I didn't think it was a red card at all. It was a 50/50 ball and he won it fairly. The ref reacted to the Ramirez injury - which didn't look like he was wearing shin pads.
I haven't watched the tackle, but apparently the ref got the yellow out before seeing Ramirez's injury and then changing his mind. Houghton confirmed post-match that they'd appeal it.
'Bryson - Thorne - Hughes' is there preferred midfield three, and the one that would have faced us in the play-off's (almost certainly). Now either Johnson or Butterfield will come in for Thorne. Both have played well against us this season but neither do the job Thorne does.
The thing is about red cards like this, the ref has undeservedly giving Middlesbrough a massive helping hand, the ref should be penalised for making such an appallingly bad decision. I would rather have played Middlesbrough in the play offs as in all seriousness they look the worst side, and they've been helped by a really poor decision.
Ask any Derby fan and they will tell you Hughes is the main man. He's just been injured for most of the season, but he's back and on fire - not literally.
Where have I stated otherwise? Thorne is an important player for them, and does a job no-one else does. Robertson isn't our 'main man', but we'd be ****ed without him, because we don't have another decent left-back. Johnson and Butterfield are decent players but Derby can't play the same way without Thorne, they don't have a like-for-like replacement, that was my point, not that he was their 'main man'. His absence will be felt, providing we put in a worthy performance.
You didn't, I thought I'd get in first before you trotted that out in your next post I actually think Butterfield is the best midfielder they have. He destroyed us at the KC this season.
Ha, well I wasn't going to. Thorne isn't a star man type of player, but he's mightily important to them. He is their only defensive midfielder, and their team is in many ways built around him. I like Butterfield but defensively he doesn't offer what Thorne does, there should be more space for our players to exploit now, I'm thinking Diame in particular. Should also disrupt their shape, they might even switch up the way they play now.
Problem was two mins earlier same players pushing each other about shoving chests, then the rash tackle looked like a continuation of their feud. Biggest gash since the tower for an hour reunion last Saturday
Were we top both times we played Derby? We had two stints at the top and seemed to fall apart both times upon playing Derby.
Hopefully third time lucky. With 100% effort and a bit of luck we'll be off down Wembley Way. 50/50 hit out now.
Least this time we don't have to go out and win at their place. We can take it a bit easier with the home leg to fall back on. A 1 goal loss isn't a bad result, but obviously a draw or win is better. We just need to be in touching distance of a result going into the second leg.
Just got a ticket for our leg, can't go to Wembley so hopefully I can do my bit for us and who knows new owners could be on the horizon too, perhaps the tables are turning...
Wouldn't surprise me if they're updating it to include Coach Travel now they know the actual date? Hope it hasn't sold out, I'd love a ticket for the away leg too.
