Ramming to Glory

Hello and welcome to another update in my Derby save! I'd like to apologize for taking so long to release this update, but I have been exceptionally busy with other non FM related things, and I haven't had the time. After this update, it'll probably be after Christmas that the next one comes out, so enjoy!

We started off our month at home to Milwall, and this gave the lads a chance to redeem themselves against the side that knocked us out of the League Cup. Chris Martin was suffering from the flu, and John Eustace was suspended from this match, so we replaced them with Will Hughes and Johnny Russell. It was yet again the visitors taking a shock lead, with Mathias Ranegie nodding home after 3 minutes. Jesse Lingard missed the chance for us to instantly reply, but Johnny Russell made up for it with his strike in the 28th minute. Lingard looked out of his depth for most of the night, and missed a few good chances. Nicky Bailey was sent of 73 minutes in, and Milwall duly parked the bus. Thankfully for us we did find the breakthrough, with Luke Garbutt’s free kick being parried from Forde to the feet of Richard Keogh, who passed the ball into the empty net. Not the greatest of performances, but a win regardless.

Our following match was away from home against Reading, who at the time were 5th in the league. I knew this was likely to be one of our tougher fixtures so far this season, but the players proved that wrong. Eight minutes in, Jordan Ibe was played through, and being too quick for the defenders, coolly placed the ball into the bottom left hand corner. Our lead doubled only 5 minutes later through another loanee, this time Jack Grealish. From that point on the match was killed, and a great away victory.

We then went away to Blackpool, who have been struggling this season. I felt as though we’d easily brush the poor Blackpool side away, but I was incorrect. The home side made the breakthrough with Andrea Orlandi shortly before halftime, and Chris Eagles doubled the lead in the 51st minute. We pulled one back with 15 minutes to go through Jack Grealish, but missed too many chances towards the end of the match. Blackpool pulled off a shock win.

The lads had to redeem themselves instantly, and we played a struggling Wigan side at home, giving them a good opportunity to do that. Jordan Ibe put us in front in the 18th minute, and it was game over in the 38th minute, when Ivan Ramis was sent off. It wasn’t until late on though that we put the match fully to bed, with Johnny Russell scoring what was at the time his 6th goal this season.

Following on from the victory against Wigan, we travelled to London to play Brentford. It was that man Johnny Russell who yet again scored, putting us 1-0 up in the 47th minute. The lead was short lived, as Stuart Dallas put the hosts back in level terms only four minutes later. Instead of kicking on, Brentford went and parked the bus, and it proved too big of a task for us to unlock their defence.

Following on from our first draw of the season, we were at home to Huddersfield, who have been drastically over performing this season. The man on fire, Jack Grealish, yet again put us 1-0 up, with his strike coming in the 14th minute. Twelve minutes later it was 2-0, with the midfield maestro Craig Bryson grabbing his fourth goal of the season. We were cruising… or so I thought. James Vaughan pulled one back in the 29th minute, with Lee Grant failing to get down to his near post, and he got his brace by nodding home from a corner in the 33rd minute. They really kicked on, but luckily we held on for a disappointing home draw.

It was one tough fixture to another, this time we played hosts to Wolves. They’re in the play off places, and will prove a tough task. We made our breakthrough a half hour into the match, with Richard Keogh being a surprise goal scorer. We had to wait until the second half to see that lead doubled, through our star man Jack Grealish. James Henry pulled the visitors back into the match in the 65th minute, but we responded well, with Johnny Russell scoring yet again. David Edwards set up a tense ending with his goal in the 87th minute, but John Eustace scored a penalty in the 92nd minute, after Jesse Lingard was fouled in the area. A very good win again a strong side.

Our next match was away to Watford, who are just outside of the playoff places. This promised to be a tough match, as they have some great talent in their ranks. We thought we’d made the breakthrough in the 27th minute when Ryan Shotton had literally an open net from 5 yards out, but he somehow managed to miss. We did go 1-0 up in the 38th minute though, with Chris Martin getting his first goal in a while. They levelled things up only a few minutes later, as a poor clearance off a corner gave Angella an easy tap in. The hosts went in front in the 68th minute, after a rubbish backpass from Jake Buxton put Troy Deeney through, and it was no surprise to see him score. Deeney got his second in the 77th minute, and it was game over. A very disappointing performance.

We ended the month of November away at Elland Road, to take on Leeds. I was eager for us to get back on track, but only 7 minutes in that looked like a tough task, with Casper Sloth scoring. Despite changing to a 4-2-4, we were unable to create anything, and in the 93rd minute when we did, the goal was correctly disallowed, as Jake Buxton sneaked behind their defensive line. Another shocking result to end the month.

Despite the fact that we're still up there near the top of the league, I can't hide my disappointment at our results over the past couple of months. For a team battling for promotion, picking up 14 out of a potential 27 points in 9 matches it just not good enough. The result that I really couldn't take was the defeat to Blackpool, as regardless of the result, our players didn't seem up for it, and were being beaten to every ball by their players. I can only hope that things improve over the festive period, or else we may drop like a stone.

Despite poor team performances, the star man yet again was Jack Grealish. I can not express how good this man is. He's a class above everyone in this division, and with quality strikers such as Martin and Russell, we do have the best attacking force in the league. Jesse Lingard can't get a game over these past few weeks, as Grealish is just too good to drop. If I go up I'd love to buy him, but I just am not sure about his fee. Craig Bryson has been putting in quality performances in the heart of our midfield, as usual, which is great to have. Richard Keogh has also been a rock in our centre of defence, and has formed a fantastic partnership with Ryan Shotton. In terms of players we have out on loan, Mason Bennett is absolutely ripping apart League One with Barnsley, which is great to see. I have big plans that he'll one day become a quality striker for us.

Thank you for reading my latest update! I'll probably have the following one out sadly after Christmas, but I'll try for earlier!