Ben Pringle (undisclosed,
Ilkeston),
Every season I get one prediction horribly wrong and last year was Derby. I fancied them to do well under a good manager and with a decent Championship squad but for them it was a season to forget. They lost their opening game of the season to Doncaster and that really was a sign of things to come. They looked like a side with a hue Premiership hangover and they were. Paul Jewell did manage to turn them around slightly during September as they flirted with the playoffs but they were soon bang in trouble going on a poor run and by Christmas they were stuck in a relegation battle A change had to be made and it was as Nigel Clough followed in his father's footsteps to take over as manager. He took over the day his side faced a Carling Cup semi Final against Manchester United, a match hey won 1-0 so not a bad start. The following Saturday they faced QPR and I have to say they were the worst side we faced all season as we won 2-0. I think they knew then they had work to do but Clough turned it round for them and although they lost the second leg of the semi final at Old Trafford they went out with a bang. Clough quickly got results on the board and moved clear of relegation to give them hope for the future but all in all it was a poor season for then.
Nigel Clough has a big job on at Derby. Not only does he have expectations of the fans to get back to the Premiership but is of course following in his father's footsteps and they are very big shoes to fill. He's got off to a decent start though and although they had a poor final league position last year he certainly seems to be slowly turning things around. When he joined Derby he spoke of it being a long term job and that's what it is, there is no real overnight fix and he'll need to slowly build a side capable of not only going up but having a decent chance of surviving. He certainly seems to be going that at the moment with some low key signings in the summer to add to what is already a decent squad. I
wouldn't expect Clough to work a minor miracle and get his side challenging for
promotion but they should fare much better than they did last year and I think
a season of consolidation may be in order for them although they could challenge
for the playoffs if they avoid injuries. PREDICTION: 13th in the Championship
I asked Derby fans on an unofficial message board for their thoughts on the new season and here is what they had to say. How do you think Derby will fare this season? Better than last year, possibly the playoffs Who are your players to watch out for? If we keep him then Kris Commons Is your Manager the right man for the job? Yes, it will take him time but he will restore the glory days Which three teams will be promoted this season? West Brom, Newcastle abd Shefiled United Which teams will be relegated? Barnsley, Blackpool and Plymouth How do you think QPR will fare this season? mid tale again
Dexter Blackstock had a loan spell at Derby from Southampton and even scored against QPR duyring that spell before he signed for us in 2006. Rangers signed Lee Camp on loan from Derby in 2004 and he helped us to promotion before returning on loan in 2007 to help us stay up. he signed for QPR in 2007 for £300,000 and is still fondly remebered at Pride Park. The man who signed lee Camp was John Gregory who played for and managed both QPR and Derby with varying succsess. he was relegated with Derby from the Premiership and srtruggled to get word after being sacked before doing a decent job at QPR for just over a year. Other players to
have played for both clubs include Mikkel Beck, Idigo, Idiakez, Don Masson, Gary
Micklewhite and Stevie Wicks.
Both sides seem to have done well in the away games between the two teams in recent years and you have to go back to 1990 and a Sean Saunders goal of the season winner for the last home win in this fixture. Derby were the second visitors to Loftus Road after we won promotion in 2004 and the game saw QPR fans give a great reception to lee Camp who was in goal for them that day. Derby won 2-0 and left us feeling pretty worrie3d about what lay ahead. The return game was very one sided with Idiakez tearing us apart but Simon Royce had a great game and we held on for a 0-0 draw. The following season was less successful for both sides. Rangers produced a very good performance up at Derby to claim a 2-1 win. Paul Furlong was sent off early but Gareth Ainsworth gave us the lead before Idiakez missed a penalty with just ten minutes left. Rangers broke and Kevin Gallen scored a great goal to put us 2-0 up before Dexter Blackstock made it 2-1 and a very nervy finish, The return game was less eventful, a 1-1 draw with Nygaard scoring for Rangers as Scott Donnolly got a rare chance in the first team. Derby won at Loftus Road in2006. . Jimmy Smith scored a screamer to give us the lead but Billy Davies side were well organised and fought back to win 2-1. At pride Park Martin Rowlands gave QPR the lead to win me some cash and we should have gone on to win the game as we struggled to stay in the division. A late Darren Moore goal gave Derby a point they didn't really deserve. Last
season both games finished 2-0. At Loftus Road a row over ticket prices over shadowed
the game which Derby won 2-0 thanks to late goals by Emmanuel Villa. At Pride
Park Rangers ran out easy winners with goals from Routledge and Leigterwood in
a very one sided contest. Click on the match for a report of the game from this web site.
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