Frustration

Richard Cresswell`s fifteenth minute strike was enough for Sheffield United to claim all three points on a frustrating afternoon at Pride Park for Derby County. Nigel Clough`s side didn`t get going and despite some neat football at times they failed to trouble Steve Simonsen in the visitor`s goal until Kris Commons` tame seventy-fifth minute effort. Alberto Bueno came on for his debut and showed a couple of neat touches but it was not enough as The Rams fell to their second home defeat of the embryonic season leaving them still without a win since the opening day victory at Elland Road.

Tomasz Cywka came in for Conor Doyle in the only change to the starting line-up from the eleven named before the international break and Derby came out of the blocks quickly winning a couple of early corners but they came to nothing. Ched Evans soon threatened at the other end only for Shaun Barker to make a vital interception after Jamie Ward escaped down the right. The first chance of the afternoon fell to the visitors and it saw them take the lead when Jean Calve beat his man far too easily and his cross to the far post was finished by Richard Creswell.

The Rams enjoyed their fair share of possession but were struggling to break down a stubborn backline with Steve Simonsen remaining untroubled in the United goal. At the other end Ched Evans muscled his way onto the ball but was denied by a sharp save by Stephen Bywater and The Rams` keeper had to be on his toes moments later to deny the same man after he turned in the area but he blocked his shot at point blank range. John Brayford was on the end of flowing move and Kris Commons was inches away from his inviting cross as he tried to get his head to the ball at the back post. Richard Cresswell came close to doubling United`s lead on the stroke of halftime but his looping header was just the wrong side of the post.

Derby started the second half strongly and kept the visitors` penned in their own half but United looked sharp on the break and Evans flashed a shot across the face of goal on fifty-two minutes after another break. Kris Commons` inviting cross from the right picked out Paul Green on the hour mark but he somehow headed wide from eight yards with the goal at his mercy. Alberto Bueno came off the bench for his debut minutes later in place of Robbie Savage as Nigel Clough looked to change the momentum.

Jamie Ward`s pace down the left caused problems for The Rams and his touch setup Stephen Quinn who flashed his effort across goal and only narrowly wide of the far post. Dave Martin came on in place of Paul Green and took up a position upfront and Kris Commons made room on the edge of the box but his right-footed effort was straight at Simonsen amidst ironic cheers from The Rams` fans for a first shot on target with fifteen minutes to go. Gareth Roberts was stretchered off after picking up a booking for a late challenge with ten minutes remaining to be replaced by Conor Doyle. Shaun Barker was pushed up front for the closing minutes but, despite five minutes of added time, his side couldn`t find the break through leaving them still without a home win this season.

Derby County: Bywater, Brayford (Doyle 81), Barker, Leacock, Roberts, Savage (Bueno 61), Bailey, Commons, Green (Martin 72), Moxey, Cywka

Subs: Deeney, Anderson, Pringle

Sheffield United: Simonsen, Jordan, Nosworthy, Montgomery, Ertl, Britton, Evans (Quinn 63), Calve (Lowton 74), Cresswell, Ward (Yeates 86), Bartley

Subs: Morgan, Bogdanovic, Taylor, Aksalu

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