Derby Army

A glorious summer day it was in Derby yesterday. As the bright sun shone brightly on where I was sitting in the East stand, the superb atmosphere we know and love at Pride Park was back again for the new season. It was Clough Jr v Ferguson Jr today. Two inspired team led by sons of manegerial greats made this match a likely fascinating clash. A Clough beginning his first whole season with the Rams and Ferguson bringing his newly promoted side hopeful of a result at Pride Park, as a stepping stone for his dream of promotion to the Premier League. A very nearly full stadium comprising 33,010 fans to be precise (including a high turnout from the Posh support) saw Derby begin the game very brightly.

The sun was shining, optimism was in the air, but Derby hadn’t won an opening day fixture for seven years. Surely we couldn’t fail against Championship newcomers Peterborough. Could we?

Friendlies are not about results, they are about performances and signs. The performance by Derby at Pride Park was good, the signs encouraging and, happily enough, the result wasn’t bad either.

Thanks to Exeter’s fine taxi services, we missed the first 35 minutes of the game. While we stood outside the Fat Pig, suitably refreshed with scrumpy, the game had kicked off. By the time we got there, we had to go into the home stand. Only at half time could we take a customary position in the terrace behind the goal.

If the game at Yeovil was a mixed bag, then Derby’s contest with Torquay was very much the opposite. It was consistently dire.

The first game of the South West tour saw the Rams grab an unconvincing 2-0 win over Yeovil.

I suppose it was too much to ask. What with safety assured, could our woeful defence actually manage to put in a performance against a side who also had nothing to play for? Nope.

I've often thought it must be boring to be a Man Utd fan. The fact that everyone hates you aside, you just expect to win all the time - and generally do. When you're a Derby fan, you learn how to sweat.

Relegated Charlton at home - 3 points required for guaranteed safety. 31,000 fans (all of the home allocation was sold) and a nice sunny afternoon. Surely the players will come out fired up and end our worries? Derby have played some amazing football this year when they have put their mind to it (Man Utd at home) so they must really want this game?

With 3 games  left and still not safe you won't need a manicure for a few weeks!  A nervous, nail biting finish to the season is something we could all do without but especially one N.Clough Esq.

When we went up in 2007, we seemed to have luck with us. We scored late goals and didn't suffer too many injuries. Luck evens itself out in this game and it seems it is going against us now.

Just one win will see us safe, but we can't seem to get it - even against a poor 10-man Crystal Palace. When Victor Moses was sent off for his second yellow card, you thought: "Surely we'll get a result now?" But no...