RAMS STUN EURO CHAMPS

DERBY COUNTY........ 1  TRANMERE ROVERS........ 0

Derby kicked off the season with a solid display in a 1-0 win at West Brom last Saturday. It wasn't a headline performance but it did show that they were going to be nobody's pushovers. Tonight, Tranmere Rovers were the visitor's to the Ipro Stadium. Derby couldn't have arguably asked for a better team to play their first ever top flight game at home, with maybe only Manchester United coming close. The Champions Cup holders were favourites to take home the points and even the most ardent Derby fan would have found that hard to argue against.
The teams emerged to a wall of noise with 31,129 fans inside the ground. The 3,500 that had travelled down from Liverpool were letting themselves heard as the noise died down and the songs, more aimed at the opposing fans, were already in full swing. Derby boss Kinnear had surprised many by leaving striker Bobadilla on the bench with Rodriguez, who had starred against Charlton in the English Shield win, being a surprise inclusion. Paulinho would lead the attack, backed up by last week's hero Alex Lopez. Tranmere boss Hirst had hinted that young German signing Goretzka may start but he was named on the bench. However, Adam Lallana, signed from Queen's Park Rangers was in the side and would make his debut. Lukaku would lead the line with captain Totti further back.
The referee got proceedings under way with Derby attacking the Mansfield bitter end and their first attack was easily snuffed out. Tranmere were happy to pass the ball about as they sounded out Derby's formation with the home side happy to let them have the ball away from the danger zone. The first chance of the match came on 10 minutes with Tranmere showing how quick they can strike. With their being no apparent danger, Mario had the ball on the right about 5 yards inside the Derby half. Without warning he launched a high ball into the Derby box where Bonaventura had made a blind side run. The Italian got a good connection with his head but fortunately for Derby, it didn't quite have the direction and Adrian was able to save, holding the ball with his strong pair of hands. It was a warning that Tranmere were capable of making something out of nothing. Derby's first effort came on 15 minutes and it was a move they had used against West Brom. Nathan Baker, in for the suspended Tshaminga, made a run down the left which was spotted by Compper. The German played a long pass along the ground in front of the full back which was taken on to the angle of the Tranmere box. Before the Tranmere defender could get a tackle in, Baker tried to curl a shot towards the top corner but Perin, in the Tranmere goal, seen it early and saved comfortably.

Action from the Ipro

 It was a tight game so far with not a lot of room in midfield and it was taking the long ball to create anything dangerous. On 21 minutes the referee was called into action for the first time when Rodriguez mistimed a tackle on Totti. The ref deemed it worth the first yellow of the game and I doubt anyone could have argued as Totti would certainly not have left Rodriguez in his trail. Chances were becoming harder to spot than a unicorn but on 28 minutes Derby went in front. On loan Felipe Gutierrez was picked out on the left and he took a pace forward before sending a pass into the feet of Paulinho, who had made his way just inside the box. Paulinho managed to squeeze a shot towards goal which 9 times out 10 would have been saved by Perin but this time he seemed to fumble the ball which ended up in the net. It was definitely a blunder by Perin but Paulinho didn't care as he wheeled away to celebrate with his team mates. The Derby fans seemed to take a second to realise what had happened but they were soon out of their seats in wild celebration. The Tranmere fans looked stunned while Hirst was out in his technical area trying to spur Perin on and get him back full confidence. A couple of encouraging pats from the players letting Perin know that sometimes these things happen. It was a surprise lead for the Rams but Tranmere had been behind before and there was still over an hour to play.

Derby players celebrate Paulinho's goal

 The expected onslaught from the visitors was absent from the play and they looked a bit out of sorts. Whether the Derby goal had hit them hard or whether they were just not clicking was not clear, they weren't stringing the passes together. Derby were working hard and were in the Tranmere players faces. They had upset the Tranmere rhythm and the visitors looked like they were needing the half time break to regroup. On 35 minutes Recio seemed to be fouled as he jumped with Guilavogui but the ref disagreed and awarded the free kick the other way. Recio was not happy and let the ref know about it. In turn the referee was not happy and flashed the yellow card at the Spanish midfielder. Tranmere were struggling to make any impression on the solid Derby back four and were failing to create any sort of opening. Lallana, making his debut, was posted missing and could hardly get a touch. Two minutes before the break Alex Lopez showed some nice footwork to leave Guilavogui in his trail before sending in a cross that allowed Paulinho get a firm head to the ball, sending it goalwards. Perin showed he had not let the earlier mistake affect him by pulling off a fine save, although he made it look much easier than it was. The referee brought the first half to a close with a shrill of his whistle and the Derby fans stood to a man to applaud a fine 45 minutes for their idols. Hirst was quickly inside the tunnel, no doubt with a few harsh wards for the disappointing first half display by his team.
The teams emerged from the tunnel for the second half with the Derby fans once again roaring their team out. Tranmere fans were also on their feet, seemingly clapping harder than they have ever done, to try and encourage their side to a better second half effort. A quiet start to the second half definitely suited Derby more with Tranmere still trying to work out how to unlock the Derby defence. This encouraged Derby and on 53 minutes they created the first opening since the break. Gutierrez was given some space out on the left and sent in a cross towards the hard working Paulinho. The Brazilian striker had been a thorn in the flesh of the defenders all day and his quick feet got him in front of Reyes managing to flick the ball towards goal. Perin was quick to get across his goal and he seemed to have it covered as the ball cleared the bar. Tranmere were still struggling and whatever Hirst said at half time obviously was having no effect. On 57 minutes Recio knocked one in towards the centre of the Tranmere box where the reliable Paulinho was there to send in a looping header that cleared Perin's oustretched hand but also cleared the crossbar. From the goal kick, Tranmere launched an attack that seen Ansaldi look determined to make some inroads but he was outnumbered before managing to lay the ball back to Loic Perrin who tried an effort from about 30 yards that caused Adrian some concern before sailing wide of the goal. Hirst was running out of patience with his teams efforts and on the hour decided to make changes. Lallana, who had shown nothing, a tired looking Totti and Bonaventura made way for Goretzka, Rode and Son as Hirst hoped to inject some pace into his team's performance. On 62 minutes Derby captain James Tomkins became the third Derby player to go into the book after a foul on Guilavogui. Maybe if Tranmere showed the same commitment as the Derby players, the game might have a different look about it. The changes that Hirst made seemed to give new life to his side and on 68 minutes Mario sent a high cross-field ball that seemed to wrong foot the Derby defence. Ansaldi picked it up and diagonally headed towards goal. He slipped past Baker before eluding a hard looking Compper tackle and fired a low shot that zipped across the turf towards the far post before just flying wide. It was an encouraging sign for the visitors and something to get the Tranmere fans excited about and they were at last finding their voice. Five minutes later Tranmere came again with substitute Son controlling a pass with his chest before rolling the ball into the path of the onrushing Ansaldi. The Argentine wing back broke into the box before powering in a shot that failed to trouble Adrian in the Derby goal. This was Tranmere's best spell of the match but could they make it count. Derby recognised the danger and on 76 minutes foraged forward with Rincon powering down the right hand side. The Venezuela international then knocked a delicate pass to Recio and he controlled the ball before releasing a shot that zipped past Perin's right hand post. The game had opened out and on 81 minutes Tranmere turned defence into attack when Ansaldi launched a clearance that Goretzka got to ahead of Sorensen. The youngster knocked the ball behind Sorensen before using his pace to out run the defender. He fired a low ball towards an advancing Adrian but unfortunately for him it went just wide. It was Tranmere's best chance of the match as Derby's defence started to creak. Two minutes later Tranmere were on the attack again with the anonymous Lukaku receiving the ball just outside the box. He tried to turn but Sorensen blocked his way and he was forced to go wide. Lukaku didn't have much room but a nice stepover created just enough room to get a cross in. The ball went to the far side of the box where Guilavogui took a touch before firing a shot to the far corner. It seemed to be heading towards the bottom corner only for Adrian to dive at full stretch and turn the ball away.

Tranmere caused Derby problems late on

It was the first real save the keeper had had to make and he done well to reach it. The ball was cleared up to Paulinho who held the ball up before laying it back to Recio. Derby kept possession as the defence regrouped and although Tranmere, encouraged by their late efforts, tried to get behind them again, Derby held firm. Time ran out on the European champions and when the full time whistle was blown they had suffered their first defeat of the season. For Derby it was a great effort and, just for their first half performance, they probably deserved the win. The defence was once again solid and apart from a couple of second half lapses, they will be delighted with their efforts. The Derby fans stood to applaud their players off the field and Kinnear came on to the pitch to shake their hands as they left the field.
Tranmere will come back from this defeat and there is no doubt they will be fighting at the top for the title. Every team has an off day and when they look back they will probably look at this one as being theirs. Derby lie a lofty second in the table after this win and they along with Manchester City are the only two sides with a 100% record after two games. Derby are at home once again on Saturday and Swansea City will provide the opposition this time along with a different set of problems for them to face. Kinnear maintains that survival is the only aim for the season and they will think of nothing more until that safety is achieved.

Fannie Licker @ Pride Park, Derby.