Rams Suffer Heavy Defeat

Derby County fell to a heavy defeat in front of the SkySports camera`s as they went down 4-0 to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. The Rams enjoyed good periods of possession but didn`t trouble Kasper Schmeichel and the home side gradually built up the pressure before David Nugent escaped on a ball over the top and slotted home to give his side the lead. Darius Vassell added a second when he was first to the rebound just before the break and despite a better showing at the start of the second period Derby were still unable to create any clear cut scoring chances. Leicester wrapped up the points with two goals in the dieing minutes from substitutes Jeffrey Schlupp and Lloyd Dyer to cap a sorry evening for The Rams.

Nigel Clough named an unchanged side from the midweek draw with Barnsley with Gareth Roberts having recovered sufficiently to start and Kevin Kilbane also returned to be named amongst the substitutes. Both sides started quickly with scares at each end inside the first minute but the home side slowly gained control and Paul Konchesky fired in a right-footed effort that was easily held by Frank Fielding at his near post. Andy King was next to threaten after a neat flick from Neil Danns but he poked his effort wide of the target.

After an early spell of possession Derby were having to defend more and more and Leicester took the lead on twenty-one minutes a ball over the top was taken down well by David Nugent and he ran clear on goal to slot home when one-on-one with Frank Fielding. The Rams got back into the game after the goal and enjoyed more possession but they were struggling to create any clear cut chances and Kasper Schmeichel was largely untroubled. Gareth Roberts headed off the line from Sol Bamba`s goalbound header to keep his side in the match and Theo Robinson was inches away from a Ben Davies cross at the other end.

Nugent looked to have doubled the lead when he poked home at the far post but he kicked the ball against his arm and the referee disallowed the goal, whilst it wasn`t intentional the ball did not look to be going in until striking his hand. The home side weren`t to be denied however and Darius Vassell was first to the rebound from a Danns shot that came out off the post to double the lead just before the break.

Derby came out with a new energy at the start of the second period and Craig Bryson tested Schmeichel from 25 yards but the keeper gathered his effort with ease. Robinson then got his head to a Ben Davies corner but his glancing header was wide of the mark and whilst The Rams were again on top possession wise the Leicester defence were not giving anything away. Jamie Ward hit a swerving effort that was well held by Schmeichel and the former Sheffield United man moved to play up front with Lee Croft coming on to replace Steve Davies with just under twenty minutes to go.

Leicester tied the game up with two minutes to go when substitute Jeffrey Schlupp was first to a flicked header from a corner after being left unmarked six yards from goal and he turned the ball home despite Ben Davies attempts to clear off the line. Conor Doyle, on as a substitute, had a chance to pull one back but his effort was blocked by Matt Mills and Robinson fired the rebound high over the top. Another substitute, Lloyd Dyer, added the fourth in added time when he was given space down the left and his low effort went straight through Fielding to finish a miserable evening for his side.

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Peltier, Konchesky, Mills, Bamba, King, Vassell (Howard 84), Abe, Danns (Dyer 79), Fernandes, Nugent (Schlupp 70).

Subs Not Used: Pantsil, Weale.

Derby County: Fielding, Brayford, O'Brien, Shackell, Roberts, Hendrick, Bryson, Ward (Doyle 90), B Davies, Robinson, S Davies (Croft 72).

Subs Not Used: Legzdins, Anderson, Kilbane.

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