Derby 1-1 Town Saturday, 30th Aug 2014 17:13 Top scorer Christophe Berra nodded home his third goal of the season to secure the Blues a deserved point at Derby. The Scotland international headed home Paul Anderson's freekick on 52 to level Chris Martin's 13th minute goal for the Rams. Leicester target David McGoldrick was missing from the Town squad having not made the trip after suffering a dead leg in training on Thursday. Whether the 26-year-old would have been considered fit enough to be involved in normal circumstances was the subject of much pre-match discussion. Elsewhere in the side, Mick McCarthy handed Jonny Parr his Blues debut at left-back, while Teddy Bishop was given his full debut and Kevin Bru his full league debut in midfield. Tyrone Mings dropped to the bench with Cole Skuse missing out having been ill overnight and Elliott Hewitt due to injury. The Blues matched Derby’s formation with Murphy the lone striker and Bishop, Hyam and the more advanced Bru forming a central midfield three with Jay Tabb and Paul Anderson on the left and right respectively. Chances were rare in a cagey opening spell. Bru created Town’s first opportunity in the eighth minute when he exchanged passes with Murphy before being tripped by Cyrus Christie on the left. Town top scorer Christophe Berra won Tabb’s freekick to the far post but having committed a foul, according to referee Eddie Ilderton. Derby began to take control, Martin failing to get enough on Jamie Ward’s cross from the left before Parr cut out a subsequent cross from the former Sheffield United man. From the resultant corner, Dean Gerken dropped the ball inside his six-yard box but the Blues eventually scrambled it away. But a Rams goal wasn’t too long in coming and once again as a result of a defensive horror show from Town. As the game moved into the 13th minute Ward again escaped down the left and cut the ball across. Tommy Smith blocked but Hyam’s attempted clearance flew straight up in the air inside the area to Martin, who beat Berra and headed goalwards. Gerken saved across to his right, Parr blocked Johnny Russell’s headed rebound on the line but former Canary Martin was on hand to tuck the loose ball home. Derby felt they ought to have been awarded a penalty in the 20th minute when Jeff Hendrick went down as Berra looked to challenge. A spotkick would have been very harsh and the Scotland international eventually won the ball. Hendrick suffered an arm injury in the incident and was forced off with England U21 international Will Hughes taking over. The Blues, with 18-year-old Bishop increasingly involved, came more into it after the break for the injury, winning a number of corners but without testing Rams keeper Lee Grant. On 40 Bishop made a strong run through the middle of the Derby midfield before Richard Keogh slid in to dispossess him. Moments after the fourth official had signalled six additional minutes Martin saw a shot deflect over, then Ward curled a 20-yard strike into Gerken’s arms. Shortly before the whistle, Christie did well to find himself space on the Derby right before sending over a low ball which Ward diverted wide at the near post. Town couldn’t complain about the scoreline at the break, particularly given the nature of the goal which was the difference between the teams. Derby had threatened to get their noses in front prior to the goal and continued to look the most likely scorers of the game’s second goal. The Blues started to look more of an attacking threat after the interruption for Hendrick’s injury, albeit without creating anything significant in open play and while failing to make the most of a number of corners. Of the debutants, Bishop had made the biggest impact with Bru finding it hard to get on the ball in the role ahead of the other two central midfielders after a bright start. Parr had got forward on several occasions but so far without sending in a telling ball. Skipper Luke Chambers made way at the break having suffered a bang to the head during the first half. Tyrone Mings came on and went to left-back with Parr swapping flanks. Berra took the armband. And seven minutes after the break, the Scot increased his lead at the top of the Town goalscoring charts when he scored his third goal in three games and his eighth in the last 12 months. After Parr had been fouled by Ward midway inside the Rams’ half on the right, Anderson sent over a freekick which Berra headed into the ground and up into the top corner of the net. The goal completely changed the momentum of the game and the Blues came close to going in front within a minute of equalising, Tabb cutting the ball back from the left after good work from Murphy and Grant somehow blocking when Anderson seemed certain to score. With the home crowd somewhat harshly concentrating their attentions on referee Ilderton after giving several decisions Town’s way, not least the freekick which led to the goal, the Blues continued to threaten. Bishop came close to opening his goals account on 55 with a powerful 25-yard strike which Grant did well to tip over. From the subsequent corner, the 18-year-old saw another effort deflect over. Derby began to regain the impetus and on 57 Martin headed Christie’s cross from the right wide. A minute later Gerken did well to get across to his left to save Ward’s 20-yard strike after the winger had been given too much time and space. Alex Henshall replaced Bishop in the 67th minute, the youngster having run himself into the ground during what had been a very promising debut. The former Manchester City youngster was quickly involved, running on to a Mings ball down the left but his low cross was cut out. From the corner, Murphy headed back towards the far post and Martin nodded away but with ball appearing to have been on its way wide. Soon after, Bru was booked for kicking the ball away as Derby prepared to take a freekick. As the match moved into its final 15 minutes both sides were having chances. Henshall tried to make the most of some hesitant Derby defending but saw his effort blocked, then at the other end Martin shot wide after Ward’s break down the right. With the game by now very open and end to end, Frank Nouble replaced Anderson for the final 10 minutes. Derby sub Leon Best headed Craig Forsyth’s corner from the right over when he should have done better, then with seven minutes remaining Tabb was booked for a foul on another Rams sub Simon Dawkins. With a minute and a half remaining the Blues had a chance to win it when Bru found Hyam bursting into the box but the central midfielder scuffed into the ground and straight at Grant. In injury time Martin was booked after a scuffle with as Derby prepared to take a freekick. The Rams almost won it deep in injury time when Martin’s shot, which looked on its way wide, caught Mings’s heel and cannoned across goal and beyond the other post but the Blues were not to be denied what was a hard-fought and in the end deserved point. After improving in the minutes before the break, the Blues levelled via Berra’s header seven minutes after the restart, a set piece having been the most likely source of a goal at that stage. Town might have gone in front at that stage with impressive debutant Bishop and Anderson both going close. Subs Mings and Henshall made the Blues much more of a threat down the left, the ex-Manchester City winger during a final quarter in which either side might have won it. Bishop and Henshall in particular won a succession of freekicks via strong runs at the Derby backline, while Bru was much more involved in the second half and created the excellent late chance for Hyam. Manager Mick McCarthy is likely to be pleased with a point, particularly having gone behind to another poor goal so early on in the game, and will also be delighted with the performances of youngsters Bishop, Henshall and Mings amongst others. Derby: Grant, Christie, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Eustace (Dawkins 81), Bryson, Hendrick (Hughes 26), Ward, Russell (Best 70), Martin. Unused: Roos, Shotton, Whitbread, Mascarell. Town: Gerken, Parr, Chambers (c) (Mings 46), Smith, Berra, Bru, Bishop (Henshall 68), Hyam, Anderson (Nouble 80), Tabb, Murphy. Unused: Bialkowski, Bajner, McQueen, Clarke. Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear). Att: 26,673.
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