Premier League 2, Division 1, 2016-17
              Moor Farm, Oakwood, Derby
            Friday 26th August 2016, 1pm.

            DERBY COUNTY   v     SPURS
           (White/Black)      (All Yellow)
              4-2-3-1           4-2-3-1

                1(1)              2(1)

     Jonathan Mitchell     1     Harry Voss
         Kyron Stabana     2     Kyle Walker-Peters
       Callum McDonald     3     Connor Ogilvie
          Jamie Hanson     4     Charlie Owens
        Farrend Rawson     5     Christian Maghoma
            Alex Cover     6     Anton Walkes
         Kellan Gordon     7     Joseph Pritchard
            Callum Guy     8     Luke Amos
        Charles Vernam     9     Shayon Harrison
            Alex Babos    10     Cy Goddard
          Alefe Santos    11     Nathan Oduwa

         Ethan Wassall    12     Marcus Edwards
             (4)85Mins           (4)67Mins
         Henrich Ravas    13     Thomas McDermott
          Lewis Walker    14     Shilow Tracey
         Emil Jacobsen    15     Ryan Loft
            (10)67Mins           (7)74Mins
          Daniel Pybus    16     Anthony Georgiou
            (11)76Mins           (3)62Mins

Scorer:-
             Vernam 20           Harrison pen 4
                                 Walker-Peters 62

Booked:-
         Cover 50(Late)          Amos 32(Late)
                                 Goddard 39(Diving)

Coaches:-
         D. Wassall              U. Ehiogu 

Referee:– J. Johnson
Assistants:- S. Feerick & M. Powell
Fourth Official:– K. Saunby

Spurs' second away game in a week saw them travel to Derby for a re-arranged game. It should have been next week at WHL but as County were playing in the Premier League International Trophy it was moved to their training ground. This was the first time the two teams met since 2007 when Spurs drew 2-2 at Pride Park. Derby were promoted from Division 2 at the end of last season. Spurs beat Reading 4-1 on Monday afternoon while Derby suffered their second defeat losing 2-0 to Everton.

Spurs lined up with Voss behind Walkes and the returning Maghoma with Walker-Peters at right back and Ogilvie on the left. Owens joined Amos in front of the defence with Goddard ahead of them flanked by Pritchard on the right and Oduwa on the left in support of Harrison up front. Since the last game Miller has gone out on loan to Burton Albion, but Georgiou made it to the bench for the first time this season.

Spurs kicked off attacking the North end and moved the ball around for over a minute without the home side getting a touch, as they dropped deep, until a long ball forward by Owens went through Mitchell. Spurs had most of the ball in the opening spell with Derby hardly crossing the half-way line. Oduwa won a penalty after only four minutes when he was caught from behind by Stabana as he got into the area. This time Harrison made sure with his kick, placing it into the left corner for the opening goal.

The "Rams" defence held Spurs at arms' length restricting them to a couple of efforts by Pritchard and Oduwa that were both wide. Things changed after twenty minutes when Maghoma collected the ball on the right and played it inside to Amos. The midfielder stepped over the ball and it ran to Vernam who had only Voss to beat inside the area, curling the ball inside the far post for the equaliser. Derby found their confidence and came out of their shell and began to run at the Spurs defence.

Amos was booked for a foul in the Derby half before Babos fired over from a half cleared corner. Goddard went down in the area under challenge and when he asked the ref for a penalty he was booked instead, which I believe is the new directive for refs as he did not dive. Vernam closed down Voss quickly and blocked the keeper's kick sending the ball just wide of the goal late in the half.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw the home side full of confidence taking the game to their more illustrious oppenents. Cover was booked for a foul on Pritchard. Santos fired wide after Owens gave the ball away and when Voss cleared to Babos the striker tried to catch him out of goal just clearing the crossbar. Harrison got down the right and whipped in a low cross that was deflected onto the near post by Babos and Walker-Peters followed up to put the ball in the net.

Georgiou replaced Ogilvie at left back as both sides began to make changes. Derby sent on another strker in Jacobsen, and Edwards replaced Owens on the right with Pritchard dropping into a more defensive position. Unfortunately he picked up a knock and had to be replaced by Loft who went up front and Harrison dropping deep. Derby put more pressure on Spurs as they went looking for another goal. Vernam played in Jacobsen but he fired straight at Voss. Harrison played in Oduwa who fired wide before Loft played Harrison through but his effort was saved for a corner. In the last minute of normal time Georgiou got clear on the left but his shot went wide of the far post. Derby pushed players forward in the dying minutes with Gordon firing wide before the final whistle.

This game started so well for Spurs before they gave away the goal which gave the home side the belief that they could get something from the game. They went close a few times but Spurs pulled it off getting the second goal somewhat against the run of play and held on to take the points. On Friday 9th September Spurs travel to Stamford Bridge to take on West London rivals Chelsea. The "Blues" have a great record over recent years as they have put a lot of money into their youth set-up. In recent games there have been plenty of goals from both sides with Chelsea getting the better of the results. Hopefully Harrison can continue his goal scoring record against them.

Ray

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