AUGUST 2014
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Well I have to say my optimism for the season has been dashed a little by performances this month but I'm sure we will improve with time. The bonus is that we have progressed well in the Capital One Cup but league performances really need to improve.
Watford 0 - 1 Derby County
Championship
Hughes
In what was a very even game overall we came out well as winners thanks to Will Hughes' fine early finish. Wolves pushed on second half but we held on with some good defending to start the campaign with a win.
Mansfield 0 - 1 Derby County
Capital One Cup 1st Round
Pilkington
A game against our feeder club Mansfield in the Capital One Cup was next and although we lost to them in pre-season that never looked likely again here. Anthony Pilkington bagged his first goal for us just before half time and we had many more chances to increase the lead but were unable to. Through to the next round.
Derby County 2 - 0 Tranmere Rovers
Championship
A. Keogh (2)
2 league wins on the trot and no goals conceded. Tranmere were last year's surprise package but they didn't really put on a show here tonight as Andy Keogh, the summer signing from Millwall, bagged two excellent finishes to send County joint top of the table.
Wolves 1 - 0 Derby County
Championship
Wolves always seem to be a bit of a tough team for us and so it proved again this evening as we went down to a 1-0 defeat, although we were more than in this game. We failed to show a cutting edge though and were punished by Jake Cassidy's early goal.
Derby County 2 - 2 Barnsley
Championship
Sammon, Jacobs
We were twice pegged back by Barnsley and thus held to a dissapointing draw at home. Connor Sammon started and bagged his first of the campaign only to see it cancelled out. Michael Jacobs then turned in Thompson's far post cross but Barnsley went up the other end and scored instantly. Infuriating.
Derby County 2 - 0 Charlton Athletic
Capital One Cup 2nd Round
Thompson, Judge
Two early goals set us on our way against the Addicks, with Thompson bagging his first Derby goal with a lovely low drive before Judge turned in Pilkington's cut back. Charlton rarely threatened save for a speculative Kerkar free kick which slammed the crossbar, and we sailed into the next round.
Derby County 0 - 2 Reading
Championship
Not the best end to the month and although we didn't really deserve it, this game showed us where we might be lacking still. Reading have that Premier League quality that we lack at times and while we are an impressive young side, we have much work to do to be real promotion contenders.
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So not a disastrous month by any means, and with several new players coming into the first team there was bound to be some bedding in but I have to be a little bit dissapointed with the losses against Wolves and Reading as I felt we could have Given them more of a game, especially at home to the Royals.
That said, I've enjoyed seeing some of our new faces put on decent performances and well done to Pilkington, Keogh and Thompson for all bagging in their first month.
That said, it's an old face who has shot onto the scene this month. Michael Jacobs had a quiet first two seasons really as understudy to a number of other players but this could be his breakthrough season. Influential this month and kept Pilkington out of the side in the league at least.
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END OF MONTH POSITION: 12th
[TABLE="width: 500"]
[TR]
[TD]
Name[/TD]
[TD]
G[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Andy Keogh[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Connor Sammon[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Will Hughes[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Michael Jacobs[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Anthony Pilkington[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
