... I'm sorry i've had enough of it for the past 4 years!
Shame he not admit that he got it wrong for a change....
I really wanted him to do welll as everyone did, not for the surname, just for the plane simple reason of wanting better than we have had recently! And I can't see him taking us any further than he has done.
OK people blame the board for not backing him, but when they have he has brought nothing much better into the team... I.e. A defender who was relegated last season with Coventry. A 1.2m striker who will never be a 20 goal a season striker! his work rate is great but thats it... or he goes on a long chase for a player, never uses them or falls out with them and never see them again.
I agree ware 1970, his record would be sack-able at any other club and like you say McDermott was better albeit in the EPL and got sacked.. So why are the Yanks keeping him here??”
by rikkibobbie
Wednesday, March 13 2013, 3:58AM
“The camera's are at PP on Saturday evening.. Maybe its time all those in favor of NC's time being up and time to go, need to voice it! I would love to be there but Sadly I am not based in Derby no more but will be there in thought watching it in the pub!
As far as I am aware of NC admitting: The best way for us is to take the game to opponents and don't look to shut up shop.
"We are not that brilliant defensively to shut up shop, I don't think we are that sort of team.
All you ever seem to hear is we was unlucky, lucks not our way, blaming the young lads and blasting them straight after the game, the injury list building.... I'm sorry i've had enough of it for the past 4 years!
Shame he not admit that he got it wrong for a change....
I really wanted him to do welll as everyone did, not for the surname, just for the plane simple reason of wanting better than we have had recently! And I can't see him taking us any further than he has done.
OK people blame the board for not backing him, but when they have he has brought nothing much better into the team... I.e. A defender who was relegated last season with Coventry. A 1.2m striker who will never be a 20 goal a season striker! his work rate is great but thats it... or he goes on a long chase for a player, never uses them or falls out with them and never see them again.
I agree ware 1970, his record would be sack-able at any other club and like you say McDermott was better albeit in the EPL and got sacked.. So why are the Yanks keeping him here??”
by ware1970
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 6:34PM
“P W D L Win ration
213 68 51 94 31.92
This is Clough's record at Derby - appalling by any standards - and sackable with any other club. By comparison Brian McDermott gets sacked from Reading with a 45% win ratio - crazy. Does anyone out there actually support either this board or Clough anymore or can find a compelling argument to keep both?”
by Uni_Ram
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:52AM
“Nigel Clough admitted as much when he told me: "The best way for us is to take the game to opponents and don't look to shut up shop.
"We are not that brilliant defensively to shut up shop, I don't think we are that sort of team."
You're joking right? Either he's just realised this, or his actions completely contradict what he thinks. Or is he just agreeing with what everyone else has been saying all season just so that he doesn't look SO clueless!”