Subs: Sanchez, Barath, Dia, Kinda, Busio, Gerso, Shelton Note: It is entirely possible Gerso starts over Salloi. That’s the only real positional battle for the opener, though.
2019 Overview
Western Conference Table
Pos.
Team
GP
W
L
T
GF
GA
GD
Pts.
10
Houston Dynamo
34
12
18
4
49
59
-10
40
11
Sporting Kansas City
34
10
16
8
49
67
-18
38
12
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
34
8
16
10
37
59
-22
34
Offensive Leaders
Player
Minutes
Goals
Assists
Felipe Gutierrez
2722
12
3
Johnny Russell
2115
9
9
Krisztian Nemeth
1559
8
2
Yohan Croizet
1091
3
2
Gianluca Busio
923
3
1
Gerso Fernandes
1749
2
6
Ilie Sanchez
2509
2
5
Season Review
Heading into 2019, expectations were sky-high for SKC fans. Fresh off of securing the top spot in the Western conference and being one half away from going to the final game of MLS Cup, Sporting returned a bunch of veterans and brought in some new players to replace and improve upon the departures. We’ll talk about the players later, but suffice to say: they didn’t. Even the most pessimistic SKC fan wouldn’t have predicted the bottom falling out quite as hard as it did in 2019, causing SKC to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2010. It seems that everything that could go wrong, did. The fact that the season started off as well as it did made the collapse all the more painful. We began our season in CONCACAF Champions League, beginning with the toughest draw of any MLS team: Toluca. Since SKC was the lower seed, we started our campaign at home, with the second leg of the contest being at Toluca. The result? 3-0, SKC. Goals from Nemeth, Gerso, and Ilie. Nemeth looked like the goalscorer we needed at the striker position, Gerso looked like he was going to put it all together with a goal and an assist, and Ilie did this. It was as great of a result as we could have imagined, heading down to Mexico with a commanding lead and no away goals conceded. Everyone expected a cagy, defensive match where we held on for dear life and advanced. Instead, Sporting KC scored in the 8th minute and never looked back, ending the game with a 2-0 victory and heading on to the next round 5-0 on aggregate. At one point, Toluca’s own fans were mocking their team, shouting “Ole!” every time SKC completed another pass. It was hailed around the league, with articles written about the historic win and pundits calling Sporting KC potentially the best pure possession team in MLS history. It’s safe to say that the hype was very real. Next up: MLS play. We opened our MLS campaign against LAFC, who finished third in the West in their expansion year and were widely considered to be a real contender in 2019 (and for good reason). The game took place three days after the victory in Toluca, and three days before we were scheduled to travel to Panama to take on Independiente in the next round of CCL. Peter Vermes opted to play his full first choice XI in California, wanting to fight for as many points as possible to avoid digging a hole early. It would have worked, too, if it wasn’t for a meddling Diomande, who broke the 1-1 tie in the 90+4 minute to give LAFC 3 points. It was a disappointing result, but not cause for any panic. LAFC was good, SKC was tired, all was fine. Fontas suffered a hip pointer and was subbed out, but that’s no big deal. Oh, how naive we were. We didn’t know what was coming. Next up: Independiente. We traveled down to Panama and brought a 2-1 deficit, as well as an injured Salloi, home. SKC beat Philadelphia 2-0 in the home opener, calming concerns that things were going wrong. The home leg of the Independiente contest had SKC cruise to a 3-0 win, 4-2 on aggregate, and backup striker Hurtado was hurt, undergoing knee surgery and given a 2-3 month timetable for return. The next two games were MLS play: a 1-1 tie with Colorado made notable by former SKC striker Diego Rubio scoring the opener before Russell’s incredible free kick salvaged a draw for SKC. There was also the 7-1 home victory over Montreal. Nemeth hat trick, Busio goal, tons of fun. Unfortunately for SKC fans, that was just about the last bit of fun for a long while. Their next win wouldn’t come until the end of May against Seattle. The next CCL matchup was against Monterrey, who completely obliterated SKC to the tune of 5 goals to nil. In the first leg. The second leg wasn’t much better, with Monterrey beating SKC in KC 5-2, for an aggregate score of 10-2. The rest of the season was very bad and I won’t spend much time on it. Two wins against Seattle was certainly nice, but there were way too many embarrassing scorelines. 1-4 against SJ, 0-3 against Atlanta, 1-5 against LAFC, 2-7 against LAG, and 0-6 against FC Dallas all stand out. I’ll get into the players, but it’s safe to say that injuries completely and utterly destroyed SKC’s season. At one point, there were 6 players healthy enough to practice. SKC earned 1 point from the 6 games they played after August to close out the season.
Players
Check out The Blue Testament’s Year in review for every player, located here! Shoutout to major_winters_506 for their offseason roster thread here
Jimmy Medranda: Sporting loses another fan favorite in the expansion draft, as part of a deal including leaving Jimmy exposed and trading Zendejas to Nashville SC. Jimmy was always the heir apparent to Seth Sinovic, while also being able to fill in pretty much anywhere on the pitch. His 1v1 ability will not be forgotten, nor will his incredible goals. Unfortunately, injury really robbed him of a lot of time. Adrian Zendejas: The three-year backup to Melia moved on in a trade with Nashville SC. He only made one appearance with the senior team, starting the 1-1 tie with FC Cincinnati. Seth Sinovic: Seth was acquired by SKC in 2011 from the New England Revolution. Since then, he’s made 210 appearances for us before having his option declined this offseason. He was signed in free agency by the Revs. I think every SKC fan still believes that at some point before the end of the season, we’ll see Seth back on the team and winning the starting left back position. After featuring there for so long, and fighting off so many challengers, it just makes sense. Benny Feilhaber: Another long-time SKC veteran, Benny returned this season from his stint with the Colorado Rapids while SKC was in the midst of its horrible injury crisis. He started 13 games, and gave us some life when we needed it most. Benny had his option declined and remains a free agent. Gedion Zelalem: The extremely talented midfielder never found his footing under Vermes, only managing 5 starts for the injury-riddled SKC. His reportedly very expensive option was declined, and he was picked up by NYCFC. Krisztian Nemeth: Oh, what could have been. Nemeth had a promising start to his second stint with SKC, scoring 7 goals in his first 11 regular season games in 2019, and 4 in CCL. Unfortunately, he would only score once the rest of the way en route to Vermes choosing to not renew his contract. Nemeth is currently without a team. Nicolas Hasler: Hasler was signed for one year to be defensive/midfield depth, and he did just that in 2019, making 9 appearances for SKC. Hasley now plays for FC Thun of the Swiss Super League. Rodney Wallace: Rodney Wallace was signed as wing/left back depth for 2019. He had one start, playing 27 minutes before suffering a season-ending injury. Wallace is currently without a team.
Richard Sanchez: Sanchez was acquired via the re-entry draft from the Chicago Fire after making no appearances in 2019 for them. He will serve as backup to Tim Melia while Dick gets experience on loan and Pulskamp starts for SKCII. Roberto Puncec: Puncec was out of contract after playing for HNK Rijelca in the Croatian league. He appears to be the starting right center back next to Matt Besler, starting there in every preseason match so far. Puncec has played extensively in Europe between Israel, Croatia, and the 2. Bundesliga. Khiry Shelton: Shelton returns after a short stint with SC Paderborn, during which he rarely featured and never scored for the senior team, while suffering an injury which caused him to miss substantial time. While Shelton was injured, Paderborn earned promotion to the Bundesliga, which seems to have proved too high of a level for Shelton. Nonetheless, he’s back in KC and appears to be much improved technically, and figures to be the backup striker and potentially a feature on the wing. Alan Pulido: The Striker that was Promised. He’s here. Sporting KC ownership finally opened their pocketbooks, spending a rumored $9.5m on the Mexican striker who won the golden boot in Liga MX’s 2019 Apertura. Pulido appears to be the perfect striker for what Vermes wants, with a high defensive workrate, combination ability, positional flexibility, and a deadly finish. Expectations are sky-high for the player who more than doubled SKC’s historical net spend. Amadou Dia: Dia returns to SKC after a three year stint in the USL with Phoenix. He will be the backup left back behind Luis Martins. Jaret Townsend: Hey look a draft pick! James Kasak: Hey look another draft pick! Gadi Kinda: I Gadi say, this guys’ name seems Kinda great for puns. Kinda was acquired on loan from Israeli club Beitar Jerusalem. He had enjoyed a breakout season in 2019, scoring 7 goals and 4 assists from midfield in 16 appearances. The Ethiopian has yet to feature for the senior Israeli national team, despite appearing for their youth teams. He was called up for EURO 2020 qualifying. Kinda appears to be midfield depth, but is sure to push for a starting spot this season. He has impressed in preseason with his runs, footwork, and work rate. Winston Reid: The 31 year old New Zealand center back is on loan from West Ham, who he’s made 222 competitive appearances for. Reid hasn’t made a senior competitive appearance since March 2018 due to injury. With almost two years off injured, this move appears to be a gamble that he can regain his form and once again become a top defender. If he does, he will undoubtedly be cemented in the SKC backline.
Returning Players
The Vets
Roger Espinoza: A bulldog in the central midfield, Honduran international Roger Espinoza was drafted by Sporting KC in 2008. Apart from two seasons he spent in England with Wigan, Espinoza has been a mainstay in the middle of the field, playing as a box-to-box destroyer. Roger lost a chunk of 2019 to injury, and another chunk to red cards (three, tying his personal “best” and moving into the league lead for total). He also proved just how much he means to this team, as SKC went on a terrible run when he was out. As Peter Vermes continues to search for a replacement for the 33 year old, expect Roger to continue to get plenty of minutes. Matt Besler:Drafted in 2009 by the then-Kansas City Wizards, hometown hero Matt Besler has long been a stalwart in Peter Vermes’ defense. Apart from a down year in 2016, Besler has been one of the most consistent players in recent memory, but he’s 33 years old and his contract expires at the end of the year. Could this be the last year we see Besler in an SKC uniform? He looks to be entrenched as a starter and our captain, but it’s uncertain how much longer that will last with a potentially deep CB room behind him. Graham Zusi: Zusi has been a near-constant presence on the wing for Sporting since he was drafted in 2009, though since the beginning of 2017 he has become Peter Vermes’ go-to right back. 2019 saw him named an MLS All Star, although most believe that honor was a year too late and not quite deserved this year. Regardless, how they told him was one of the highlights of the season. Graham looks to be the starter at right back yet again, but Lindsey is gunning for his position and Zusi may not be able to hold him off for much longer. Zusi’s contract runs through 2021. Tim Melia: The 2017 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year should need little introduction at this point, nor should his storied career move from Rochester Rhinos’ backup to MLS pool goalkeeper to his current tenure with Sporting Kansas City. While Melia, along with the rest of the backline, performed not very well in 2019, he will look to regain his top form as the starter between the sticks.
The New Core
Johnny Russell: Scottish winger Johnny Russell returns for his third year in Kansas City having made himself a favorite both on and off the field. Most often deployed as an inverted right winger, his strength and skill terrorized defenses as he contributed 9 goals and 9 assists in 28 games last season. Look for him and his pet turtle to continue to put the fear of god in defenders from the right side of the field. Ilie: The 29-year-old Spanish midfielder is a product of the Barcelona academy and played for Barcelona B for five seasons before a short stint in 2. Bundesliga with 1860 Munich. After joining SKC in 2017, he locked down the starting defensive midfield spot, starting 67 of 68 league games over two years and becoming an essential part of the team’s midfield structure. 2019 saw Ilie start 27 games, and when he was on the field he seemed much less effective than in years past. An All-Star in 2018, Ilie will look to regain that form this year. Felipe Gutiérrez: Chilean midfielder Felipe Gutierrez was probably the MVP of the team in 2019, scoring 12 and assisting 3. Guti was behind only Melia in minutes played, and could be found at all three midfield positions throughout the year, although Vermes obviously prefers him at the attacking midfield spot. His ability and versatility means that it’s a safe bet Guti Gang will be in contention for the most starts on the team, as well as team MVP.
Something to Prove
Andreu Fontas: Fontas, uh, didn’t exactly work out in his first year. His $1m salary was part of the reason why Ike left, and then Fontas only started 10 games, a number of which were very bad, before getting injured for several months. Once he was healthy, Vermes declined to include him in the 18, and Fontas had surgery as soon as the season was over, which will keep him out for roughly the first month of this season. It’s widely speculated that the front office plans to buy out Fontas’s contract, considering the additions of Puncec and Reid and the fact that Fontas doesn’t appear to be in Vermes’s plans even when healthy. The biggest stumbling block for that is his contract: guaranteed at $1m through 2022, it would cost $3m to buy him out and get the cap space that he takes up back. The fans want him gone, so we’ll see if the ownership continues the “injection of capital” and buys out his contract. Botond Barath: The Hungarian center back entered 2019 as the third center back on the depth chart, but ended up starting 20 games, behind only Matt Besler. Barath wasn’t a disaster, but he certainly didn’t distinguish himself as part of Sporting’s backline. Heading into 2020 it appears that he will go back to being a third or fourth option on the depth chart, capable of stepping up when needed but unlikely to be a difference maker. Graham Smith: The 24 year old draft pick has yet to impress for the senior team, starting 10 games and giving up 20 goals last year (including 7 to Zlatan and the Galaxy). Barring another injury disaster, Smith will likely find himself playing the whole season with SKCII, as the fifth center back on the depth chart. Luis Martins: Brought in to replace Seth, Martins appears to have done what nobody has done before: actually replace Seth. Starting the final 9 games of the season, Martins flashed his potential on offense and appeared capable on defense. Martins will start at left back this season and will hope to provide that spark of offense on the left side that Vermes has been searching for, while improving upon 2019’s truly terrible defense. Daniel Salloi: After leading the team in goals in 2018, Salloi suffered a pretty severe decline in production, only managing to find the back of the net once, in the second to last game of the season. By the way the team celebrated, you’d think we had just won the cup. Salloi was another player who lost time due to injury, getting hurt in CCL against Independiente. Daniel will surely look to rediscover his form this season, which should see him draw plenty of starts at left wing. Gerso Fernandes: Gerso was another player hampered by injuries, breaking his left wrist in a game against New England. He had seized the starting role at left wing from Salloi after Daniel’s run of poor form, but wasn’t a clear-cut starter when he returned from injury. Gerso possesses speed that nobody else on the roster has, so he will definitely have a role to play. The battle between him and Salloi for the left wing remains open, and both will surely see plenty of minutes. Eric Hurtado: Guess what happened to Hurtado in 2019? You’re right, he was injured. Sporting’s backup striker lost most of the season to injury, starting only 8 games, all after the season was pretty much over. It appears that the 29 year old will fall to third on the center forward depth chart.
The Kids
Jaylin Lindsey: After starting 6 games in 2018, Lindsey only started once for SKC in 2019. The reason? You guessed it - he got injured. Turning 20 this year, Lindsey will look to unseat Graham Zusi at right back, something that should be easy if Zusi plays as poorly as he did in 2019. Sporting a ton of personality, Lindsey is a fan-favorite and should at least get minutes rotationally, assuming he stays healthy. Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal: Long-touted as the future of SKC’s defensive midfield, Kuzain missed his chance to get minutes with the first team by getting injured right when SKC needed players the most. Instead, he spent the entire season with SPR, often playing further ahead in the midfield than his preferred position. His passing accuracy of 88.4% shows his skill with the ball, and the 21 year old homegrown will look to have a breakout year with SKC II and potentially get minutes in the senior team’s crowded midfield. Gianluca Busio: Sporting KC’s most promising prospect, 17-year-old Homegrown player Gianluca Busio, was the second-youngest player to ever sign an MLS contract, and is the second-youngest goal scorer in MLS history (thanks a lot, Freddy Adu). In his second full year as a professional, Busio took advantage of SKC’s injury situation by staying healthy, increasing his minutes from 153 in 2018 to 923 in 2019. While Busio occasionally looked lost, he more often did not look out of place playing with men significantly older than him. While he didn’t lock down a starting spot, Busio will look to improve on his minutes for the second consecutive year as part of a very crowded midfield. Cameron Duke: The 11th homegrown player in SKC history, the 19 year old midfielder has been in the Sporting Academy since 2012, and has been part of the US youth national team at the U-14, U-15, U-16, and U-18 levels. Duke will almost certainly spend the entire year with SKC II. Felipe Hernandez: Felipe Hernandez is the first player to go from a SKC Academy affiliate, to the SKC Academy, to the Swope Park Rangers and then to the first team. He’s been touted as the heir apparent to Roger Espinoza, and often looked the part while drawing tons of starts with SPR. He scored eight goals for the USL team, second only to the center forward. Hernandez has the potential to see some midfield time with the senior team, but look to see him spend the bulk of his time with SKC II Tyler Freeman: The youngest player signed to the first team, Freeman spent the whole season fighting for minutes on a poor SPR team, starting only 12 games. The 17 year old forward will look to improve his minutes and production with SKC II this year.
2020 Preview
Things to Watch
WE GOT A STRIKER Mission accomplished. After spending years and years waiting for the ownership to open up their wallets and pay for a big-time number 9, they finally did it. And boy, did they do it. Sporting’s net spend on transfer fees heading into this offseason was approximately $4m. Alan Pulido reportedly cost $9.5m, or more than double that. If he can live up to his price tag and capitalize on the opportunities SKC regularly produces, Pulido will score a ton of goals. What’s a defense? Unfortunately, all the goals in the world don’t mean much without a competent defense to back them up. 2019 was a horrible year for SKC’s usually stellar defense. They let in 67 goals, a mark only beaten by FC Cincinnati. Vermes has responded by bringing in two new center backs, Puncec and Reid, keeping Martins around after he started the last run of games last year, and letting everyone else get healthy over the long, long offseason. If SKC wants to be back in the postseason, the defense will have to massively, massively improve. #PlayYourKids The HashtagPlayYourKids movement had its ups and downs with SKC in 2019. A couple of kids missed out on opportunities due to injury, most notably Jaylin Lindsey and Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal. Busio managed to improve his MLS minutes substantially, however, and SKC fended off a couple of suitors to hold on to the extremely promising midfielder. If Vermes wants to boast one of the best academies in MLS, and he does, then he’ll have to give the kids some more time with the senior team, something he’s been criticized for not doing in the past. The players with the clearest path to minutes are Busio in the midfield and Lindsey at right back, along with Salloi at left wing, so expect to see those three to get a solid amount of time. There are seven total homegrowns on the roster, including Busio, Lindsey, Kuzain, Cameron Duke, Tyler Freeman, Felipe Hernandez, and Daniel Salloi. Do the vets still have it? As the corollary to #PlayYourKids, SKC still has a number of older players on the team. The biggest question of this year might be “Was 2019 an aberration due to injury, or a sign of things to come for Besler, Roger, and Zusi?” While Vermes seems to be betting, at least initially, that the older guys still have what it takes, there are capable and hungry replacements waiting in the wings for them to slip up. This is likely the last window for trophies for those three all together, so they will have a strong desire to work hard and prove that they’re not completely over the hill yet.
Prognosis
There are a lot of open questions for this Sporting KC team, which means the range of outcomes is going to be wide. Realistic Best Case Scenario Turns out, 2019 was entirely the fault of historic levels of injury! Sporting looks like the 2018 and early 2019 team, dominating with the ball, snuffing out counter-attacks, and scoring at will by committee. The team returns to the top of the Western Conference and is competitive throughout the playoffs, although not quite doing enough to win the whole thing - the roster construction isn’t quite there. The team does bring home a trophy, though, winning the USOC in a thrilling game. Realistic Worst Case Scenario The veterans really are past it, the kids aren’t quite ready, and injuries do not stay away. The back line remains mediocre and Pulido can’t put the offense on his back. SKC misses the playoffs for the second year in a row, and calls for Peter’s job get much, much louder. Realistic More Probable Scenario Injuries hurt in 2019, but they clearly weren’t the only problem. The defense improves from last year, but is just league average. The midfield is much better than last year, and 5 players play more than 1000 minutes, keeping everyone fresh and competitive. The front three really improves with the addition of Pulido, and SKC scores a ton of goals and is generally fun to watch. It’s enough to put SKC back in the playoffs, and even win a playoff game! Unfortunately, that’s where things end, as Sporting falls in the second round of the playoffs in a competitive game. They make a USOC run, but don’t win that either.
Match Thread: West Brom v Preston [EFL Championship]
West Brom 2 - 0 Preston Robson-Kanu (7'), Livermore (45+1') DETAILS: Kickoff: 20:00 GMT Venue: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich Referee: Kevin Friend Attendance: TBA Channels: Sky Sports Red Button, Sky Bet RECENT FORM: West Brom: WDWWW Preston: WLWWD WHO TO WATCH: Callum Robinson: The winger signed for Sheffield United in the summer. Gave some of the 'big 6' nightmares. Sheffield United don't play wingers, so the Irish international is back in the Championship running the show for West Brom. Sam Johnstone: The boyhood Prestonian and League One promotion hero also now plays for West Brom. He's also quite good. Ben Pearson: I just wanted to highlight how shit he is. He's awful! No Premier League team would ever want a player on 9 yellow cards, right? Right? Alan Browne: The Preston captain (somehow) is not entirely settled at the club right now but has a big chance to build on his goal against Hull at the weekend. TEAM NEWS: West Brom: Johnstone, O'Shea, Hegazi, Ajayi, Townsend, Livermore (c), Harper, Pereira, Krovinovic, Robinson, Robson-Kanu Preston: Rudd, Fisher, Bauer, Davies, Hughes, Pearson, Browne, Johnson, Barkhuizen, Maguire, Nugent West Brom subs: Bond, Bartley, Furlong, Barry, Grosicki, Phillips, Austin Preston subs: Ripley, Clarke, Rafferty, Gallagher, Potts, Sinclair, Stockley MATCH EVENTS: 1' Underway and I have a stream working at last. Sky Bet is terrible. 4' Free kick over the bar. No idea what happened, stream was loading 5' Tom Barkhuizen with a poor shot after great play from David Nugent started by Sean Maguire's interception. 7' Goal West Brom - Robson-Kanu with an excellent touch to take it past Ben Davies and fire it under Declan Rudd. You need that extra bit of skill to beat a player like Davies - and Kanu has it Apologies, it was Hughes who he took it past. Davies was covering 9' Corner West Brom, after a shot comes through a pile of bodies 13' Ben Pearson with an excellent interception to start an attack, but Daniel Johnson fires from distance and it comes to nothing 17' Excellent defending from Townsend after Preston break again. Callum Robinson cleans out Darnell Fisher while going for the ball - nothing given, Preston break again but it's offside 18' Browne nicks the ball from a dawdling Hegazi but his touch is too heavy and Johnstone claims. West Brom break, shouts for a penalty but there's nothing in it 20' West Brom doing this wonderful thing called attacking in groups. Daniel Johnson gives away a free kick. "We're just too good for you" rings out from the home end, for some reason. (They're not). Rudd catches. 23' Pearson is just able to disrupt play enough after Johnson mishits a pass for Rudd to save. All West Brom here. 25' Nugent misses a golden chance to level it up after a great cross from Hughes. 26' Pearson with an excellent pass to Fisher who...passes back 28' Close from West Brom! Robinson rushes in but to no avail 29' Great play from Pereira plays in Robinson but Rudd is just able to save! 32' Close again from Nugent! Calls for a foul but it's just a mistimed header. 36' Free kick Preston in a good position. Don't think there was much in that mind... but fair play to Browne who has been excellent so far 37' Johnson's free kick is easily punched away. Was a good chance for Darnell Fisher. 38' West Brom break and Robinson forces an excellent save from Rudd before 5ft4 Maguire is able to head it away. 41' Pearson keeps the ball alive but the eventual move ends in Johnstone's hands 44' Robinson's cross out for a corner complemented by some sweet Rudd shithousery. Then he catches the ball. He's wound up the home fans at least 45+1' Goal West Brom - Livermore's first real involvement in the game coming from great play by Pereira and Robson-Kanu. Can't help but feel Rafferty wouldn't have let that happen 45' Half time and it's 2-0. Some poor performances from both sides, but West Brom make it count by doing this magical thing called pushing up. ---- 46' Second half underway and there's no changes from either side. 47' Krovinovic with a tackle later than the train home, free kick Preston 51' Preston take a free kick after Ajayi and Harper get overly excited but as per usual it comes to nothing 52' Robinson's shot is blocked, corner 53' ...close, as Ben Davies kicks at the wrong time but it passes through the crowd of bodies and out for a throw 55' Kevin Friend with some excellent play for West Brom, Browne with a terrible shot and Krovinovic with a terrible dive. All in a minute's work 58' Dara O'Shea runs over Sean Maguire, free kick 59' Ajayi clears and Preston go again 60' ...and that is one of the worst corners I've seen in a long time from Daniel Johnson 64' Hughes makes a complete tit of himself which leads to Fisher having to put in a tackle on Robinson, for which he's sent off 68' Harper wins a corner. Pearson blocks it in the second phase 71' Pearson AGAIN with a wonderful interception which Johnson proceeds to squander 72' Pereira off for Phillips 74' Alan Browne has moved to right back now. No signs of a sub from Preston and the away end is getting audibly agitated 77' Replays now show that Fisher should NOT have been sent off and Robinson exaggerated. Nothing much has happened game wise. 78' David Nugent has tried very hard, but has come off for Scott Sinclair. West Brom fans upset by this. Meanwhile, Callum Robinson, now facing a ban, is off for Kamil Grosicki. 81' Goalscorer Robson-Kanu off for Charlie Austin. 84' Rudd with an excellent save from Austin's header! 85' Alex Neil finally remembers to make some subs as Barkhuizen and Maguire are hooked for Jayden Stockley and Brad Potts. Krovinovic forgets which sport he's playing. 89' Scott Sinclair rushes up the pitch but nobody goes with him so he's dispossessed. Declan Rudd with another fine save who has been the clear MOTM today 90+3' The punishment is over, a tactical disasterclass from Alex Neil and some great attacking tactics from Slaven Bilic but the quality of some players shone through.
UEFA Golden Boy Winners 2003-2008: Where are they now?
Alright you lot, it's been a while. How've you been? Yes, I'm back again with a footballing history lesson none of you really asked for. I've split this one into two parts, I would say it's so we can have an in-depth discussion but it's mainly because I'm lazy. Hey, at least I'm honest. I've done some similar posts to this one before, and the lovely people at 8by8 Magazine asked me to write them with a little more substance. You can see my past articles here: PFA Young Player of the Season 1990-2000: Where are they now? PFA Young Player of the Season 2000-2010: Where are they now? Premier League Manager of the Season: Where are they now? 2003 RAFAEL VAN DER VAART Club (at time of winning): Ajax Position: Midfielder Age: 20 then, 32 now The winner of the inaugural Golden Boy award was a young Dutch boy from Heemskerk. At the time of winning he’d already been playing regular football for Ajax for three years, making his debut at just 17. Van der Vaart left Ajax in 2005 after a series of incidents that also sparked the sale of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, internet darling and absolute bellend, from Ajax after rumors that Zlatan had intentionally injured Van der Vaart during a Holland v Sweden game. The two were supposedly vying for the striker position at the time. Van der Vaart moved from Ajax to Hamburger SV and then on to Real Madrid for £10 million in 2008. Van der Vaart’s time at Real Madrid started well with him being nominated for the Ballon d’Or in October 2008, but the next few years were not as kind seeing him reduced to a sub for much of his career, leading him to look elsewhere. So entered Henry James Redknapp into Van der Vaart’s life. In what was actually a fantastic piece of wheeling and dealing that would make Del Boy shed a tear, Redknapp managed to snag Van der Vaart for a mear £8 million after an £18 million deal to Bayern Munich had fallen through. He even got the Premier League to allow Spurs to conduct business after the transfer window had officially closed, presumably on the grounds that it was a top, top piece of business. In his debut season Van der Vaart was both Spurs top scorer and provided the most assists. Van der Vaart currently plays for Real Betis, with injuries having plagued the later half of his career.
505 career appearances, 169 goals (0.32 goals per game)
198 Hamburger SV appearances, 66 goals
109 Netherlands caps, 25 goals
Career silverware: 2 Eredivisie titles, 1 KNVB Cup, 1 Johan Cruijff-schaal, 2 Intertoto Cups, 1 Supercopa de Espana, 2010 World Cup Runner-up.
2004 WAYNE ROONEY Club (at time of winning): Everton Position: Striker Age: 19 then, 29 now Since the last time I wrote one of these, quite a lot’s happened for Wayne. It would be easy to poke fun at him getting knocked out by Phil Bardsley in his own home, but it happened and really the knowledge alone is enough for me. No the real story is that Rooney is now England’s all-time goalscorer. What makes it more magical is that he did it the right way. You can imagine it now: It’s Liverpool 1992, a young Rooney sits with his family, huddled for warmth around a burning Ford Escort someone at the pub “found”. Wayne looks up from the rat he’d been gnawing on and says “Mam, I’m gonna be England’s top scorer me. And I’m gonna do it by scoring dodgy pennas against San Marino and Switzerland”. Brings a tear to the eye. Joking aside, the wake of Charlton’s record being broken sparked a desperate attempt by pundits to convince themselves that Rooney was in fact deserving of the record and that no-one had ever spoken ill of him. But the flurry of opinion pieces just served to highlight how sad it is that the media have made Rooney the scapegoat for so many of England’s failings over the years. Yes, he hasn’t lit up a major tournament since he was a teenager, but is it really his fault England have been so poor on the world stage? Should it really be expected that he has to be the one to get England over the line? Or should the blame be more on the FA for only producing one truly world class player in his generation and then pinning all their hopes on him?
565 career appearances, 252 goals (0.45 goals per game)
488 Manchester United appearances, 235 goals
107 England caps, 50 goals
Career silverware: 5 Premier League titles, 2 League Cups, 3 Community Shields, 1 Champions League and 1 Club World Cup.
2005 LIONEL MESSI Club (at time of winning): Barcelona Position: Forward Age: 18 then, 28 now I was torn how to approach this little bio of Messi. What can I say? You all know who he is and what he’s about (if you don’t, he’s the third most famous Lionel in the world, behind Richie and Blair). I could talk about how he might worry about how aging will affect his game but unlike other players his age he shows no signs of slowing down. I could spend the whole bio just poking fun at him, but in reality that’s kind of impossible because at the end of the day he’s Lionel Messi. He’s dodged more in tax than I can ever hope to earn, he’s short but annoyingly that just makes him better at football and worse of all he seems like a nice bloke. At least most of the great footballers have the decency to be a bit of a knob to balance it out (Maradona, Pele, looking at you lads). Undeniably the most deserving winner of the award and a footballer we are all lucky to be witnessing in his prime, Messi will undoubtedly become the impossible standard of all future Golden Boy winners. Perhaps even the anomaly that was too good at football - how many players will be built up to be “the next Messi” only to have expectation and inevitable disappointment tarnish their careers? How many already have been?
525 career appearances, 429 goals all for Barcelona (0.82 goals per game)
105 Argentina caps, 49 goals
Career silverware: 7 La Liga titles, 3 Copa del Rey, 6 Supercopa de Espana, 4 Champions Leagues, 3 UEFA Super Cup, 2 Club World Cup, 2008 Olympic Gold Medal, 2014 World Cup Runner-up, 2 Copa America Runner up.
2006 CESC FABREGAS Club (at time of winning): Arsenal Position: Midfielder Age: 19 then, 28 now It’s funny how quickly things change in football. This time last season Fabregas was lighting up the Premier League, his partnership with Costa the personification of Mourinho’s smug ability to seemingly always have one over on Wenger. Fabregas was hailed as one of the signings of the summer, his return to the Premier League in blue a masterstroke from Chelsea and a foolish missed opportunity from Arsenal. But time and football are cruel mistresses and both have taken issue with Cesc. While time is doing her best to turn Fabregas, Costa and Mou into a trio of greasy kebab shop owners, football seems to have forgotten about the three of them altogether. Chelsea currently lie 15th in the table with 8 points from 7 games and Fabregas seems to have lost his magic touch that defined the first half of every season he’s played. Although a more impressive individual display against Newcastle does suggest the skill that earned him this award may still be around it remains to be seen if the malaise that seems to have infected the Chelsea squad is temporary or indicative of a permanent shift in an aging Fabregas’ career.
509 career appearances, 105 goals (0.21 goals per game)
303 appearances for Arsenal, 57 goals.
98 Spain caps, 14 goals.
3 Catalonia caps, 0 goals.
Career silverware w/ Arsenal: 1 FA Cup, 1 Community Shield.
Career silverware w/ Barcelona: 1 La Liga title, 1 Copa del Rey, 2 Supercopa de Espanas, 1 Super Cup, 1 Club World Cup.
Career silverware w/ Chelsea: 1 Premier League title, 1 League Cup.
Also World Cup 2010 Winner, Euro 2008, 2012 Winner
2007 SERGIO AGUERO Club (at time of winning): Atletico Madrid Position: Striker Age: 19 then, 27 now Like a lot of young and talented Argentinians Sergio Aguero, along with the likes of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez, was lined up to be the “New Maradona”. This would later establish what was undoubtedly the world’s worst father-in-law/son-in-law dynamic after Aguero married Maradona’s youngest daughter in 2009. I’m not saying that’s what caused Aguero to file for divorce in 2013, but can you imagine having to suffer through having Diego Maradona as your father-in-law? I bet he has a scrapbook full of articles about how you’re not as good as him. Like so many strikers before him Aguero gained a reputation for himself in Europe at Atletico Madrid before making a big money move to the Premier League - joining Manchester City in 2011 for £35 million. In his debut year in the Premier League he quickly established himself as one of the league’s showpiece players, City’s talisman forward and a key part of Sky Sports Premier League advertising. His last minute strike against QPR has become one of the defining moments of the modern Premier League era, which due a planning masterstroke on my part I got to experience through live text updates sat outside a broken toilet on an overcrowded train from Middlesbrough to Sheffield. I’ve heard it was quite a special moment. What is strange about Aguero is that unlike most other stikers there’s just something inherently likable about him. Even Manchester United fans don’t hate him really. I mean the nickname “Kun” on his shirt is the nickname his grandparents gave him as a kid and he even has a tattoo of it in Elvish on his arm. Come on now, how can you hate a bloke who loves his Nan that much?
463 career appearances, 231 goals (0.50 goals per game)
234 Atletico Madrid appearances, 101 goals
68 Argentina caps, 32 goals
Career silverware: 1 Europa League, 1 Intertoto Cup, 1 UEFA Super Cup, 2 Premier League titles, 1 League Cup, 1 Community Shield, 1 2008 Olympic Gold Medal, 2014 World Cup Runner-up, 1 Copa America Runner-up.
2008 ANDERSON Club (at time of winning): Manchester United Position: Midfielder Age: 20 then, 27 now So I’m not really sure what happened this year. Maybe the pre-vote party got a bit heavy, maybe the England representative took the other lads out for a Nando’s, things got extra cheeky and they agreed to vote for Anderson “for the bants”. Whatever the events that led to him winning the award it seems Anderson is the only player on the list whose career didn’t quite pan out as planned. Or that’s what you’d think. Believe it or not in terms of silverware, Anderson is the second most successful Golden Boy winner of all time. Just take a moment to think about that. In a way I’m being hard on Anderson, when he won the award in 2008 he was one of the hottest and most exciting prospects in world football and was rightfully recognised for that. Anderson was fantastic for Brazil U17s; picking up the Golden Ball at the 2005 World Championship and this exceptional form is probably what helped him secure a £20 million move to Manchester United in 2007. Yet somewhere along the way something went wrong. Brought in as replacement for Keane and Scholes, during his time at United Anderson struggled to keep a grip of both the central midfield spot and his waistline. Injury and off the field insubordination left Anderson in the footballing wilderness, with United eventually washing their hands of him, taking a loss as Anderson left for Inter Internacional on a free transfer in January 2015. Sadly there doesn’t seem to be a second coming on the cards for Anderson, on his Internacional debut he missed a penalty and was substituted after only 36 minutes into his second game, uninjured but still requiring an oxygen mask.
261 career appearances, 21 goals (0.08 goals per game)
181 Manchester United appearances, 9 goals
8 Brazil caps, 0 goals.
Career silverware: 4 Premier League titles, 2 League Cups, 2 Community Shields, 1 Champions League, 1 Club World Cup, 2 Primeira Liga titles, 1 Taca de Portugal, 1 Supertaca Candido de Oliveira, 1 Campeonato Gaucho, 1 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie B title, 1 2008 Olympics Bronze Medal, 1 Copa America.
Match Thread: Nottingham Forest v Derby County [East Midlands Derby]
Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Derby County
SkyBet Championship 2015/16 Date: 06/11/2015 Venue: The City Ground Referee: Simon Hooper Kick-off: 19:30 GMT Live on SkySports 1 BBC Sport page THE BRIAN CLOUGH TROPHY IS ON THE LINE! 2015/16 Team Form Nottingham Forest LLXXLL Derby County WWDWWW Subreddits Derby County Subreddit Nottingham Forest Subreddit Team Selections Nottingham Forest: De Vries, Lichaj, Mills, Hobbs, Pinillos, Mendes, Lansbury (C), Williams , Vaughan, Ward , Oliveira Subs: Evtimov, Wilson, Trotter , Blackstock , C.Burke, Osborn , Walker Derby: Carson, Christie, Keogh, Shackell, Warnock, Thorne, Hendrick , Russell , Johnson, Weimann , Martin (C) Subs: Grant, Bryson, Bent , Baird, Butterfield , Pearce, Ince Match Events - Nottingham Forest 1 - 0 Derby County It's time for the last post before kick off. Silence observed amazingly well! KICK OFF! 1 min Yellow Card for simulation for Jonny Williams in the opening seconds! 4min GOAL FOREST!! Forest break and Nelson Oliveira takes his second chance well from the edge of the box! 9 min Derby have seized hold of the ball since falling behind with Forest looking to break 11 min Jamie Ward hits a great effort curling in at the far post but it's saved well by Carson 16 min Warnock sends a good delivery Chris Martin's way but it's defended well by Forest 21 min Jeff Hendrick gets laid off and he hits a placed shot from ranged which just scrapes the crossbar 26 min Lansbury isn't closed down well enough and lets fly with a fierce effort which narrowly misses to the left 28 min Johnny Russell finds a little space to let fly but it's right at De Vries 32 min David Vaughan goes in the book for taking down Johnny Russell 39 min It's been an intriguing half so far, Forest started well with Derby looking to control matters but looking vulnerable on the counter 40 min Carson makes a mess of it at the back and nearly gifts Forest a goal, but he gets away with it The whistle goes for half time and Nottingham Forest deservedly lead at the break No changes at the break as we are about to get under way.. KICK OFF! 50 min It's getting feisty with a few hard challenges going in, and Thorne has gone down holding his knee 56 min Derby are misplacing some simple passes out there, Keogh and now Johnson with good examples 59 min Jamie Ward's had a decent hour, to be replaced by last time's winner Ben Osborn 64 min Jeff Hendrick comes off for Tom Ince who makes his return from injury 66 min Pinillos strolls into the box and plays a great ball which is somehow turned away by Stephen Warnock at the back post! 69 min Chris Martin lines up a perfectly positioned free kick, but sends it over the Forest goal 69 min Trotter comes on for the impressive Jonny Williams 72 min Yellow for the goalscorer Oliveira for a cynical foul 73 min Butterfield comes on for Russell who's not been as effective as usual 77 min A good bit of interplay by Osborn and Oliveira nearly creates a golden opportunity in the Derby box 79 min Derby make their final change as Darren Bent comes on for Weimann 82 min Entering the final minutes Derby are chasing a point, but Forest look far more likely to hold on 83 min Forest look the more likely to score too! It nearly falls to Mendes, but it is narrowly defended 83 min Christie goes in the book for a really poor challenge 87 min Derby have their first effort on target, it's a good header from Bent but far too far out and little power on it 88 min Goalscorer Nelson Oliveira comes off to applause, with Dexter Blackstock taking his place for the final minutes 91 min Derby clock up back to back corners as they desperately chase an equaliser 93 min Into the last minute of added time, and Derby look out of ideas 94 min - FULL TIME! Nottingham Forest hold onto their early goal, and in the end they could've scored more. Derby looked short in the final third by a long way, and Forest deserved all 3 points.
Match Information - Brentford v Derby County SkyBet Championship 2014/15
Date: 01/11/2014
Venue: Griffin Park, London (Away)
Capacity: 12,763
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Five Previous Meetings Derby 5 - 0 Brentford 27/08/2013 Capital One Cup Brentford 1 - 0 Derby 04/01/2003 FA Cup Derby 3 - 2 Brentford 10/04/1993 League Division 1 Derby 1 - 2 Brentford 04/02/1993 Anglo-Italian Cup Brentford 3 - 4 Derby 27/01/1993 Anglo-Italian Cup
2014/15 Form
Derby WDWWLW Brentford WLWDDL
Previous Fixtures
Fulham 2 - 5 Derby Bolton 3 - 1 Brentford Top Goalscorers Derby: Chris Martin (11) Brentford: 3 Players (3)
pre-match - Interesting squad selections are Buxton returning to league starting line-up, Hendrick and Mascarell keep their places ahead of Hughes and Eustace and Dawkins retains his place ahead of Jordon Ibe
0 min - KICK OFF
6 min - Derby have the first chance of the game, as Simon Dawkins hits the side netting
15 min - Martin is laid off in the box by Russell, but Brentford clear as Martin can't quite get his shot away
27 min - GOAL DERBY!! Chris Martin adds another to his impressive tally, in off the post from a Forsyth cross
36 min - A swift Brentford counter nearly finds an equalsier for the home team, but Toral's effort drifts wide of the Derby goal
42 min - a Brentford corner causes some problems for Derby, but Jake Buxton manages to head clear
45 min - 1 minute of added time
45 min (+1) - HALF TIME Derby lead by a single Chris Martin goal!
46 min - KICK OFF
49 min - GOAL BRENTFORD!! Andre Gray curls one home to become Brentford's outright leading scorer, coming from a good counter attack
53 min - Brentford have come out flying in the second half, and look even more encouraged by their equaliser
54 min - Yellow Card for Jake Buxton (Derby)
57 min - SUB DERBY Bryson off Hughes on
59 min - Yellow Card for Simon Dawkins (Derby)
62 min - SUB DERBY Dawkins off Ibe on
65 min - SUB BRENTFORD Toral off Jota off Dallas on Pritchard on
69 min - Gray goes close to netting another for Brentford, as the game hangs firmly in the balance
69 min - Derby counter well and Ibe forces a good save from the Brentford keeper
75 min - SUB BRENTFORD The goalscorer Gray is replaced by Proschwitz
78 min - SUB DERBY Russell off Coutts on
82 min - Yellow Card for Chris Martin (Derby)
89 min - Not much time left, and not too many clear cut chances as the game nears its end
90 min - 5 minutes of added time
90 min (+3)- GOAL BRENTFORD!! Dallas curls a strike into the top corner, and must have sealed all three points for the home side
90 min (+7) - FULL TIME - BRENTFORD 2 - 1 DERBY! BRENTFORD KNICK A VITAL GOAL AT THE DEATH TO SEAL A HARD EARNED VICTORY
Match Information - Fulham v Derby County SkyBet Championship 2014/15
Date: 28/02/2015
Venue: Craven Cottage, London
Capacity: 25,700
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Five Previous Meetings Fulham 2 - 5 Derby 28/10/2015 Capital One Cup Derby 5 - 1 Fulham 23/08/2014 Championship Derby 2 - 2 Fulham 29/03/2008 Premier League Fulham 0 - 0 Derby 20/10/2007 Premier League Fulham 4 - 2 Derby A.E.T 12/02/2005 FA Cup
2014/15 Season Form
Derby WXLXWW Fulham LXLLDL
Previous Fixtures
Derby 3 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday Wolves 3 - 0 Fulham Top Goalscorers Derby: Chris Martin (19) Fulham: Ross McCormack (12) Talking Points
Derby have faced Fulham twice this season, and on both occasions the Rams put 5 past tomorrow's hosts
George Thorne remains fit after returning from his lengthy spell on the sidelines, and is likely to start once more tomorrow afternoon
Derby currently sit top of the league and have won their last two games. Fulham are without a win in their last 6, and would have to upset the form books in order to claim all 3 points tomorrow
Top scorer Chris Martin remains on the sidelines for the Rams, and Darren Bent is certain to keep his place leading the line. Tom Ince and Jesse Lingard will also think they have done enough to keep their places.
5 min - Early controversy as Nottingham Forest have a good shout for a penalty, the referee not interested but it certainly looked a foul by Buxton
14 min - After an early good start by Forest, Derby have picked up and started to bit of pressure on their rivals
16 min - GOAL DERBY!! It's an own goal for Henri Lansbury from a corner!
20 min - Jamie Ward has a good long range effort, which is saved well by De Vries, out for a corner
21 min - Yellow Card for Jamie Ward (Derby) for preventing a counter attack with a silly foul
27 min - Johnny Russell runs well at the defence of Forest, but Lichaj makes agood challenge for Derby's 7th corner
28 min - It falls for Chris Martin in the box, but there's no pace on the ball and he can only nod it goalwards tamely
30 min - Yellow Card for Kelvin Wilson (Forest) for a high arm on Martin
35 min - Yellow Card for Gary Gardner (Forest) for a hard foul on Craig Bryson
39 min - Derby counter well but the Forest defence crowd Russell out, and clear comfortably
43 min - Another good long range effort for Derby through Will Hughes goes wide
45 min - Antonio gets behind inside the box for Forest, but Jake Buxton covers and gets the ball out for a corner
45 min (+2) - Assombalonga has an excellent long range effort out of the blue, and it is just a shade too high of goal
45 min (+2) - HALF TIME - Derby 1 - 0 up at the break, but it's all to play for still!
46 min - SUB DERBY Will Hughes is replaced by Jeff Hendrick, after looking to carry a niggle in the first half
46 min - KICK OFF!
51 min - The second half hasn't quite settled down yet, with Derby looking to establish good passing play
56 min - Forest building some pressure on Derby, having grown into the second half
57 min - It looked like a foul on Lee Grant, but Antonio has a shot on goal with the keeper out of his net following a corner kick, but it's blocked well
63 min - Nottingham Forest have really stepped up their efforts in the second half, and look the better side at present
65 min - Jamie Ward bursts forward down the left flank, and is unlucky not to get a ball into the box, good defending by Hobbs for Forest
68 min - Another penalty appeal for Forest, as the ball appears to hit Forsyth's arm in the box, but the defender was turning and had his arms close to his body, would've been harsh
72 min - Another Forest corner causes Derby problems, as Lee Grant gets nowhere near the ball
73 min - Yellow Card for Omar Mascarell (Derby) for persistent fouling it seems
74 min - GOAL NOTT'M FOREST!! The resulting free-kick is scrappily turned him by Britt Assombalonga
74 min - SUB DERBY Jamie Ward is replaced by Darren Bent, who makes his debut
80 min - SUB NOTT'M FOREST Antonio is replaced by McLaughlin
84 min - Derby have improved since conceding, but Forest also looking a danger. It's all in the balance going into the closing stages
90 min (+1) - GOAL NOTT'M FOREST!! Osborn leads a counter, after the ball is given away cheaply, and smashes it home!
90 min (+3) - Surely the last chance for Derby, as Russell puts it wide in the box following a set piece
90 min (+4) - FULL TIME! FOREST OVERTURN A FIRST HALF DEFICIT TO UPSET THE IN FORM DERBY COUNTY! DERBY 1 - 2 NOTTINGHAM FORST
6 min - Yellow Card for Ben Watson (Watford) early on
10 min - Derby have dominated the opening exhanges, seeing the vast majority of the ball
14 min - A training ground corner results in a Bent shot being saved by Gomes, hitting the post and going out for another corner
20 min - Watford are growing into the game, and have seen a good share of play in the Derby half in the last 10 minutes
22 min - GOAL WATFORD!! Terrible Derby defending gifts Vydra a golden chance, and he tucks it away. Watford lead.
27 min - SUB DERBY George Thorne is replaced by Jeff Hendrick through injury
39 min - Derby have been unable to unlock the Watford defence, and the Hornets look content to try to pick Derby off on the break
42 min - Richard Keogh plays a wonderful through pass to Darren Bent, who can't capitalize
44 min - PENALTY DERBY! Marco Motta brings down Johnny Russell in the area and it's a penalty!
44 min - RED CARD WATFORD!! Motta sees red for his challenge!
45 min - GOAL DERBY!! Darren Bent thunders the ball home, and we are level heading into half time!
45 min (+2) - HALF TIME
46 min - SUB DERBY Christie is replaced by Lingard
46 min - SUB WATFORD Goalscorer Vydra is off, and Tozser is on
46 min - KICK OFF
48 min - Lingard and Ince link up and it nearly results in an own goal off Cathcart
54 min - It's been an interesting opening to the second half, with Derby trying to find their second, and Watford looking a danger still on the counter
57 min - GOAL DERBY!! Tom Ince uses his quick feet, and gets a bit of luck, and finds the far corner of the Watford goal
64 min - Troy Deeney is booked for a needless foul on Ryan Shotton
67 min - Derby break and Jesse Lingard has plenty of space in the box, but his shot is blocked and it comes to nothing
72 min - A small deflection prevents Tom Ince from breaking clear for a one on one opportunity, 2 - 1 it remains
75 min - GOAL WATFORD!! An inch perfect pass finds Odion Ighalo, who makes no mistake and levels the match
75 min - SUB DERBY Bryson off for Chris Martin to make his return
76 min - Within seconds of coming on, Chris Martin almost finds an assist as he sets Bent free, whose shot is saved well by Gomes in the Watford goal
77 min - SUB WATFORD Ighalo off Connolly on
90 min - It's all attack for Derby in the closing minutes, desperate to find a winner, but it looks unlikely
90 min - FULL TIME! IT'S A DRAW FOR DERBY COUNTY, WHICH FEELS LIKE A DEFEAT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
7 min - Derby start the game controlling the play, seeing nearly all of the ball in the opening few minutes
19 min - GOAL SHEFF' WEDNESDAY!! Lewis McGugan finds the net for the away side, from a good set piece
30 min - Derby still seeing plenty of the ball, but creating nothing clearcut yet, with Wednesday likely to be content to sit back and defend
45 min - HALF TIME! Derby will need to come from behind if they want to win and enter the promotion places
46 min - KICK OFF
47 min - GOAL DERBY!! George Thorne grabs an assist on his return! His cross following a corner is met by Jake Buxton who equalises early in the half for the Rams!
50 min - Yellow card for Sam Hutchinson
55 min - GOAL SHEFF' WEDNESDAY!! Will Keane finds the bottom corner of the net and Wednesday are back in front already
62 min - DOUBLE SUB DERBY Thorne off Dawkins off Lingard on Bryson on
68 min - GOAL DERBY!! Jake Buxton grabs a second for the Rams in similar fashion, with Bryson supplying the cross
75 min - RED CARD FOR KEIRAN WESTWOOD AND PENALTY TO DERBY!!
77 min - GOAL DERBY!! Darren Bent finds the net and Derby take the lead against ten men!
90 min - FULL TIME - DERBY COME FROM BEHIND TO TOP THE CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE!
Match Information - Derby County 5 - 1 Fulham SkyBet Championship 2014/15
Date: 23/08/2014
Venue: The iPro Stadium, Derby (Home)
Capacity: 33,597
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Five Previous Meetings Derby 2 - 2 Fulham 29/03/2008 Premier League Fulham 0 - 0 Derby 20/10/2007 Premier League Fulham 4 - 2 Derby A.E.T 12/02/2005 FA Cup Derby 1 - 1 Fulham 29/01/2005 FA Cup Derby 0 - 1 Fulham 02/01/2002 Premier League
2014/15 Season Form
Derby WWDL Fulham LLL
Previous Fixtures
Charlton 3 - 2 Derby Fulham 0 - 1 Wolves Preview Three games into the 2014/15 SkyBet Championship finds two pre-season promotion contenders much lower in the table than they would've hoped. Last season's flamboyant top goalscorers Derby County have so far struggled to recapture some of last season's magic, and fans will soon begin to worry should the wait for a convincing league victory go on. On Saturday, they host relegated Premier League mainstays Fulham who had hoped for a quick return to the top flight. However, Felix Magath's men have so far failed to notch a single point, losing their opening three fixtures by a single goal on each occasion. Despite spending huge money on proven goalscorer Ross McCormack, Fulham have so far found the net on just one occasion, with their only goal coming from defender Tim Hoogland. Fans will then surely worry about the proposition of travelling to Derby to face a side who have kept two clean sheets in their opening three fixtures. Indeed, previous to their midweek game against Charlton, it was a sturdy defence that described the Rams' opening to the season - far from the swashbuckling antics throughout the back half of the last campaign. Although they have showed glimpses of their hidden quality, the home crowd will hope for a convincing victory full of flair and pace to lift spirits. Unfortunately for fans of both sides, history suggests that a draw may be the likely result with the last four contests between Derby and the Cottagers resulting in a draw after 90 minutes, including two during Derby's most recent run in the Premier League. Steve McClaren's Derby enter the game as favourites, however that tag may be beginning to weigh heavily on some of the younger player's in his squad, with the likes of Will Hughes perhaps dropping to the bench in favour of the more experienced John Eustace, or more cultured Omar Mascarell, after having an unconvincing start to the season in front of the back four. A win for both sides could be vital in restarting their season and begin the charge up the table, with sights set on the coveted automatic promotion spots and a return to the Barclays Premier League. Whilst failure may signal a wake up call to the reality that the SkyBet Championship may be the most competitive league in the world, and one not easily escaped. Team News Derby County
One or two changes must surely be made to the Rams' starting 11, after picking up just one point from their last two games
Recalls to the starting line-up possible for Johnny Russell, Leon Best and John Eustace
No fresh injury concerns for Steve McClaren leaves him with a wealth of options in attack and midfield
Fulham
Felix Magath made five changes ahead of the Cottager's last game against Wolves, however the result remained the same. More changes can be expected as he struggles to find his best 11
The few guarenteed starters include big money man Ross McCormack, captain Scott Parker and goalkeeper Jesse Joronen
Three different formations have been used in Fulham's opening three games, however it is likely that a line up will be selected in order to suppress Derby's width
Top Goalscorers Derby: Jeff Hendrick / Jamie Ward (2) Charlton: Tim Hoogland (1)
23 min - GOAL DERBY! Jamie Ward's 3rd in the last 2!
28 min - Mostly Derby so far, with Fulham struggling to get any real possession in the Rams' half
31 min - Dangerous ball into the box by Fulham from a free kick, put out for a corner well by Christie
34 min - Fulham starting to get on the ball more, with a few corners building up
37 min - Ross McCormack spots Grant off his line and tries and audacious long range effort, dealt with by Grant but Fulham's best effort so far
41 min - Complete switch in momentum now as Fulham have had much of the play for the last 10 minutes
41 min - Derby counter up the pitch and earn a pair of corners, relieving some pressure in the process
45 min (+1) - A foul on Russell by Kavanagh earns Derby a free kick in their own half which should be the last kick of the first half
HALF TIME Ross McCormack and Scott Parker the two stand outs for Fulham for me, with McCormack often going deep to get involved. We looked a lot stronger for the majority of the half, but Fulham finished the stronger and Derby will hope to start the second as they began the first. As for the Rams, John Eustace has provided a good stable base to build from, and is staking his place well to start reguarly. KICK OFF
50 min - An interestingly worked free kick for Derby results in a good ball in by Jamie Ward which is headed over by Keogh
52 min - Eustace intercepts in the middle and feeds the ball to Johnny Russell who blazes over the bar, Derby looking bright though
53 min - GOAL FULHAM! Scott Parker
53 min - A free kick smashed straight into the wall eventually finds its way to Scott Parker who slots a placed shot inside the post and into the Derby County net
55 min - A great worked move by Derby County ends with a great ball across the box by Jeff Hendrick, and Chris Martin skies the ball over an empty net!
57 min - Derby really in the ascendancy after conceding, looking much the more likely to take the lead again
59 min - GOAL DERBY! Craig Bryson
59 min - Another fluid move by the Rams going forward is met by a neat cushioned volley by Craig Bryson from close range
60 min - Substitute Fulham Stafylidis Off Kacaniklic On
61 min - GOAL DERBY! Chris Martin
61 min - It's all going on now! Real end to end stuff as Chris Martin finds some space in the box and slots the ball into the corner of the net
66 min - Substitute Fulham Hoogland Off Voser On
68 min - The game has calmed down somewhat after a frantic 10 minutes following the Fulham goal, and Ross McCormack has gone down with a head injury
72 min - Attendance is 26, 577
76 min - Still no substitutes for Derby, I'd like to see one or two fresh legs on to secure the 3 points
76 min - Jamie Ward has been fantastic today, and puts another good ball into the box
80 min - Final Sub for Fulham Roberts Off Eisfeld On
81 min - The link-up play for Fulham just doesn't seem to be quite there today, with one-twos not finding their mark by small margins
82 min - Substitute Derby Russell Off Dawkins On
83 min - Substitute Derby Bryson Off Hughes On
87 min - GOAL DERBY! Chris Martin
87 min - The two substitutes combine as Hughes frees Simon Dawkins who hits the post with the rebound falling kindly for Chris Martin
88 min - GOAL DERBY! Simon Dawkins
88 min - Hughes AGAIN frees Simon Dawkins who this time slots home
90 min - Final Sub for Derby Ward Off Best On
90 min (+1) - It's Olé time now for Derby, who are happy to see out their first big win of the season!
FULL TIME It's a fourth straight defeat for Fulham, and Derby finally notch up a string of goals and claim their first emphatic win of the season. BBC Report http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28815106
Match Preview for tomorrow's East Midlands derby between Nottingham Forest and Derby County
Match Information - (2nd) Derby County v Nottingham Forest (13th) SkyBet Championship 2014/15
Date: 17/01/2015
Venue: The iPro Stadium, Derby
Capacity: 33,597
Kick-off: 12:15 GMT
LIVE ON SKYSPORTS 1 HD FROM 12:00 GMT
Five Previous Meetings Derby County hold the Brian Clough Trophy Forest 1 - 1 Derby 14/09/2014 Championship Derby 5 - 0 Forest 22/03/2014 Championship Forest 1 - 0 Derby 28/09/2013 Championship Derby 1 - 1 Forest 19/01/2013 Championship Forest 0 - 1 Derby 30/09/2012 Championship
2014/15 Season Form
Derby LDWWWW Forest DDLLLL
Previous Fixtures
Ipswich 0 - 1 Derby Forest 0 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday Preview Two teams of contrasting form enter their most anticipated fixture of the season tomorrow ahead of the 3pm kick-offs. Derby County have notched up 4 wins in a row, including 3 in the league, whilst fierce rivals Nottingham Forest are without a win since November, and find themselves mid-table. Derby County claimed a hard-fought victory over promotion rivals Ipswich Town last weekend, and sit inside the automatic promotion places. Things are incredibly tight up there and only another win is likely to see them remain so, and what better time than against the old enemy Nottingham Forest. Forest, meanwhile, had started the season on fire under new management in Stuart Pearce, and were in fact top of the league the last time the two played at the City Ground back in September. Forest took the lead through a Britt Assombalonga strike, but had to settle for a point on that occasion after an equaliser was bundled home by the Rams. After that game there was a strong feeling of optimism in the Nottingham Forest camp, still unbeaten in the league, and a 1 - 1 draw was a vast improvement on the 5 - 0 annihilation that still haunts the mind from the back half of the previous campaign. That came on Derby soil, as tomorrow's fixture will, with a rampant Derby charging towards the playoffs. This time Derby do not have playoff ambitions in their sights, but rather the top spot of the SkyBet Championship table. A win over the Reds would see them atop the table, whilst also retaining the Brian Clough Trophy, a poignant symbol of the bragging rights that are to follow. However, form goes out the window in this type of game, and every soul inside the stadium will be motivated and ready to compete in the occasion. A win for Nottingham Forest win would come at a time when a win is desperately needed, with the added spice of denting their old rivals' promotion dreams, and avenging the 5 - 0 from last year. Derby, of course, remain the favourites at home and against a side struggling for form and confidence. Steve McClaren's side also have an incredible record against Forest at home, losing only once since 1994. The atmosphere will be incredible as always, and both sets of fans and players know that a win would provide a huge boost for their respective seasons. I will be doing a Match Thread starting at approximately midday at /DerbyCounty ! Come join in the excitement! Team News Derby County
Jordon Ibe has been recalled back to his parent club Liverpool, and so will be unable to take part in this important clash at the iPro Stadium.
New signing Raul Albentosa is unlikely to feature, given he arrived the day before the game, but such an important signing, especially fending off interest from top division clubs, will only be good for the feeling in the dressing room.
Fellow new signings Stephen Warnock, and Isak Ssewankambo are not expected to feature, having also only recently arrived.
Experienced midfielder John Eustace is out through a knee operation, so will not feature.
Nottingham Forest
Top scorer Britt Assombalonga is facing a race for fitness after a hip injury, and boss Stuart Pearce will be desperate to have him on the pitch - though has admitted it is unlikely he will be available.
Andy Reid has also been suggested to be losing a battle with fitness, and as such is also unlikely to be available.
Henri Lansbury is available for selection, but there are further injuries to Michael Mancienne, Matty Fryatt.
Dexter Blackstock and Danny Fox are unlikely to start but may find a position on the bench.
Top Goalscorers Derby: Chris Martin (18) Nottingham Forest: Britt Assombalonga (13)
pre-match: Hendrick and Buxton on the bench as Hughes and Whitbread keep their places
0 min - KICK OFF
2 min - The first attempt goes to Reading as Simon Cox heads over from close range
6 min - Derby get their first corner of the game, which comes to nothing
10 min - Reading have started the brighter, but besides Simon Cox's early header nothing concrete as of yet
14 min - The lively start continues with both sides looking a threat going forward
18 min - GOAL DERBY!! Chris Martin grabs his 8th of the season from a Jamie Ward corner
25 min - Derby looking a lot more comfortable following the goal, drawing quite a few fouls from Reading
30 min - Reading have regained their footing, and probably should have scored as Grant spilled a shot to Robson-Kanu but the follow up went straight into Grant's arms
34 min - Reading go very close as Glenn Murray has a header cannon off the bar!
37 min - GOAL DERBY!! Jordon Ibe with a great goal! Showing why Liverpool rate him so highly!
42 min - SUB DERBY Johnny Russell replaces Jamie Ward, who goes off with an injury
43 min - Yellow Card for Michael Hector (Reading)
44 min - Yellow Card for Zak Whitbread (Derby)
45 min (+2) - Hal Robson-Kanu has a header saved in the top-right corner by Lee Grant in the Derby goal
45 min (+5) - HALF TIME Derby lead by 2 goals to nil
46 min - KICK OFF
46 min - SUB DERBY Shotton replaces Keogh at half time who appears to have picked up a knock
50 min - Chris Martin has an effort following a corner but sends it over the top left corner
52 min - Jamie Mackie robs Jordon Ibe on the edge of the Derby box but Zak Whitbread is there to clean up
57 min - Derby seem happy to allow Reading to try to break them down, feeling their 2 - 0 lead is comfortable enough
59 min - Reading find some room in the box but the eventual shot is headed very wide and Derby defend
62 min - Jordon Ibe has a moment of rashness, just about keeping his cool and escapes a booking
65 min - Yellow Card for Cyrus Christie for time wasting and throwing the ball away
68 min - Yellow Card for John Eustace who makes a poor lunging challenge
69 min - TRIPLE SUB READING Norwood, Mackie, Robson-Kanu OFF - Kuhl, Pogrebnyak, Blackman ON
72 min - Whitbread makes a clumsy challenge and may be lucky to avoid a second yellow
74 min - A good save by grant comes out to Pogrebnyak at very close range who only finds the side netting! Let off for Derby!
74 min - SUB DERBY Bryson is replaced by Jeff Hendrick who provided the late assist for Ireland against Germany midweek
76 min - Massive pressure building on the Derby defence as Grant is forced into a double save from a corner
77 min - Yellow Card for Will Hughes
79 min - GOAL DERBY!! Derby finally break from all the pressure, and Chris Martin's strength and composed finish gives Derby their third!
84 min - Yellow Card for Jordan Obita (Reading)
89 min - Derby win a free kick in a dangerous area, but are probably going to run the clock down
90 min - There are 4 minutes of added time, but the result isn't in doubt
90 min (+3) - Derby should've made it 4 as Ibe and Martin break, if Ibe had've followed up his run there would have been a tap in
90 min (+4) - FULL TIME! Reading 0 - 3 Derby County
PROMOTION UPDATE - Bournemouth take the lead against Cardiff
20 min - Middlesbrough are seeing more of the ball in the opening 20 minutes, and have had two efforts on target
40 min - Derby have grown into the game, and have retained more possession, but have yet to register a shot on target
45 min - HALF TIME
46 min - KICK OFF
50 min - Jelle Vossen and Cyrus Christie go in the book
PROMOTION UPDATE - Watford take the lead away at Wigan
56 min - Yellow card for Will Hughes
60 min - Yellow card for Craig Bryson
62 min - Yellow card for Adam Clayton
64 min - GOAL MIDDLESBROUGH!! Patrick Bamford continues his goalscoring form, and haunts his former loan club
69 min - DOUBLE SUB DERBY Hanson off Ward off Hendrick on Lingard on
PROMOTION UPDATE - Bournemouth, Brentford and Norwich are drawing, Watford lead
74 min - SUB DERBY Christie off Thomas on
80 min - SUB MIDDLESBROUGH Adam Forshaw on for Jelle Vossen
PROMOTION UPDATE - Brentford and Ipswich both winning
85 min - SUB MIDDLESBROUGH Tomlin off Reach on
90 min - SUB MIDDLESBROUGH Nsue Lopez replaces Adomah
90 min - Running out of time now, Derby have only just registered their first shot on target
90 min (+4) - Corner middlesbrough, and that must be it...
90 min - FULL TIME! Middlesbrough claim an important win, and make a huge step towards automatic promotion! Derby without a win in 5 now. What a time to go out of form.
Match Preview for tomorrow's East Midlands derby between Derby County and Nottingham Forest
Match Information - (2nd) Derby County v Nottingham Forest (13th) SkyBet Championship 2014/15
Date: 17/01/2015
Venue: The iPro Stadium, Derby
Capacity: 33,597
Kick-off: 12:15 GMT
LIVE ON SKYSPORTS 1 HD FROM 12:00 GMT
Five Previous Meetings Derby County hold the Brian Clough Trophy Forest 1 - 1 Derby 14/09/2014 Championship Derby 5 - 0 Forest 22/03/2014 Championship Forest 1 - 0 Derby 28/09/2013 Championship Derby 1 - 1 Forest 19/01/2013 Championship Forest 0 - 1 Derby 30/09/2012 Championship
2014/15 Season Form
Derby LDWWWW Forest DDLLLL
Previous Fixtures
Ipswich 0 - 1 Derby Forest 0 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday Preview Two teams of contrasting form enter their most anticipated fixture of the season tomorrow ahead of the 3pm kick-offs. Derby County have notched up 4 wins in a row, including 3 in the league, whilst fierce rivals Nottingham Forest are without a win since November, and find themselves mid-table. Derby County claimed a hard-fought victory over promotion rivals Ipswich Town last weekend, and sit inside the automatic promotion places. Things are incredibly tight up there and only another win is likely to see them remain so, and what better time than against the old enemy Nottingham Forest. Forest, meanwhile, had started the season on fire under new management in Stuart Pearce, and were in fact top of the league the last time the two played at the City Ground back in September. Forest took the lead through a Britt Assombalonga strike, but had to settle for a point on that occasion after an equaliser was bundled home by the Rams. After that game there was a strong feeling of optimism in the Nottingham Forest camp, still unbeaten in the league, and a 1 - 1 draw was a vast improvement on the 5 - 0 annihilation that still haunts the mind from the back half of the previous campaign. That came on Derby soil, as tomorrow's fixture will, with a rampant Derby charging towards the playoffs. This time Derby do not have playoff ambitions in their sights, but rather the top spot of the SkyBet Championship table. A win over the Reds would see them atop the table, whilst also retaining the Brian Clough Trophy, a poignant symbol of the bragging rights that are to follow. However, form goes out the window in this type of game, and every soul inside the stadium will be motivated and ready to compete in the occasion. A win for Nottingham Forest win would come at a time when a win is desperately needed, with the added spice of denting their old rivals' promotion dreams, and avenging the 5 - 0 from last year. Derby, of course, remain the favourites at home and against a side struggling for form and confidence. Steve McClaren's side also have an incredible record against Forest at home, losing only once since 1994. The atmosphere will be incredible as always, and both sets of fans and players know that a win would provide a huge boost for their respective seasons. I will be doing a Match Thread starting at approximately midday at /DerbyCounty ! Come join in the excitement! Team News Derby County
Jordon Ibe has been recalled back to his parent club Liverpool, and so will be unable to take part in this important clash at the iPro Stadium.
New signing Raul Albentosa is unlikely to feature, given he arrived the day before the game, but such an important signing, especially fending off interest from top division clubs, will only be good for the feeling in the dressing room.
Fellow new signings Stephen Warnock, and Isak Ssewankambo are not expected to feature, having also only recently arrived.
Experienced midfielder John Eustace is out through a knee operation, so will not feature.
Nottingham Forest
Top scorer Britt Assombalonga is facing a race for fitness after a hip injury, and boss Stuart Pearce will be desperate to have him on the pitch - though has admitted it is unlikely he will be available.
Andy Reid has also been suggested to be losing a battle with fitness, and as such is also unlikely to be available.
Henri Lansbury is available for selection, but there are further injuries to Michael Mancienne, Matty Fryatt.
Dexter Blackstock and Danny Fox are unlikely to start but may find a position on the bench.
Top Goalscorers Derby: Chris Martin (18) Nottingham Forest: Britt Assombalonga (13)
Blackburn 2 - 3 Derby Cardiff 0 - 1 Middlesbrough Preview Tomorrow Managerless Cardiff City will travel to the iPro Stadium to face a Derby County side that is unbeaten in the last 5 outings, and off the back of a great performance away to Blackburn midweek. The "Bluebirds" enter on a run of two straight defeats already in a week, and will want to avoid adding a third against a Rams side showing signs of improvement. Meanwhile, Cardiff fans will be hoping that the removal of former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will bring a positive reaction from the players, rather than condemn them to another defeat. Welsh defender Danny Gabbidon, alongside Scott Young, will lead Vincent Tan's Cardiff out Saturday afternoon - and he may even include himself in the starting 11! Jamie Ward has had a sparkling start to the season, and netted twice on Wednesday to bring a much welcome three points back to Derby. He seems increasingly likely to be amongst those first named on the team sheet, and tomorrow's fixture is unlikely to be any different. The Northern Ireland international is now the Rams' top scorer with 5 goals in all competitions. Derby boss Steve McClaren's biggest decisions are in terms of his back four, with Jake Buxton available following suspension, Zak Whitbread vying to keep his place and the battle between Ryan Shotton and Cyrus Christie for the one starting place at right back seemingly ongoing. As this season starts to get into gear, it is becoming increasingly more important for the likes of Derby and Cardiff to pick up three points regularly if they are to live up to their pre-season billings. A win for Derby would most likely put them right into the mix - condemning Cardiff to a slide further down the table in the process. However, the opposite could do wonders for the Bluebirds following their managerial change, and spark a leap up the table the likes of which are seen every season in the SkyBet Championship. Team News Derby County
Jamie Ward was key last time out, so will surely keep his place
Jake Buxton is back in the frame following suspension and will look to force his mighty frame back into the side
Jeff Hendrick remains injured for a few weeks still
Steve McClaren is fond of rotating his talenting squad, so it is unlikely we will see the same starting 11
Shotton or Christie?
Cardiff City
Caretaker manager Danny Gabbidon to lead the team out himself?
The likes of Sean Morrison, Magnus Eikrem and Guido Burgstaller could see some action after not featuring last time out under old boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Former Manchester United man Fabio da Silva has a muscle problem which will be assessed ahead of the game
Craig Noone and Kagisho Dikgacoi are looking to return from injury but this fixture might be one too soon, may see them off the bench
Top Goalscorers Derby: Jamie Ward (5) Cardiff City: Kenwyne Jones (4) Talking Points
Is this a must win to state our intentions?
Christie or Shotton or Christie or Shotton or Christie? Christie?
Match Information - (2nd) Derby County v Nottingham Forest (13th) SkyBet Championship 2014/15
Date: 17/01/2015
Venue: The iPro Stadium, Derby
Capacity: 33,597
Kick-off: 12:15 GMT
LIVE ON SKYSPORTS 1 HD FROM 12:00 GMT
Five Previous Meetings Derby County hold the Brian Clough Trophy Forest 1 - 1 Derby 14/09/2014 Championship Derby 5 - 0 Forest 22/03/2014 Championship Forest 1 - 0 Derby 28/09/2013 Championship Derby 1 - 1 Forest 19/01/2013 Championship Forest 0 - 1 Derby 30/09/2012 Championship
2014/15 Season Form
Derby LDWWWW Forest DDLLLL
Previous Fixtures
Ipswich 0 - 1 Derby Forest 0 - 2 Sheffield Wednesday Preview Two teams of contrasting form enter their most anticipated fixture of the season tomorrow ahead of the 3pm kick-offs. Derby County have notched up 4 wins in a row, including 3 in the league, whilst fierce rivals Nottingham Forest are without a win since November, and find themselves mid-table. Derby County claimed a hard-fought victory over promotion rivals Ipswich Town last weekend, and sit inside the automatic promotion places. Things are incredibly tight up there and only another win is likely to see them remain so, and what better time than against the old enemy Nottingham Forest. Forest, meanwhile, had started the season on fire under new management in Stuart Pearce, and were in fact top of the league the last time the two played at the City Ground back in September. Forest took the lead through a Britt Assombalonga strike, but had to settle for a point on that occasion after an equaliser was bundled home by the Rams. After that game there was a strong feeling of optimism in the Nottingham Forest camp, still unbeaten in the league, and a 1 - 1 draw was a vast improvement on the 5 - 0 annihilation that still haunts the mind from the back half of the previous campaign. That came on Derby soil, as tomorrow's fixture will, with a rampant Derby charging towards the playoffs. This time Derby do not have playoff ambitions in their sights, but rather the top spot of the SkyBet Championship table. A win over the Reds would see them atop the table, whilst also retaining the Brian Clough Trophy, a poignant symbol of the bragging rights that are to follow. However, form goes out the window in this type of game, and every soul inside the stadium will be motivated and ready to compete in the occasion. A win for Nottingham Forest win would come at a time when a win is desperately needed, with the added spice of denting their old rivals' promotion dreams, and avenging the 5 - 0 from last year. Derby, of course, remain the favourites at home and against a side struggling for form and confidence. Steve McClaren's side also have an incredible record against Forest at home, losing only once since 1994. The atmosphere will be incredible as always, and both sets of fans and players know that a win would provide a huge boost for their respective seasons. I will be doing a Match Thread starting at approximately midday at /DerbyCounty ! Come join in the excitement! Team News Derby County
Jordon Ibe has been recalled back to his parent club Liverpool, and so will be unable to take part in this important clash at the iPro Stadium.
New signing Raul Albentosa is unlikely to feature, given he arrived the day before the game, but such an important signing, especially fending off interest from top division clubs, will only be good for the feeling in the dressing room.
Fellow new signings Stephen Warnock, and Isak Ssewankambo are not expected to feature, having also only recently arrived.
Experienced midfielder John Eustace is out through a knee operation, so will not feature.
Nottingham Forest
Top scorer Britt Assombalonga is facing a race for fitness after a hip injury, and boss Stuart Pearce will be desperate to have him on the pitch - though has admitted it is unlikely he will be available.
Andy Reid has also been suggested to be losing a battle with fitness, and as such is also unlikely to be available.
Henri Lansbury is available for selection, but there are further injuries to Michael Mancienne, Matty Fryatt.
Dexter Blackstock and Danny Fox are unlikely to start but may find a position on the bench.
Top Goalscorers Derby: Chris Martin (18) Nottingham Forest: Britt Assombalonga (13) Talking Points
Lineup Predictions?
Forest can't seem to buy a win lately, but will they show up tomorrow and upset Derby?
The /r/Championship Fan Choice Award Winners [August - Mid-October]
It's time to see who /Championship chose as their winners and Spooners the first (and hopefully not last) /Championship Fan Choice Awards! After the Nomination Round and the Final Round, these are the winners. Best Goalkeeper - WINNER:Manuel Almunia (Watford) [26.3%] The 36 year old Spaniard proved his faithfulness to Watford recently by snubbing La Liga legends Valencia, claiming he was staying at Vicerage Road to "finish the job" from their unfortunate play-off defeat. A known face of English football for almost ten years, he's the recipient of the first ever /Championship fan choice award. (If you're reading this all the way through that is.) Runner-up: Rob Green (Queens Park Rangers) [23.7%] QPR have had let in the least goals in the entire league, only letting in two goals so far. So you need not look far to see why Rob Green was only two votes away from beating Almunia, and nominated for the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month in September. Wooden Spoon: Kasper Schmiechel (Leicester City) [13.2%] Despite his talent, the great Dane (and former schoolmate of yours truly) received only half the votes of the eventual winner. If you're after an explanation, you might want to ask a Doncaster fan. Best Defender - WINNER: Richard Dunne (Queens Park Rangers) [48.6%] The Ireland international has helped QPR set a club record, giving the club 8 successive clean sheets and featuring in all of them. And the rest of their matches, too. He's still considered a cult hero at Villa and Man City, and his heart and commitment to QPR's current bid for promotion is a key reason why almost half the votes went his way. Runner-up: Wes Morgan (Leicester City) [25.7%] Leicester's captain, internationally, doesn't have much to smile about. But his club side are currently at the peak of the play-off places, only three points shy of the top. He is the better half of one of the Championships better defending partnerships alongside Liam Moore. (Don't take my word for it, Moore said it himself!) Wooden Spoon: Kirk Broadfoot (Blackpool) [8.6%] Before the game at Millwall, Broadfoot and Blackpool themselves would have been looked upon more favourably, but with a wafer-thin squad to choose from, he's still the best of the bunch Blackpool have to offer and is still a talented player. Best Midfielder - WINNER: Andy Reid (Nottingham Forest) [24.3%] Another Ireland international stealing headlines, the Nottingham Forest midfielder has found his return to the club a more than pleasant experience. Claiming he's in the form of his life, it shows in the stats and in the stands with 5 goals and as many assists, helping him get named Forest Fan Player of the Month in this season. TWICE. Runner-up: Scott Arfield (Burnley) [21.6%] One of Dyche's freebies at the start of the season, the majority of Burnley fans didn't let off any fireworks when the purchase was announced, so it came as an extremely pleasant surprise when Arfield's talent blossomed following an injury to Clarets mainstay and fellow Scot Ross Wallace. Even with the star signing of Michael Kightly, Arfield still found himself on the teamsheet and has proven to be a workhorse like no other. Wooden Spoon: Danny Drinkwater (Leicester City) [10.8%] At the start of the season, it was heavily rumoured Drinkwater was "surplus to requirements" in the eyes of Foxes boss Pearson. Many fans still rate him though, let's hope this Wooden Spoon isn't the first of many. Best Striker: - WINNER: Danny Ings (Burnley) [59.5%] Despite scoring less league goals than his head-to-head partner James Vaughan, and even his strike partner in Sam Vokes, the quality of Danny Ings lies in the quality of his goals and in his partnership with the aforementioned Vokes. The partnership lovingly known as "Vings" has worked wonders for Burnley so far, with it earning Ings and England U-21 cap. Runner-up: James Vaughan (Huddersfield Town) [40.5%] In what was a close head-to-head battle, but Vaughan missed out on the top spot. Luckily for him, he's still the leagues Top Goalscorer alongside Blackburn's Jordan Rhodes, but the very first name in the Preliminary Round was that of James Vaughan's. Unlike Ings though, the Huddersfield Town striker has done it alone, racking up 9 out of the 16 goals Huddersfield have scored. Best Manager - WINNER: Sean Dyche (Burnley) [75.7%] The grand total of Dyche's summer spending came to a whopping £0. Yet somehow, Dyche's faith in intense match preparation and "finding the balance" has found the Clarets in 1st. When a team isn't thinking twice about the loss of a striker who at one time was outscoring Lionel Messi, you know he's doing something right. Runner-up: Harry Redknapp (Queens Park Rangers) [24.3%] 'arry has been squeezing out effortless wins in QPR's attempt to get back to the big time, and he has been doing it in style. Regardless of score-lines, breaking a club record of most consecutive clean sheets is an achievement he'll be hoping to extend and is making Rangers look like the sure-fire favourites people claim them to be. He's been doing very well... forawheelerdealer Biggest Surprise Package - WINNER: Burnley [69.2%] Having sung Sean Dyche's praises already, and the flair next to my name looking ever more suspicious, I'll keep this brief. Burnley's current campaign has come straight out of the (claret and) blue. With only one loss and a brilliant strike partnership spearheading it, the good times seem to keep on rolling. For now. Runner-up: Doncaster Rovers [17.9%] Recently promoted Doncaster find themselves 17th in the Championship, but somehow managed to out-vote high flying Bournemouth. It's still well deserved what with them weathering a Leicester City storm to claim all three points, and even taking it to Sheffield Wednesday on their own ground, the former favourites for relegation find themselves double points on the current relegation battlers. Biggest Flop - WINNER: Bolton Wanderers [69.2%] Last season, Bolton were just shy of the play-off's. Had it not been for a win against Birmingham, they could have still been in the relegation zone after 10 plus games of the current season. But taking eleven games to secure their first win is still not a pretty sight for the fans, or Dougie Freedman who is determined to stick it out. Runner-up: Leeds United [20.5%] Probably a result that will either anger or be met with sympathetic nods from the main contingent of /Championship, but Leeds lie one position south of the top half of the table. Leeds have already seen three defeats at Elland Road, including a surprise victory for Sheffield Wednesday. But Brian McDermott is hoping to bring back the fortress-like quality of Elland Road once again. The "Adrian Chiles" Award for least favourite Championship personality: - WINNER: Big Time Charlie Paul Ince (Blackpool) [39.5%] Due to his antics during Blackpool's game against Bournemouth, Paul Ince will be serving a five-match ban from the Tangerine's touchline. After flinging around foul language and being found guilty of implied violence towards an official, it seems he's not very well liked as of right now. Runner-up: Joey Barton (Queens Park Rangers) [30.9%] Read a paper. The "Gary Neville" award for least least favourite Championship personality: Dean Hoyle (Huddersfield Town) [2.6%] Despite comments about the spending habits of clubs in the Championship, Dean Hoyle seems to have avoided the wrath of /Championship readers. Either that, or people really don't like Paul Ince. Best Team Performance - WINNERS: DERBY COUNTY (vs. Ipswich Town) and BURNLEY (vs. Reading) [33.3% each] A draw for best team performance featured for two quite different reasons. Derby County's second-half heroics in their 4 - 4 draw against Ipswich saw them come back from a 4 - 1 deficit. But not only that, this was a recovering Rams side, after they had just suffered the loss of Nigel Clough. This was technically the first match with McClaren as manager, even if he was in the stands, and the response given by Derby was magnificent. Burnley's 2 -1 win against Reading, however, is featured for a different reason. The scoreline suggests this might have been a run-of-the-mill victory, and this was Burnley's chance to prove that they weren't fluking topping the table. They not only showed up, but went to town against Reading with 21 shots to their 7. The performance is praised as "the best in years" to Clarets fans, and a result where even Nigel Adkins had to put his hands up and say "Burnley were a better side". The game marked Burnley as true contenders rather than the flavour of the month. Best Goal - WINNER: Andy King (Blackpool vs. LEICESTER CITY) [28.6%] A wonderfully placed volley from outside the box that gave Leicester the lead. Runners-up: Adam Clayton (HUDDERSFIELD TOWN vs. Bournemouth), Andy Reid (NOTTINGHAM FOREST vs. Bolton Wanderers), Junior Stanislas (BURNLEY vs. Blackburn Rovers) [22.9%] Adam Clayton scored the 5th goal in Huddersfield's 5 - 1 drubbing of Bournemouth. Andy Reid scored in Nottingham Forest's first game of the season, a simple low cross in the box followed by a left footed dink into the goal. Junior Stanislas's low left-footed drive was the should-have-been winner of an intense East Lancashire derby that ended 1-1. Wooden Spoon: Tom Hitchcock (QUEENS PARK RANGERS vs. Ipswich Town) [2.9%] A last minute, opportunist goal that gave QPR 3 points and a dream debut for the goalscorer.
Championship top scorers 2019/20. Sky Sports Racing Selector. Select 7 winners for your chance to win £1,000 Sky Bet Championship 13/14 Nav. Competition phase. League table. Home league table. Away league table. Latest results. Goals. Player standing - Overall. Top goal scorers. Most assists. Top Strikers. Players goals by month. Goal scorers method (players) Goal scorers type of play (teams) Goal scorers type of play (players) Goal scorers distance Sky Bet Championship 19/20 Nav. Competition phase. League table. Home league table. Away league table. Latest results. Goals. Player standing - Overall. Top goal scorers. Most assists. Top Strikers. Players goals by month. Goal scorers method (players) Goal scorers type of play (teams) Goal scorers type of play (players) Goal scorers distance Premier League Sky Bet Championship Sky Bet League One Sky Bet League Two. Champions League Europa League. Steps 1-3. Vanarama National League. Goalscorers, 2020-2021. Season. View. Player Team Goalscorers; 1: Paul Mullin: Cambridge United: 18: 2: James Vaughan: Tranmere Rovers: 16: 3: Danny Johnson: Leyton Orient Championship top scorers 2020/21. Keep track of the Golden Boot race in the Sky Bet Championship for the 2020/21 season Championship Top Scorers - BBC Sport. Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets + 60 Free Spins T&Cs apply. New UK & NI customers only. Promo code SPORTS60. Deposit and place first sports bet of £10+ in one transaction, at odds of Evens (2.0)+, settled within 60 days. First bet must be on Sports. £30 in Free Bets credited within 48 hours of bet settlement. 7-day expiry. Payment restrictions Highest goal scorer right now is Ivan Toney, with 20 scored goals. The Championship is sometimes also called EFL Championship or Sky Bet Championship. The league has not always been called The Championship, an old name for the league is Football League First Division . Michael Morrison reviews the weekends Sky Bet Championship action. 1 February 2021. Championship Norwich City: A club "set-up" to succeed? 28 January 2021. Championship No more ‘little Wycombe Wanderers’, says Johnson. 28 January 2021. View more. Upcoming Fixtures & Results. Premier League Sky Bet Championship Sky Bet League One Sky Bet League Two. Champions League Europa League. Steps 1-3. Vanarama National League. Goalscorers, 2020-2021. Season. View. Player Team Goalscorers; 1: Jonson Clarke-Harris: Peterborough United: 15: 2: Luke Jephcott: Plymouth
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