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Search forDavies and Ellington on target as Rams claim first victory
Thursday, July 17, 2008, 08:00
Managers, Paul Jewell included, stress the importance of looking beyond results at this stage and the outcome of pre-season matches will count for nothing when Doncaster Rovers visit Pride Park Stadium for the Championship opener.
But winning games, scoring goals and keeping clean sheets, no matter what the game or who the opposition, is good for belief especially when confidence has been trampled into the ground, as Derby's was last season.
So the players, Jewell and the fans will be feeling a little better about themselves after last night's 2-0 victory over Burton at the Pirelli Stadium.
Excellent strikes from new boys Stephen Davies and Nathan Ellington provided the icing on the cake and the performance was a significant improvement on the flat display against TOP Oss in Holland last Friday when the Rams looked leggy, disjointed and lacked a cutting edge.
Jewell started six of his summer signings against Burton – Paul Connolly, Martin Albrechtsen, Jordan Stewart, Paul Green, Davies and Ellington.
Of the other new arrivals, Liam Dickinson was on the bench, Kris Commons missed out again with tight hamstrings and Australian Ruben Zadkovich is away preparing for the Olympic Games.
Green partnered Dean Leacock in central midfield, meaning last season's skipper Robbie Savage was among the substitutes.
Burton-born Lewin Nyatanga wore the captain's armband but injury ruled out Alan Stubbs, Claude Davis, Stephen Pearson and Roy Carroll, meaning Stephen Bywater started in goal.
Derby, determined to erase their Dutch disappointment, opened with greater purpose and attacking verve than they had shown against Oss.
Davies met Stewart's cross and his glancing header was touched onto the bar by former Rams keeper Kevin Poole as early as the fourth minute.
Ten minutes later, Nyatanga's long ball caught Burton's back line square and Ellington controlled the ball and should have done better than lift it over the advancing Poole and wide.
When Derby took the lead after 18 minutes, the goal from Davies was a beauty.
He received a pass from Ellington just inside the Burton half and went past one defender, inside another and across the face of the area before sending a sweetly-struck right-foot shot arrowing low beyond Poole.
A transfer tribunal will decide how much the Rams must pay Tranmere Rovers for Davies, who has settled well at his new club. He is still young but he looks a talent.
Poole saved a header from Ellington, whose strike partner Emanuel Villa then squandered two golden opportunties to put the Rams out of sight.
Set up by the slick work of Ellington and Stewart, Villa tamely side-footed straight at Poole from 12 yards and five minutes later, the Argentinian was put clean through by Leacock only to scoop his finish wide. He did not look confident with either chance.
But Ellington did not lack confidence when he picked the ball up on the right side of Burton's area five minutes before the break.
The on-loan striker, who is confident of rediscovering his scoring form this season after a barren time at Watford, beat Poole with a vicious angled drive, the ball flashing past the keeper to put the Rams two up.
Savage and Jay McEveley came on at the start of the second half and Jewell introduced the other subs throughout the second 45 minutes but Derby never hit the heights of the first half. The passing was not as accurate, the movement not as incisive.
The team possessed better shape in the first half, as often happens in friendly matches before the flow is interrupted by changes.
But there were chances to add to the score.
Ellington saw a close-range header parried by Burton's substitute keeper, Saul Deeney, Albrechtsen poked the ball against a post after Deeney had fumbled Green's cross and Savage lifted the ball over from 12 yards when he should have done much better.
To their credit, Burton kept trying to play their football.
They found it difficult to contain Derby in the opening 45 minutes with Green on top in midfield, Davies clever with his movement and awareness, and Ellington hungry and strong.
Albrechtsen and Nyatanga took charge at the back and the Brewers could not carve out a clear sight of goal.
Keith Gilroy and Matt Bailey, a teenage midfielder on trial from Wolves, sent in teasing centres and Bywater was out sharpish to save at the feet of Dave McDermott.
But Burton kept plugging away and striker Shaun Harrad was a key figure in their best spell just short of the hour mark.
In the space of five minutes, he rifled a shot just too high and then after neat football from Gilroy and Jonti Richter put him in on goal, Harrad wasted the chance by rolling the ball narrowly wide.
Burton wanted a penalty when John McGrath appeared to be dragged down by Tyrone Mears and ex-Derby striker Lee Morris came on for the final 15 minutes.
Morris, who made 100 appearances for the Rams, is training with the Brewers as he works his way back to fitness after more injury problems.
If everything goes to plan, Nigel Clough hopes to add Morris to his Burton squad.
John Oster, who is without a club after being released by Reading, is trying to impress Derby and earn himself a deal.
He played for 30 minutes against Burton and showed some good touches.
The 29-year-old is a tidy footballer and Jewell says he will be in the squad for Saturday's game against Rotherham United.
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