Rams Road Woes

Derby County tasted defeat on Boxing Day as they went down 2-0 against Burnley at Turf Moor, their second defeat in a row. Charlie Austin continued his fine record against The Rams when his deflected half-volley gave The Clarets the lead with five minutes until halftime. Derby slowly got themselves back into the game after the break and Craig Bryson and Michael Jacobs both forced saves from Lee Grant before Paul Coutts hit the post from an acute angle. The home side tied up the points with fifteen minutes to go when Michael Duff headed home from a corner and a late effort from Theo Robinson failed to give his side a consolation goal.

Mark O`Brien came back into the side in place of James O`Connor in the only change to the side and the damp conditions allowed both sides to move the ball around quickly in the opening stages without really threatening the scoreline. Martin Paterson was released on goal by a Danny Ings through ball but Adam Legzdins came out to meet the striker and reacted well to deny the Burnley man. Paul Coutts had The Rams` first effort of the afternoon after running at the home defence but his effort took a deflection off Michael Duff and went behind for a corner.

Richard Keogh did well to block another effort from Paterson and he was involved again as Charlie Austin headed a dangerous looking cross against him at the expense of a corner. The resultant set piece was only cleared as far as Keiran Trippier and his ball into the area bobbled around until it reached Austin and his half-volley took a deflection off Keogh and flew past Legzdins to give his side the lead on forty minutes. O`Brien had the only real effort of note in the closing stages when he headed over from a Michael Jacobs freekick but his side went in a goal behind at the break.

Ross Wallace sliced an effort well wide of the mark in the opening sages of the second period and Austin was outmuscled by John Brayford in the area as he looked for second before Ings threatened again only to be denied by a tackle by Keogh. Derby upped their game as they looked for a way back into the match and Craig Bryson forced Lee Grant into a save with a deflected effort before Jacobs forced another save from the former Derby keeper with a low shot that he could not hold and Coutts struck the post with the rebound from a tight angle.

Theo Robinson and Nathan Tyson were both introduced by Nigel Clough in an attempt to find the elusive equaliser but it was the home side who found the net when Wallace`s corner from the left was met by Duff and his header made it through Legzdins and Gareth Roberts on the line with fifteen minutes to go. Robinson had a volley just wide from a Coutts cross but Burnley saw out the closing stages to complete a double over The Rams.

Derby County: Legzdins; Brayford, Keogh, O'Brien (O`Connor 83), Roberts; Coutts, Hendrick, Hughes, Bryson (Tyson 65), Jacobs; Sammon (Robinson 72).

Subs Not Used: Fielding, Doyle, Freeman, Davies.

Burnley: Grant; Trippier, Shackell, Duff, Lafferty; Marney, McCann, Wallace; Ings (Stock 72), Paterson (Treacy 62), Austin (Vokes 68).

Subs Not Used: Jensen, Edgar, Mills, Bartley.

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