Bournemouth v Derby (1st v 2nd)

[TractorBoys]

Keep this and ours the same boys, just need a Charlton and Watford equalizer now.

 

[yellow]

That went well ^

 

[Rammy]

That game sounded like it was brilliant.

Ends 2-2.

Shame we've now dropped to 3rd though, with Boro winning at Blackpool.

 

[Mr Elmo]

I think realistically we have the best squad in the division in terms of depth and sub players, but 11v11? Not too sure, but it should be a great game whichever way it goes.

Bournemouth 2-2 Derby

Called it.

Pleased with that, and not concerned Boro have gone top considering they played Blackpool, they still have a lot of difficult games to go, while we have got through Ipswich and Bournemouth away with 4 points, can't go wrong.

Job well done, onto Reading in the cup!

 

[PDS]

Sounded like we were a long way from our best tonight and were hanging on at times, but would have taken a point before the game and definitely happy with a point now.

Not too concerned with dropping below Boro, so many points still to play for. First game of our incredibly tough run down!

 

[Rammy]

Yeah, I'm delighted with a point as I expected nothing. Got a good run of games coming up now, where we should be picking up a good number of points!

 

[Mr Elmo]

I will be disappointed if we don't pick up a minimum of 9 from our next 4, but would think it's possible for 12 depending on the Wednesday game

 

[Luke_1884]

A very good point.

I thought we would be screwed when Martin went off, everytime I've seen us play without him we struggle. Thanks to a brilliant January we now have very good options and they've shown how fruitful they are tonight. I'm sick to death of Tom Ince's attitude! Haha.

Fair play to Boro too tonight, whilst they were expected to win they still had a job to do. The media have bigged this game up like we're the only two teams capable of a top two finish and Boro have taken advantage on the quiet. 3 very strong teams in this race, exciting times ahead.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Phew, what a crackers game. Disappointed perhaps not to win having been in front twice but a draw fair.

Both attacks were scary and both defences shaking. Could have been more goals either way. We will look at that Wilson lob and the corner somehow kept out on the line. Derby will look at their own close calls. Derby were generally more assured on the ball, we were generally more penetrating on the break.

What a loan Ince is for them, don't think they'd have been anything like as creative without him.

All in all a decent nights shift all round. When 80 mins ticked over both sides seemed happy to drop the pace and take the point.

 

[Rammy]

I for one hope it's us two that get promoted automatically. Just let us have the title please!

 

[Mr Elmo]

How about we finish on the exact same everything so we have to play a playoff for the title? How that would be scary...

Unless head-to-head record comes into play? Therefore we would win the title

 

[Luke_1884]

Can you imagine if we had not replaced Leon Best with Darren Bent in January?!

That game would have been over by half time.
Darren Bent could actually out score Aston Villa Football Club at this rate!
Cheers.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Slightly confused as to why there wasn't even a booking when Derby's keeper handled outside the area. Considering Camp was sent off for it up at Derby. That said the keeper should have done better with Ritchies shot which looked routine, so might have done us a favour?

The whole game was breathless to be honest, so many moments to pick out.

 

[Rammy]

Slightly confused as to why there wasn't even a booking when Derby's keeper handled outside the area. Considering Camp was sent off for it up at Derby. That said the keeper should have done better with Ritchies shot which looked routine, so might have done us a favour?

The whole game was breathless to be honest, so many moments to pick out.

Radio Derby were under the impression Clattenburg was lenient due to Wilson being a bell end. We were lucky with that though.

 

[ChelloRam]

Good game of which we ended in complete control, I think it showed that with their subs. Two poor defensive errors cost us, but all-in-all, an excellent game between two good footballing sides. I'd have taken a point before the game, but slightly disappointed we didn't win it. Hughes was majestic AGAIN tonight, ran the game IMO.

Onwards and upwards.

 

[RavenBish]

McClaren's done an absolute job in January getting Bent and Ince. Thought Derby might start to slip off if they couldn't replace Ibe and had another few months relying purely on Martin as a striking option.

Looking forward to going against Wednesday now. Be great to see Tommy Ince again - hopefully he finds his calling at Derby and stays there long-term.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

But for Ince and Bent I think the result would have been rather different. Two superb loans they are, the ability for Derby to flex muscles/use contacts and get players like that in is the difference I think. I would have rather Martin stayed fit and on.

 

[Luke_1884]

Good shout to bring on Dawkins for Ward too when the game seemed to be going into a lull. Within minutes sets up the equaliser.

I thought we were done when Martin went off. Obviously now we know Bent scored one and set the other up it was a good turn of events for us. When we play well as a team and get Martin involved like he more than likely would have been I'd rather have him in the team than Bent purely down to our approach and how we try and break teams down.

Fingers crossed his injury isn't serious.

So disappointing to play out an entertaining draw away from home against top of the league and still drop a place! I'm sure Bouremouth fans feel the same.

 

[PDS]

I think on reflection both teams can be happy-

Derby were the better team in a top of the table clash- good signs for them and in truth they will probably win the league.
We played no where near our best and were poor in possession and shaky at the back, yet still drew with our rivals at the top of the division. We know there is a lot more to come from us and we didn't need 5 chances to score, we'd scored 2 goals from 3 or 4 good chances all game.

We don't have the wages to bring in players like Bent or Ince but if we can stay clear of injuries I maintain our first XI is every bit as good as Derby's.

 

[ChelloRam]

How can you say you don't have the money to bring in people like Bent and Ince? You had a £5m bid for some kid from Birmingham rejected. I would say that your purse strings are a lot looser than ours. We are paying a fraction of Bent's wage and if rumours are to be believed, we are paying less than half of Ince's.

Oh and its not the case of Bournemouth not playing anywhere near your best, we simply didn't allow you to and dictated the game.

All my opinion of course.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

FFP means our wage bill has to be controlled. Whilst we have wriggle room on a transfer fee paid over several years due to fees received, our lower regular income such as gate money does restrict our wage reach at the moment. As it should do, I should add.

The papers (if they can be believed) report Bent is on 70k per week at Villa. I'm not going to pontificate over another club's finances. I've no idea what small percentage Derby are paying and don't really care, same goes for Ince. But even 10-15% of that alleged wage would utterly blow us out the water and break our limits. And that's fair enough, Derby are a bigger club. I'm just asserting that we couldn't do a deal like that.

Agree Derby did a job good tactically in forcing some errors from us, but also we brought it upon ourselves. All Steve Cook had to do was row Z the ball rather than be clever, and Ince doesn't score the first equaliser. But Derby could same the same for our second goal when the defender was robbed. Both sides' attack forced the other defence into errors.

"dictated the game" goes a bit far though. We had 54% possession and had a couple more clear chances (Wilson's lob for example). Derby always looked more assured in possession whereas we were more frantic, but that's generally just the way we play.

 

[ChelloRam]

As I say, just my opinion but I think we controlled the game.

 

[PDS]

I think it was clear you were the better side, I wouldn't say 'controlled' as we scored twice and had several more opportunities. There was only going to be one winner from 2-2 however and full time came just in time for us as we were on the ropes and second best.

As I say we can at least take heart that we can play poorly yet still dig at a point against (my opinion) the best squad in the league.