FOOTBALL Live

Wednesday January 7, 2009 Finished Pride Park

1 - 0

Derby County

  • Commons 30’

Manchester United

  1. Derby stun United in semi-final

    Derby stun United in semi-final

    New boss Nigel Clough saw a stunning goal from Kris Commons help Derby shock Manchester United 1-0. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Derby County
    • Manchester United
    • 90+4' That's it, Derby have clinched a famous victory, 1-0 it has finished! Kris Commons is the hero and The Rams will take a one goal lead to Old Trafford in two weeks' time.
    • 90+2' The ball pin-balls around in Derby's box, before it falls to Michael Carrick at the back post, but his header is tame and is caught comfortably by Roy Carroll.
    • 90' Derby enjoy some sustained possession in the United half as the fourth official signals that four minutes will be added, to the sound of a collective sigh from teh Pride Park faithful.
    • 87' The excellent Andy Todd departs to a standing ovation, to be replaced by combative midfielder Robbie Savage.
    • 85' United appear to be running out of ideas and becoming increasingly frustrated by Derby's excellent rear-guard.
    • 83' A good through ball by Teale releases Commons, but the midfielder turned forward, drags his shot wide after taking it early.
    • 82' Gary Teale is booked for a niggly challenge on Tevez as Derby are pushed further and further into the half.
    • 81' David Lowe makes his second substitution, bringing on Nacer Barazite in place of Steve Davies.
    • 80' Good skill by Commons brings a parried save from Kuszczak and Rob Hulse inexplicably puts the follow-up over the bar from six-yards out!
    • 77' Ronaldo has a trademark free-kick flash agonisingly wide of Carroll's left post from 25-yards out, prompting a mix of jeers and despairing expressions from the two sets of fans.
    • 75' Michael Carrick has replaced Anderson in United's final change.
    • 74' Rafael again forages forward before passing to Ronaldo on the edge of the Derby box, but the Portugese dragged his shot narrowly wide of Carroll's far post.
    • 71' Addison and Commons combine to great effect down the Derby right, at the expense of Jonny Evans and Anderson to win a corner, but United clear the danger eventually.
    • 69' A sharp turn and shot by Steve Davies goes narrowly wide of Kuszczak's goal - the young striker has looked very sharp this evening, drifting off Hulse.
    • 66' Kris Commons hustles O'Shea and Rafael tenaciously to force two poor clearances, as the midfielder continues to impress for The Rams.
    • 64' Hulse has a header inside the United box, but with his back to goal his contact is tame.
    • 62' The rescue cavalry arrive in the shape of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, replacing Danny Wellbeck and Paul Scholes, who failed to stamp their mark on the game.
    • 61' Addison again does brilliantly down the right to out-muscle O'Shea, but Hulse's knock-down is poor.
    • 59' The domineering Rafael pops up in the Derby box, but his driven shot is blocked by Lewin Nyatanga.
    • 57' Mile Sterjovski is replaced by Gary Teale in midfield in a tactical swap by David Lowe.
    • 57' There is a delay as the uncompromising Rob Hulse, clashes with the even more uncompromising Nemanja Vidic, with the striker coming off worse this time.
    • 55' Miles Addison, who has been dominant in the centre of midfield for Derby, commits one robust tackle too many and Phil Dowd awards Paul Scholes a free-kick.
    • 53' Paul Connolly fouls Nani, but the winger makes a dreadful hash of the resulting free-kick, lofting his cross-shot tamely into Roy Carroll's grateful arms.
    • 50' Good anticipation from Roy Carroll as the keeper hares out to intercept Rafael's through ball to Tevez.
    • 49' Let us not forget while lauding the potential impact of United's star subs, that Robbie Savage is loitering ominously on the touchline for The Rams too!
    • 47' Rafael is booked for tugging back Kris Commons as the midfielder charged down the left wing - it was cynical but only worthy of the yellow.
    • 46' The second half is underway and Sir Alex has yet to make any changes to his side, but surely it can't be long unless Tevez et al can conjure something up quickly.
    • 45+1' Referee Phil Dowd blows his whistle to signal the end of the first half, and Derby walk off briskly after a job well done - they lead 1-0 and Nigel Clough is on his feet applauding.
    • 45' Mohammed Camara has looked in commanding form at the back for Derby and deserves a mention, if only to demonstrate how quiet he has helped keep Danny Wellbeck and Carlos Tevez, along with Andy Todd. One minute will be added...
    • 43' Rafael does well to keep the ball in play down the right, but Tevez plays an erratic pass to Nani and the move breaks down yet again.
    • 41' It really has been a tame, subdued performance from United so far, but with a bench that includes Rooney, Ronaldo and Carrick, Sir Alex is not short of reasons for making a few changes.
    • 39' I am loathe to use the injury icon in the case of Nani, but the winger goes down in seeming agony after an aerial challenge with Paul Connolly, meeting a raking Vidic pass; he will back and running in no time, no doubt.
    • 37' As a side-point, Tevez has barely touched the ball and is continuing to drop deeper and deeper to try to get involved - he will blame the service, however.
    • 35' Roy Carroll does well to punch the ball clear with real certainty from a Nani corner, as Vidic stormed into the box to challenge for a header.
    • 34' The recalled Andy Todd epitomises the growing confidence of the home side by rampaging forward into the United half and driving a shot from 30-yards - it drifts wide.
    • 32' Derby deserve their lead for having the greater conviction in their opponent's half; and to embellish the point, Paul Scholes shoots wildly into the stands at the other end.
    • 30' GOAL!!! Kris Commons finds himself on the edge of the United box with no one closing him down sufficiently - the midfielder then lets fly with a rasping drive which beats Kuszczak all ends up! 1-0 Derby!
    • 27' Nani and John O'Shea combine well down the left wing, before the Irishman finds himself through on goal, but his shot is blocked by the recovering Paul Green - surely Tevez would have scored from that position!
    • 26' More indecision at the back for United as O'Shea sells Kuszczak short on a back-pass, but the keeper just manages to clear under pressure from Hulse.
    • 24' The visitors have had 76% of possession in the last ten minutes, but have precious little to show for it - Roy Carroll has not had barely anything to do yet.
    • 22' United have two quick corners but Nani can't find a red shirt on either occasion, while Rafael blasts a shot into row Z from 30-yards.
    • 20' The game has become quite scrappy as neither side manage to keep the ball for any decent length of time; maybe Tevez can provide the spark, but he has been quiet so far.
    • 18' Paul Scholes uncharacteristically gives the ball away in his own half to Kris Commons, but after a slick exchange of passes with Hulse, loses out to O'Shea down the right wing.
    • 15' Roy Carroll, another beneficiary of Paul Jewell's resignation, takes a good catch under pressure on his line against his former side, of course.
    • 13' Rob Hulse is providing a useful outlet for Derby as they look to break following United's possession in their half, Vidic is now looking to take the big man off Jonny Evans' hands, though.
    • 11' At the other end, Danny Wellbeck continues to look sprightly, latching on to an Anderson through ball, but failing to keep it in play.
    • 9' Vidic does well to clear inside his own six-yard box as Derby continue to dominate, making a start which belies the current status of the respective sides.
    • 7' Jonny Evans atones for his indecision a few minutes previous by clearing Rob Hulse's shot off the line with Kuszczak off his line.
    • 5' Dubious defending by United almost leads to an early opening for Derby as Kuszczak, then Vidic, fling themselves at Steve Davies' feet as the striker was set to strike home at the back post - Jonny Evans and John O'Shea failed to deal with the initial cross.
    • 4' The cameras are still being trained on the new manager-in-waiting, Nigel Clough, who is up in the stands alongside Derby chairman Adam Pearson; the visitors are stroking the ball around on the pitch.
    • 2' Rob Hulse clatters Tomasz Kuszczak as the keeper comes to claim Miles Addison's long ball, but the Pole is protected by referee Phil Dowd.
    • 1' We're underway at Pride Park and Nani immediately runs at Paul Connolly down the left and is fouled by the full-back; Danny Wellbeck attempts an audacious, but unsuccessful overhead kick with the resultant free-kick.
    • - Sir Alex Ferguson makes a number of changes, sending out a young side with five players 21 and under, while Derby give defender Andy Todd a starting place and midfielder Robbie Savage a spot on the bench, despite the duo having been out of favour in Paul Jewell's previous regime.
    • - Welcome to this Carling Cup semi-final first leg encounter between Derby and Manchester United at Pride Park. Caretaker manager David Lowe will lead the Championship side in tonight's fixture with new Rams boss Nigel Clough in the stands.

  • Summary

    • 83' A good through ball by Teale releases Commons, but the midfielder turned forward, drags his shot wide after taking it early.
    • 80' Good skill by Commons brings a parried save from Kuszczak and Rob Hulse inexplicably puts the follow-up over the bar from six-yards out!
    • 77' Ronaldo has a trademark free-kick flash agonisingly wide of Carroll's left post from 25-yards out, prompting a mix of jeers and despairing expressions from the two sets of fans.
    • 74' Rafael again forages forward before passing to Ronaldo on the edge of the Derby box, but the Portugese dragged his shot narrowly wide of Carroll's far post.
    • 69' A sharp turn and shot by Steve Davies goes narrowly wide of Kuszczak's goal - the young striker has looked very sharp this evening, drifting off Hulse.
    • 30' GOAL!!! Kris Commons finds himself on the edge of the United box with no one closing him down sufficiently - the midfielder then lets fly with a rasping drive which beats Kuszczak all ends up! 1-0 Derby!
    • 27' Nani and John O'Shea combine well down the left wing, before the Irishman finds himself through on goal, but his shot is blocked by the recovering Paul Green - surely Tevez would have scored from that position!
    • 7' Jonny Evans atones for his indecision a few minutes previous by clearing Rob Hulse's shot off the line with Kuszczak off his line.
    • 5' Dubious defending by United almost leads to an early opening for Derby as Kuszczak, then Vidic, fling themselves at Steve Davies' feet as the striker was set to strike home at the back post - Jonny Evans and John O'Shea failed to deal with the initial cross.
    • - Welcome to this Carling Cup semi-final first leg encounter between Derby and Manchester United at Pride Park. Caretaker manager David Lowe will lead the Championship side in tonight's fixture with new Rams boss Nigel Clough in the stands.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Phil Dowd

  • Derby County

    Manager: David Lowe

    Captain: Paul Connolly

    Starting line-up

    • R. Carroll
    • P. Connolly Yellow Card
    • A. Todd Substitution Out (87′)
    • L. Nyatanga
    • M. Camara
    • M. Sterjovski Substitution Out (57′)
    • P. Green
    • M. Addison
    • K. Commons Goal
    • S. Davies Substitution Out (80′)
    • R. Hulse

    Subs

    • S. Bywater
    • R. Savage Substitution In87′
    • D. Powell
    • G. Teale Substitution In57′ Yellow Card
    • S. Hines
    • L. Dickinson
    • N. Barazite Substitution In80′

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Manchester United

    Manager: Alex Ferguson

    Captain: Ryan Giggs

    Starting line-up

    • T. Kuszczak
    • R. Da Silva Yellow Card
    • N. Vidic
    • J. Evans
    • J. O'Shea
    • .. Nani
    • P. Scholes Substitution Out (62′)
    • O. Anderson Substitution Out (73′)
    • D. Gibson
    • D. Welbeck Substitution Out (62′)
    • C. Tevez

    Subs

    • M. Carrick Substitution In73′
    • R. Giggs
    • W. Rooney Substitution In62′
    • D. Fletcher
    • C. Ronaldo Substitution In62′
    • R. Possebon
    • B. Amos

    Injured

    • O. Hargreaves
    • W. Brown

    Suspended

    • P. Evra