Derby Defeat Old Foes... Again

Derby made it two wins at the City Ground in a month with a 3-1 win against local rivals Nottingham Forest.

Its not often you watch a sequel to a great movie and enjoy it as much as the original. If the first victory at the City Ground in the FA Cup was Ridley Scott's Alien, a spectacle fraught with tension, long periods of carnage followed by an immensely gratifying climax, then today's match had more than a passing resemblance to James Cameron's gun toting action packed offering in the follow-up, Aliens.

Like a slightly aggravated xenomorph, Kris Commons just won't stop haunting his old team. It was from his free-kick that Lewin Nyatanga, in for the injured Miles Addison, volleyed us into the lead in the 4th minute after his initial header was blocked.

The joy of the early lead was curtailed somewhat when Nacer Barazite fell awkwardly on his arm and had to be replaced by Mile Sterjovski.

The goal had a galvanizing effect on the home team who came out of their shells in search of an equalizer. Robert Earnshaw should have scored in the 25th minute after a neat Nathan Tyson flick on. The Welsh striker could not take advantage as he was well closed down by an alert Stephen Bywater.

Earnshaw, just back from injury, was guilty of more profligacy just before the break. Following some good play by Lewis McGugan, the diminutive Welshman snatched at his shot and missed the target.

Forest were made to pay for their leading goal scorer's ring rustiness soon after the interval. A superbly taken Robbie Savage free-kick found the prolific Rob Hulse six yards out who glanced the ball home.

Only a good save from Paul Smith in the Forest goal prevented Hulse from immediately adding a third goal after he was slipped in by Commons.

We extended the lead midway through the half after Rob Hulse was pushed in the back by James Perch as he threatened to convert a Paul Connolly cross.

Davies stepped up to roll the spot-kick into the bottom corner and that was the cue for some Forest fans to head for the exits.

The Rams finished the game with 10 men after James McEveley suffered an arm injury and could not continue. Clough had already used his three substitutes.

Forest were able to capitalise on their numerical advantage and pulled a goal back when Earnshaw headed home Garath McCleary's right-wing cross.