Carling Cup - Derby stun United in semi-final

Eurosport - Thu, 08 Jan 09:20:00 2009

An inspired Derby County defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Pride Park.

FOOTBALL; Derby County's Steve Davies (L) gets above Manchester United's Anderson, Jan 2009 - 0

Kris Commons"s 30th-minute strike clinched victory for the Rams after United's defenders backed off the midfielder, who punished their retreat with a fierce drive past Tomasz Kuszczak.

United looked devoid of ideas in attack and, despite the second half introduction of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Carrick, were unable to cancel their arrears, against a dogged and tenacious Derby rearguard.

The cameras were all trained on manager-in-waiting, Nigel Clough, as the new boss was introduced to the home fans, who responded in buoyant fashion with the feeling clearly infectious as the Derby players began the game brightly.

Sir Alex Ferguson fielded a young side, mostly of players of 21 years or under, and the changes caused a number of uncharacteristic unforced errors from United's defence.

The first glimpse of indecision saw Jonny Evans and John O'Shea contrive to make unconvincing clearances in their box, prompting desperate blocks from first Kuszczak, then Nemanja Vidic at the feet of Derby striker Steve Davies's feet.

But 21-year-old Evans atoned for his lack of conviction moments later, scampering back to the United goal-line to clear Mile Sterjovski's shot away, with his keeper stranded, following a Kris Commons corner.

United enjoyed the majority of possession, but could not convert their territorial domination into anything tangible; their best chance falling to O'Shea after a slick exchange with Nani down the left, before the defender's shot was bravely blocked by the retreating Paul Green.

On the half-hour mark, the visitors were made to pay as Commons unleashed a rasping drive from the edge of the area to beat Kuszczak down to his left - a superb opportunist strike, but Ferguson will have bemoaned the lack of pressure applied by his defenders.

Carlos Tevez, desperate to make his mark on proceedings, became increasingly frustrated by a lack of service and dropped deeper and deeper, leaving Danny Wellbeck isolated up-front, leaving both players despondent.

Ferguson resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes at half-time, instead waiting until the 63rd minute to employ the much-revered duo of Rooney and Ronaldo at the expense of the ineffectual Paul Scholes and Wellbeck, with Carrick introduced ten minutes later.

Two chances followed with Ronaldo the culprit on both occasions; the first, a shot from the edge of the box after a foraging run from Rafael, which drifted narrowly wide and the second a trademark free-kick, which came even closer to finding its way into the far corner of Carroll's net.

But it was Derby who had the best opportunity squandered in the 80th minute, after another incisive run and shot from Commons was parried by Kuszczak, and Hulse inexplicably skyed his follow-up shot over the bar.

Ronaldo had another free-kick which he failed to convert, while Commons latched on to substitute Gary Teale's through ball but dragged his shot wide when through on goal.

But Derby clung on to their victory and caretaker boss David Lowe boasts a perfect record from his one game in charge against the English and European champions, with The Rams taking a one-goal lead to Old Trafford for the second leg in two weeks' time.

Dan Quarrel / Eurosport

Comment 582 - 601 of 601

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. rubbish

    From oldchromedome2000, on Sun 11 Jan 9:55PM

  2. i hope manu win the 2nd leg i thought manu would thrash­ derby but then again nearly the hole team was un21

    From Noor, on Sat 10 Jan 6:55PM

  3. They cant even beat derby even with Ronaldo and Rooney­ and they're the so called best players in the­ world.

    From peterlalor, on Thu 8 Jan 9:58PM

  4. Lol @#$% united

    From ev_smudge, on Thu 8 Jan 9:19PM

  5. rubbish from united i expect them to hammer derby at­ old trafford though so it will be a man u v­ totenham final which man u will win

    From mikey.breslin, on Thu 8 Jan 8:28PM

  6. lifetime rams fan for my sins.never thought id see­ another clough at pride park. respect!!!u might beat us­ at old trafford but who cares!!!!!!

    From silverbacktomo, on Thu 8 Jan 7:33PM

  7. good for the cup, good for entertainment, good for the­ second round, are these rams like stubborn south­ suffolks? (a right stroppy breed), if so....... get­ ready united.

    From richardalbrown, on Thu 8 Jan 7:16PM

  8. good for the cup, good for entertainment, good for the­ second round, are these rams like stubborn south­ suffolks? (a right stroppy breed), if so....... get­ ready united.

    From richardalbrown, on Thu 8 Jan 7:04PM

  9. COMMON U­ BLUES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Seyi A, on Thu 8 Jan 6:37PM

  10. hahahhah man u are rubbish! derby can beat manchester­ united why? because manchester united are POO

    From Nath, on Thu 8 Jan 5:36PM

  11. I think the real congratulations need to go to Chris­ Hutchings in what is probably his last match with Derby­ County. Hope he can get a position elsewhere and have­ success, well done !

    From B4ts, on Thu 8 Jan 2:56PM

  12. DIMITAR BERBATOV = ASSISTS = GOALS = WINS

    From tzennera, on Thu 8 Jan 1:45PM

  13. Derby created at least 4 beautiful chances and it could­ have been 4-0 last nite, seriously! Should just see how­ red was the face of that Devil's boss..lolz! And­ BTW to Manure fans, no need to be mad or angry, no one­ denies Mu's achievements what so ever, it just that­ Derby outplayed Manure amazingly last­ nite....entertaining game really!:) Give them credits!

    From Hamimah, on Thu 8 Jan 1:08PM

  14. its seems that some supporters get more out of united­ losing because their own teams win nothing. This­ won't be the last time teams let younger sides play­ in the carling cup, it won't be the last liverpool,­ chelsea, & arsenal know because they are out. lets­ wait until the next leg. Well done fergie the ONLY­ honest manager to say things as they are. if we have no­ spark yet and were so close god help you guys when it­ clicks

    From chris w, on Thu 8 Jan 1:00PM

  15. what a great night for derby county,lets hope they can­ prove they can play by winning at man utd,,like we did­ in 1997 3-2 ,,, come on you rams

    From nedcums, on Thu 8 Jan 12:57PM

  16. #comment 585 andrewkandrewkat--a typical arrogant­ Manure supporter!! Why don't you just give credits­ to Derby or any other teams when due?

    #comment 586 and­ up: Totally AGREED! I always thought failure is­ necessary at times to make people down to earth and be­ humble, but obviously, some of MU fans even after being­ embarrassingly knocked off by the lower team still­ remains arrogant!!!

    Blimey Derby! You were outplayed­ Manure lastnite..you deserved to win!

    From Hamimah, on Thu 8 Jan 12:45PM

  17. I am Derby Supporter, I was at Derby v Man U match last­ season and Man U played their 1st Team from the start.­ Derby had the better chances from what I remember and­ were unlucky not to have got something out of the game.­ If only Derby could maintain this level of play­ consistantly they would certainly move up again next­ season. Good luck Cloughie get them sorted out .......­ and up!!

    From cdisrvs, on Thu 8 Jan 12:16PM

  18. I am Derby Supporter, I was at Derby v Man U match last­ season and Man U played their 1st Team from the start.­ Derby had the better chances from what I remember and­ were unlucky not to have got something out of the game.­ If only Derby could maintain this level of play­ consistantly they would certainly move up again next­ season. Good luck Cloughie get them sorted out .......­ and up!!

    From cdisrvs, on Thu 8 Jan 12:15PM

  19. I can't honestly describe the feeling am getting­ cos am elated any time a team beats united. What makes­ it even more pleasing is the fact that they (United)­ were outplayed and it makes me doff out my heart for­ the new manager at Derby, I only pray that the feeling­ and the camaraderie will continue unending.

    From Erskine Sam, on Thu 8 Jan 11:07AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    firstly, its the carling cup (who cares). secondly, its­ the first leg away from home, (united know that all­ they need to do is put in a good performance at Old­ trafford in 2 weeks and its over for derby)
    and­ thirdly, they've got a huge game against chelsea­ this weekend, no wonder there minds werent on this­ game!!
    if anything, this has probably woken the team up­ for this weekend!!

    UNITED ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!

    From andrew, on Thu 8 Jan 11:01AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account