The last time the Rams played the Pilgrims at home

The last time the Rams played the Pilgrims at home

The last time the Rams played the Pilgrims at home was on October 18th last season when Paul Jewell`s side recovered from conceding an early goal to win 2-1 at Pride Park Stadium.

They fell behind to a Paul Gallagher goal but grabbed an equaliser through Rob Hulse in stoppage time at the end of the first half after a flat opening 45 minutes.

And then an own goal from Plymouth skipper Karl Duguid put Jewell’s side ahead after Paul Green’s shot had been brilliantly tipped onto a post by Romain Larrieu.

Derby had to survive a late rally from the visitors before claiming the three points to climb to ninth in the table, one point outside the top six.

Plymouth was out of the blocks the quickest and went ahead on eight minutes thanks to a cracking goal from Gallagher. Controlling the ball on his chest, he struck an unstoppable volley from the right side of the area up and over Rams keeper Stephen Bywater.

Derby suffered another blow when Stephen Davies had to go off with a suspected fractured cheekbone after a bang in the side of the face. Kris Commons, fit again after missing five matches, came on.

There was little rhythm to the Rams play, but just as they were set to go in one down at the break, they levelled through Hulse. Commons, having switched to the right, weaved past a couple of defenders and pulled the ball back for Hulse who, with his back to goal, turned and swept his finish low and wide of Larrieu.

The goal lifted the Rams and their supporters and they came out after the break a different side and hit the front on 52 minutes. A corner from Commons was only half cleared to Green on the edge of the box and his drive was turned onto the inside of a post by Larrieu, but as Duiguid tried to complete the clearance he could only knock the ball into his own net.

To the fans dismay the Rams became nervy and dropped deeper as Plymouth began to dominate late and they went close to sharing the spoils. Second half substitute Nicolas Marin lifted his shot over when he should have hit the target and Rory Fallon headed just wide as the Rams fans waited for the final whistle.

At the end of the game the Rams boss Paul Jewell was relieved man. “‘We did not play very well – the international break really hindered us,’ he said.

The last 20 minutes we were flat but we showed resilience and real desire to win the game.’

Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock felt a draw would have been a fair result. ‘I don’t think we deserved to lose but I don’t think we deserved to win. I thought a draw would have been a fair result,’ he said.

I was a wee bit disappointed because I felt we went to sleep five minutes before half time and 10 minutes after, and that cost us dear.’

Teams DERBY COUNTY: Bywater; Connolly, Davis, Nyatanga, Stewart; Barazite, Green, Addison, Davies (Commons, 17) (Kazmierczak, 77) Ellington (Villa, 75), Hulse – Subs not used – Price (gk), Zadkovich.

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE: Larrieu; Doumbe, Cathcart, Seip, Barker (Paterson, 75); Mackie (Marin, 71), Summerfield,Duiguid, Clark (Mpenza, 82), Gallagher, Fallon – Subs not used – Timar, Folly.

REFEREE: C Webster (Tyne & Wear).

ATTENDANCE: 28,495