Really enjoyed the game last night - once the final whistle had gone! It's only then that you realise just how on top we were and the game probably should have finished 4-1 to us. We shouldn't get too carried away as we beat a very workmanlike Derby side - they were combative and resilient but lacking in any real quality in the vital areas. Having had the night to ponder individual performances and also supressing the tribal urge to give every body at least a 7 because we won - this would be my ratings and rationale Scmeichel - 7 Solid whenever asked and some excellent distribution when the opportunity was on - but actually didn't have a lot to do as Derby flattered in the last third but hardly made him save anything Konchesky - 6 Very combative and won his physical battles - but does give the occasional silly ball - and his two direct free kicks in good scoring positions were singularly poor St Ledger 7 Another very solid commited performance Morgan - 9 Awesome - he has impressive speed for a big man, reads the game very well and, for me, was unlucky to be booked - in slow motion it showed he is quicker than Tyson and was actually entitled to go for the ball - from the refs angle it migt have looked like he was slightly behind - unfortunately I think that is his 5th booking so will now miss a game? Peltier - 6 Good going forward but got a little caught out positionally in the second half (not completely his fault - our work rate and possession lapsed generally) - most of Derby's opportunities stemmed fom wide left Dyer - 8 His pace can make him virtually unplayable in the right situation and Derby had to double up on him after he set up the goal (I like to think that finding Danns at the back post was intentional) - yes he missed a sitter in the second half-but he still beat the defence to get into the shooting opportunity that first hit the post (hitting the bar from the rebound with the goalie stranded was disappointing) Wellens 7 Thought he linked play really well - particularly in the first half - definitely suite to playing with a 'live wire' alongside him Danne 9 (MOTM) First half was one of the best displays from an attacking midfielder since Muzzy - faded a bit in the second half but overall a match winning effort - like Morgan I thought he was unlucky to get a booking for a challenge that he was entitled to go for Marshall 6 Best period was arguably first 15 mins of the second half - but does drift out of games - not always fully commited in the challenge but does give that balance on the other flank Beckford 5 First touch was woeful and was often bullied by what was admittedly a 'robust' Derby central pairing - good to see him chase down the odd 'lost cause' but his value is definitely in and around the box Nugent 5 Virtually anonymous by his standards until missing a sitter and then having a header tipped against the bar - like Beckford seemed to get bullied off the ball, particularly in the second half with the result that we were not holding the ball up at the front when played out of defence
Wasn't there an rule on yellow cards that the slate is wiped clean after January? Therefore surely Morgan won't be suspended? Unless those 5 yellows have come since January, although don't think he's played much since then. I thought he'd been injured when we signed him, hence why not getting a game for Forest?
The Danns, Morgan & DYER show. Dyer was very good last night. I watched the game online as I do most that are steamed & if I remember rightly I´ve not seen us lose so far this season. "NIGEL PEARSON´S BLUE & WHITE ARMY" Thanks for getting him back Top.
Other than shots was Danns really that great in terms of distribution, creativity, skill and involvement in the game?
I thought he was very energetic and he stopped a lot of derby build up play very well. I don't think he missed a pass or anything.
All Nigel's signings so far have looked class Wes Morgan does exactly what it says on the tin, he is kick it, head it and he is a tank Danny Drinkwater has added creativity to the midfield and looks class on the ball Ben Marshall has looked decent so far without setting the world on fire but he has shown his potential Sven would have never looked at them players and we would of just spent a load of money someone prem player who wouldn't care or cut it for us
I'm with you AKCJ - his all action performance was epitomised by the challenge that (unfairly in my eyes) got him booked - he was everywhere and very few of his passes went astray - the problems in terms of retention (particularly in the second half) were further up the field - Beckford (possibly because his first touch was pretty grim) started to attempt flicks that didn't find anyone and Nugent seemed to be intimitaded and bullied off the ball - hence we were not retaining possession across the front line resulting in Derby being able to put the pressure straight back on the defence ... not quite sure where Score gets his analysis from ...
