Rams Downed Again

Leicester City left Pride Park with a comfortable three points after a 2-0 victory against Derby County in front of the Skysports camera`s to leave Nigel Clough`s side still waiting for their first home victory of 2011. A superb turn and finish from Yakubu and a sweeping moved that was finished off by Andy King were the visitors reward for a commanding first half performance which saw The Rams struggle to make an impact on the game. Derby came out brightly in the second period but the damage had already been done and other than a glancing header from Steve Davies they rarely troubled the Leicester defence despite showing more spirit. The result leaves them in seventeenth place and they are in real danger of being sucked into the relegation fight in the coming weeks if results do not improve.

The Rams showed two changes to the side that gained a point at Fratton Park last weekend with Robbie Savage returning against his former club and Ben Pringle also coming into the starting line-up in place of James Bailey and Tomasz Cywka respectively and there was a place on the bench for new recruit Daniel Ayala. Leicester started the game brightly and after a frantic opening few minutes they settled down knocking the ball around well and making Derby work hard to win back possession. Patrick van Aanholt was looking dangerous down the left when coming forward and his low cross nearly found Yakubu but he was inches away from making contact as Stephen Bywater dived bravely at his feet with the ball squirming through them both before going to safety.

The visitors took the lead on twenty-eight minutes with a superb piece of skill from Yakubu as he controlled the ball and turned and powered a thunderous effort past Bywater from just inside the area after holding off Shaun Barker. Leicester continued to dominate the possession and Paul Gallagher came close after another neat move but his shot from outside of the area flashed just wide of the post with Bywater beaten. The Rams were starting to get more of a foothold in the match as halftime approached although they rarely threatened the Leicester backline and they found themselves two goals behind after a sweeping move from the back found Andy King in yards of space and he ran into the area before calmly slotting past Bywater to double the lead with the last kick of the half with barely time to get the game underway again before the whistle blew.

Tomasz Cywka replaced Stephen Pearson after the break and came on to a warm reception after the comments made about him last weekend and Derby started much more brightly getting in amongst the Leicester side giving them less time on the ball and looking to go forward whenever they could. Despite their increased efforts Leicester were standing firm at the back and Steve Davies glanced a header narrowly wide in a rare sight of goal for his side. Derby continued to toil away, backed by some great support from the stands, but they rarely troubled the visitors despite having the ball in some dangerous looking situations and John Brayford headed over from a Ben Davies freekick in the final minute with their final chance. The introduction of Alberto Bueno and Daniel Ayala had added interest to the closing stages but it was a comfortable victory for Sven Goran Erikkson`s side.

Derby County: Bywater, Brayford, Barker, Addison (Ayala 87), Roberts, Savage, Green, Pearson (Cywka 46), B Davies, Pringle (Bueno 82), S Davies

Subs: Deeney, Porter, Doyle, Leacock

Leicester City: Ricardo, van Aanholt, Gallagher, Oakley, King, Naughton, Wellens, Yakubu (Dyer 76), Bamba (Bruma 84), Mee, Vassell (Waghorn 83)

Subs: Weale, Berner, Abe, Moussa

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