Once again, the Clough family is 90 minutes from Wembley after
Derby stunned Premier League champions Manchester United with a 1-0
Carling Cup semi-final first leg triumph at Pride Park.
After four triumphs in the competition for the legendary Brian,
now it is Nigel's turn to take the Carling Cup by storm.
Derby's new manager has not even taken official charge yet. But
he will have done by the time the Rams head to Old Trafford for a
second-leg meeting with Manchester United in a fortnight, looking
to defend the priceless advantage Kris Commons gave them with his
30th-minute winner.
It might have been more convincing too as Clough watched on from
the stands, with Rob Hulse wasting a glorious chance near the end
after Tomasz Kuszczak had pushed another Commons effort into his
path.
Not that a capacity crowd were complaining as they celebrated a
famous win on a night when the son of their most famous manager
must have felt the footballing gods really were smiling on him.
Although Clough's only involvement was a wave from the
directors' box when he was formally introduced just before
kick-off, the appointment, whether it be the family name or just a
new man to impress, had a galvanising effect on Derby.
Much like Manchester City, `going down with a billion in the
bank' according to the Red Devils faithful, against Nottingham
Forest at the weekend, United suddenly found a famous East Midlands
club punching above their weight rather than below it.
Derby carved out all the best early chances.
Steve Davies must have thought he would score when, after
Kuszczak had saved his initial close-range shot, he met the rebound
with venom, only for stand-in captain Nemanja Vidic to slide in and
make a magnificent block.
Rio Ferdinand was one of the team-mates Vidic was standing in
for and the England defender's presence was being badly missed,
mainly for his skills at organising those in front of him.
When Vidic strained to head away from the penalty spot, Mile
Sterjovski was given far too much room to line up a volley which
was flying towards the bottom corner when Jonny Evans stuck out a
leg to turn it away.
With the opportunities came the confidence Clough needs to
instil in his players on a more consistent basis as Derby began to
string passes together and United continued to struggle.
There was a brief interlude, during which Paul Scholes screwed a
couple of long-range efforts wide before John O'Shea, racing onto
Nani's return pass, flicked an intelligent shot which would have
had former team-mate Roy Carroll in trouble if Paul Green had not
been on hand to turn it away.
But largely it was Derby dictating the game, Derby who looked
more assured. United making all the unforced errors.
So it was no surprise and certainly well deserved when Commons
struck.
United did not heed the earlier warning about giving opponents
too much room and failed to close the Scotland international down
as he collected Sterjovski's short pass.
With the visitors having invited the shot, Commons obliged by
drilling a low effort into the right corner that gave Kuszczak no
chance.
Little was seen of Carlos Tevez, whose Old Trafford future has
been a major subject of interest over the past few days.
But the biggest disappointment was Nani who, since the arrival
of Zoran Tosic from Partizan Belgrade last week, has the most
pressing need to impress.
A speedy charge out of his area by Carroll prevented the
Portugal wing man seizing on a loose ball at the start of the
second half. But entrusted with set-piece duties, Nani wasted the
lot.
Such was his fitful contribution that it was a surprise the men
to give way were Paul Scholes and Danny Welbeck when Ferguson
cashed in his hefty insurance policy after 63 minutes and brought
on Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Not that it changed much as Davies flashed a shot narrowly
wide.
Ronaldo did the same at the other end, by which time Michael
Carrick had been introduced as well, in time to see the brilliant
Portugal winger send a free-kick whizzing just past Carroll's
post.
But if that was a near thing, Derby came even closer 10 minutes
from time as Kuszczak pushed away Commons' low shot.
To be fair to Hulse, the rebound came at him lightning fast. Yet
if the striker had only been able to keep it down rather than scoop
it over, the Clough family really would have had reason to
rejoice.Once again, the Clough family is 90 minutes from Wembley
after Derby stunned Premier League champions Manchester United with
a 1-0 Carling Cup semi-final first leg triumph at Pride Park.
After four triumphs in the competition for the legendary Brian,
now it is Nigel's turn to take the Carling Cup by storm.
Derby's new manager has not even taken official charge yet. But
he will have done by the time the Rams head to Old Trafford for a
second-leg meeting with Manchester United in a fortnight, looking
to defend the priceless advantage Kris Commons gave them with his
30th-minute winner.
It might have been more convincing too as Clough watched on from
the stands, with Rob Hulse wasting a glorious chance near the end
after Tomasz Kuszczak had pushed another Commons effort into his
path.
Not that a capacity crowd were complaining as they celebrated a
famous win on a night when the son of their most famous manager
must have felt the footballing gods really were smiling on him.
Although Clough's only involvement was a wave from the
directors' box when he was formally introduced just before
kick-off, the appointment, whether it be the family name or just a
new man to impress, had a galvanising effect on Derby.
Much like Manchester City, `going down with a billion in the
bank' according to the Red Devils faithful, against Nottingham
Forest at the weekend, United suddenly found a famous East Midlands
club punching above their weight rather than below it.
Derby carved out all the best early chances.
Steve Davies must have thought he would score when, after
Kuszczak had saved his initial close-range shot, he met the rebound
with venom, only for stand-in captain Nemanja Vidic to slide in and
make a magnificent block.
Rio Ferdinand was one of the team-mates Vidic was standing in
for and the England defender's presence was being badly missed,
mainly for his skills at organising those in front of him.
When Vidic strained to head away from the penalty spot, Mile
Sterjovski was given far too much room to line up a volley which
was flying towards the bottom corner when Jonny Evans stuck out a
leg to turn it away.
With the opportunities came the confidence Clough needs to
instil in his players on a more consistent basis as Derby began to
string passes together and United continued to struggle.
There was a brief interlude, during which Paul Scholes screwed a
couple of long-range efforts wide before John O'Shea, racing onto
Nani's return pass, flicked an intelligent shot which would have
had former team-mate Roy Carroll in trouble if Paul Green had not
been on hand to turn it away.
But largely it was Derby dictating the game, Derby who looked
more assured. United making all the unforced errors.
So it was no surprise and certainly well deserved when Commons
struck.
United did not heed the earlier warning about giving opponents
too much room and failed to close the Scotland international down
as he collected Sterjovski's short pass.
With the visitors having invited the shot, Commons obliged by
drilling a low effort into the right corner that gave Kuszczak no
chance.
Little was seen of Carlos Tevez, whose Old Trafford future has
been a major subject of interest over the past few days.
But the biggest disappointment was Nani who, since the arrival
of Zoran Tosic from Partizan Belgrade last week, has the most
pressing need to impress.
A speedy charge out of his area by Carroll prevented the
Portugal wing man seizing on a loose ball at the start of the
second half. But entrusted with set-piece duties, Nani wasted the
lot.
Such was his fitful contribution that it was a surprise the men
to give way were Paul Scholes and Danny Welbeck when Ferguson
cashed in his hefty insurance policy after 63 minutes and brought
on Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Not that it changed much as Davies flashed a shot narrowly
wide.
Ronaldo did the same at the other end, by which time Michael
Carrick had been introduced as well, in time to see the brilliant
Portugal winger send a free-kick whizzing just past Carroll's
post.
But if that was a near thing, Derby came even closer 10 minutes
from time as Kuszczak pushed away Commons' low shot.
To be fair to Hulse, the rebound came at him lightning fast. Yet
if the striker had only been able to keep it down rather than scoop
it over, the Clough family really would have had reason to
rejoice.
abit disapointing heh?