Derby County: Another good workout for Rams but their cutting edge is missing
DERBY County kept a second clean sheet in as many games on their tour of the south-west but could not find a cutting edge to breakdown League Two newcomers Torquay United.
The closest they came in last night's goalless game at Plainmoor was when Steve Davies's header was turned onto a post by goalkeeper Scott Bevan.
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HEADING FOR GOAL: Derby County's Luke Varney heads the ball towards a goal but his effort is saved by Torquay United goalkeeper Scott Bevan. Robbie Savage battles with Torquay United's Tyrone Thompson (right)
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Derby County's Giles Barnes battles for the ball with Torquay United's Chris Todd at Plainmoor last night.
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Torquay, promoted through the Blue Square Premier play-offs last season, asked questions of Derby's defence in the second half but the defenders stood firm, especially Jake Buxton.
It was another patchy display, not unexpected at this stage of pre-season, but at the same time it was another useful run out and exactly why they have taken on three games in five days.
Derby also fielded virtually a different team to the one that beat Yeovil a couple of days earlier.
The side showed eight changes as manager Nigel Clough used his squad.
In came former Burton Albion goalkeeper Saul Deeney, who is looking to earn a contract, Jason Beardsley, Buxton, Arnaud Mendy, Ben Pringle, Giles Barnes and Davies, who hit both goals in the win at Yeovil.
Also in was trialist Scott Neilsen, the Cambridge City right winger.
The 22-year-old was training with Norwich City last week and scored for them in a friendly at Dartford.
His first contribution was to take the ball cleverly on the half-turn, display some confident footwork on the ball and then give a simple lay-off for Paul Connolly to cross.
Pringle, himself a find from non-league football, has caught the eye all pre-season and whipped in two terrific free-kicks to give Torquay problems.
Neilsen was been marked by Torquay's left-back Kevin Nicholson, the Derby-born player and former England Schoolboys captain.
Torquay had lost their previous outing 4-1 at the hands of Bristol Rovers and started full of determination. Derby, considering there had been so many changes, were also quickly into their stride and there was a good early pace to the contest.
Chris Todd's hesitancy allowed the hard-working Luke Varney to win the ball and then a foul from the big defender.
Steve Davies looked interested in the set-piece but Barnes took the ball only to waste the opportunity. His effort looped tamely over.
Barnes did better a minute later when his testing cross just beat Pringle for pace as the midfielder darted into the area. Varney's follow-up was blocked and then Robbie Savage, captain for the night, burst into the box only to see his shot parried by Scott Bevan.
It was lively stuff on a dry pitch – Torquay had obviously escaped the heavy rain that drenched Derby's St Mellion base earlier in the day.
The home side had strong claims for penalty 10 minutes before the break.
Mustapha Carayol flicked on, Pringle being hurt in the aerial challenge, and Elliot Benyon got in on the wrong side of Mendy. Derby's defender made a tackle from behind and the Torquay striker went down.
Cries of "penalty" went round the ground, the loudest coming from the Torquay players and those in their dugout, but referee Oliver Langford waved away the protests and signalled the physio to come on and attend to Pringle.
Mendy then clattered into Tyrone Thompson, the challenge more mistimed than malicious, but the Rams youngster was not Mr Popular with the Torquay fans.
Torquay started the second half with greater purpose and had Derby on the back foot.
A deep cross went over Jason Beardsley and found Danny Stevens at the back post. His first touch was slightly heavy but Deeney still did very well to save with his legs.
Wayne Carlisle's crossing contained pace and accuracy, and there was some important defensive work from Jay McEveley and Buxton before Nicky Wroe's drive stung the hands of Deeney.
A low curling centre from Nicholson squirmed beyond the far post with the help of McEveley's touch and Derby's first change came after 61 minutes when Mark Randall replaced Savage , who again did a good job anchoring the midfield.
But Derby were striving to find a spark in the middle or final third.
Young Mendy provided it when he ate up the ground on a marauding run from the back to support Varney who was in possession.
Varney slipped a pass to Mendy, whose position is midfield, and his low shot took a deflection to bring a corner.
Randall took it and Davies, who scored a thumping header at Yeovil, rose only to be denied by Bevan's fine save.
Derby finished the stronger although with a strange looking line-up.
Centre-backs Miles Addison and Shaun Barker spent the last 10 minutes or so up front after coming on.
The last bit of action saw Deeney keep out another strike from Wroe in the last seconds. Deeney can be pleased with his performance.
22 Comments
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by Matt, Matlock
Friday, July 24 2009, 1:54PM
“Lets not be too hasty about things just yet lads. Clough said he didn't want to pay for any more development players, suggesting he is still looking to bolster the squad. Lets be honest, we're not going to sign anyone whilst we're in Devon are we?! I'm sure the next few weeks things will move and a few more will come in. The nature of the window is that clubs often hold back selling players until they know they can be replaced. There are definitely areas we need to strenghten, we can all see it so I think Nigel will see it as well. However, it's not Champ Man, it is real money and I for one think our policy is spot on.”
by ron, spondon
Friday, July 24 2009, 1:25PM
“Tangle Im perhaps going a bit over the top after all i did get the centre back i wanted and i know hes a good defender . Think we are going to get over run again in midfield its very hard to play with two wingers your central pair have to be very good to cope Fail to see what weve done about it If you wait for pacy strikers to become available you could be waiting a long while Those sort of players are only available when you show the colour of your money”
by tangle foot, is the way forward
Friday, July 24 2009, 12:18PM
“Im with Rambo,we dont know what these player's can do yet ,but come the 8th Aug i will once again be roaring the lad's on,Ron dont normally disagree with you but Clough in fact said he was happy with his forward option's albeit before the injuries and IF a pacy striker became available he would look at him.ITS NOT AUG 8TH YET COME ON YOU RAMS”
by Moot, Derby
Friday, July 24 2009, 12:16PM
“The more I think about the formation Cloughie has been playing with sort of 3 up front the more I like it if the personel are Commons (if he ever gets fit) on the left, Hulse (if he ever gets fit) in the centre and Giles Barnes (yeah I know he's been a total nugget, but he can play when his heads right) on the right. If those players could all be fit at the same time they could be a real handfull.
PS Will anyone swap Varney for a fiver.”
by ron, spondon
Friday, July 24 2009, 12:04PM
“We wont be signing Scott Nielson because Cambridge want a fee What the hell is he doing on trial then surely we knew this before giving him a game What a waste of the lads time. I am with MB this morning very dissapointed with the signings that have been made What happened to the central midfielder we were desperate for the pacy forward Nigel said we needed Hes either been told to build a squad as cheaply as possible or doing it of his own back Either way i think weve been treated badly once again but then again as fans we just accept mediocrity we probably deserve all we get”
by Rambo, Derby
Friday, July 24 2009, 11:53AM
“Jeez, why get all hot and bothered about pre season friendlies eh? These are little more than training matches and an oppurtunity for the manager to try out different tactics, look at players in a variety of posititions etc. They do not matter one bit, not a sausage. Be it Torquay United or bloomin Barcelona, the end result does not matter. What does matter is what the players and manager get out of it in terms of minutes on the pitch. Ive seen plenty of pre season friendlies against tougher opposion whereby Derby have played bizarre tactics and beaten supposedly "superior" opposition and visa-vera. The time to start judging is 5pm on Saturday 8th August.”
by Ram Man, Alfreton
Friday, July 24 2009, 10:14AM
“Darius Vassell! I do wonder which planet some of our fans are currently orbiting. Fact, Vassell wages would be beyond our means. Fact, Vassell signed for a Turkish club yesterday.”
by Mike, Devon
Friday, July 24 2009, 10:09AM
“Barker bought as a 'solid' centre back (apart from his almighty clanger on his debut) and spends the 10 minutes he has on the pitch playing up front. Is this a Clough masterplan (similar to many of his father's unusual but inspired decisions ... Burns bought as a striker but became a solid sweeper) or is it the biggest joke in the Championship.
Bet Barker wonders what the hell he has done. Think Clough feels Barker is safer up front. Cannot give too many goals away up there.
Billy. You had a lucky escape there.”
by MB, Derby
Friday, July 24 2009, 9:56AM
“Unfortunately the lower league mentality is running right through from the shorter, more enjoyable traing (as both manager and players described it), signings...I mean Devon for god sake!!!!! How exactly is any of this pushing the players to achieve.
Yeah it's preaseason but have they lost so much in the last couple of months and, if so, there's no chance in getting whatever it is back in tje little time we have before KO... especially not by taking them off for an ice cream and donkey ride.
Johns right - it comes to something when you are looking at the derby reject forest signings and thinking they are veyter”
by tangle foot, is the way forward
Friday, July 24 2009, 9:49AM
“Woah guy's give the man time,Price is out of contract next season and does not figure in Clough's plan's.We are linked with Blackburn's Fielding who is very highly rated,Deeney will ONLY be 3rd choice keeper and will not get a game he is only emergency and let's face it how often does Bywater get injured?So it makes sense to have a 3rd choice keeper on very low wage's than have Price on much higher wage's.Reading report's around different forum's Croft look's like he could be the bargain of the season,Moxey is getting good review's stopping the crosses coming in,we have Barker at the back and Randell in midfield we only need a striker and we will be set Barne's if fit will be a big player in this league and will want to put himself in the shop window.”