Derby County have beaten Preston North End 1-0 in the League Cup thanks to Paul Green’s 40th-minute goal
Here is a timeline from the game:
Opening 15 minutes: An early chance for Preston the only notable incident so far. Ross Wallace sliced it with his right foot high and wide after Carroll flapped at a cross. Been pretty even so far otherwise.
20mins: Pretty scrappy at the minute. Both sides taking a while to find their feet and little in the way of chances. The travelling Rams fans are still in good voice though.
22mins: Hulse looks out of confidence. A Claude-esque slice from Michael Hart landed right in front of him 18 yards out but, instead of hitting it first time, Hulse waited for the bounce and gave the defence enough time to make the block.
23mins: Excellent stop from Carroll. Good move from Preston led to Mellor blasting it goalwards on the turn from 20 yards but the keeper blocked it well.
24mins: Preston getting a lot of space down the right. Stewart has been outnumbered a couple of times already.
27mins: Still nothing in it although Preston have looked slightly more dangerous going forward. The new-look Rams defence already looks more solid than Saturday although they keep getting overlapped on the flanks.
28mins: Rams fans still singing away. Don’t think they’ve stoppped since kick-off.
29mins: Preston fans starting to get annoyed with the officials. A few 50-50 decisions have gone against them.
33mins: Preston just starting to get on top although they’ve been let down by some poor balls in the final third. Sedgwick still getting too much space down the right flank.
35mins: KAZWATCH – The Polish midfielder isn’t playing too badly. First time I’ve been able to say that. He just sprayed out a fantastic crossfield pass to Commons but the former Forest man fluffed the chip into the box. He did make an early mistake to let Hawley in however.
37mins: Bit of frustration from Tito. He throws the ball to the ground in disgust after having a foul awarded against him. It earns him a reprimand from the ref to chants of “Tito” from the Derby fans.
38mins: Kaz hits the post! Commons breaks down the right, ball eventually falls to the Pole and he sidefoots it from 20 yards onto the outside of the upright. Close.
40mins: GOAL! Preston 0-1 Derby. Green gives Derby the lead with his second goal of the season. Good cross from Stewart and an unmarked Green cushions his header superbly into the corner over the keeper.
43mins: Commons’ speculative 35-yard effort goes just over. Keeper was scrambling.
44mins: Was just about to report before the goal that the Derby fans had stopped singing. Lasted about five seconds. They’re louder than ever now.
45mins: Dangerous free-kick to Preston with time almost up… and Carroll stops Wallace’s effort well with a good dive.
45+1mins: Preston finishing strongly but a bit of excellent defending from Stewart sees them off for what should be their final attack of the half.
45+3mins: Addison booked for a foul on Carter. Free-kick is lumped into the box, Stewart wins the header and is fouled in the process. Ref blows up.
HT: Preston 0-1 Derby.
Looks like they’re coming back out for the second half. Addison has been doing OK, nothing special. Got booked for a needless tackle but, considering his age and experience, it’s been promising. He’s been playing in midfield, slightly deeper than Kaz. Green is playing out on the right.
46mins: Early chance falls to Mellor but he puts it wide. Derby almost caught sleeping.
47mins: My journalistic colleague from the Burton Mail has been highly impressed by the boy Green. I have to agree.
50mins: Game’s turning a bit scrappy but the Rams fans are entertaining themselves. He’s hardly done anything but the suppoerters are still coming out with the occasional chant of “Tito”.
53mins: Preston fans trying to get their side going but it’s not happened so far. Their final ball has been poor.
55mins: It’s still quite scrappy. Preston are starting to build some pressure. Connolly just made an important header to block a shot on goal. The new full backs are playing well.
57mins: Booking for Leacock. Foul on Wallace.
58mins: St Ledger wins a header from the free-kick but it goes straight to Carroll.
58mins: Commons’ drills one just wide from 25 yards. Keeper probably had it covered.
59mins: Mellor’s header easily held by Carroll. Derby have got to watch out, Preston are starting to create a few openings. The Lilywhites are leaving themselves open to the counter attack though.
63mins: A Sedgwick header goes well over. Preston still struggling to create anything clear cut.
66mins: Derby are soaking up the pressure well. This is the point where someone makes a calamitous error.
66mins: Great header from Hulse! Longergan just scrambles it to safety. Connolly with the cross and Hulse runs onto it, heading low to the keeper’s left.
68mins: Preston sub – Whaley on for Sedgwick.
71mins: Tito booked for dissent. Kicked the ball away in frustration. The fans love it. “Tito! Tito! Tito!”
74mins: Great tackle from St Ledger to stop Hulse in his tracks! Lovely ball from Tito gives Hulse a clear run on goal but St Ledger gets a last ditch sliding tackle in to dispossess him. Preston go up the other end and Mellor heads just wide.
77mins: Derby subs – Hulse off for S Davies. Kaz off for Mears. Mears gets a few boos from the Preston fans.
81mins: Looks like Mears has directly replaced Kaz in centre of midfield. Still playing 4-4-2.
83mins: Preston sub – Carter off for Chaplow.
86mins: Preston having plenty of possession but Derby are holding out well. Even Tito is defending from the front. Roy Carroll has been excellent again as well. He’s held everything that’s come near him.
89mins: Preston are getting frustrated. They’re throwing men forward but still haven’t opened Derby up.
90mins: Three mins of added time.
90+1mins: Chaplow’s header goes straight to Carroll’s feet. Few nerves starting to creep in for both teams.
90+1mins: Tito skews one just wide in front of the Rams fans. They still chant his name.
90+3mins: Preston have everyone forward, including their keeper. Desperate defending.
FT: That’s it! Preston 0-1 Derby
ATTENDANCE: 8,037
TEAMS: Preston North End: Lonergan, Hart, Jones, St. Ledger, Hill, Sedgwick (Whaley 68mins), McKenna, Carter (Chaplow 83mins), Wallace, Mellor, Hawley. Subs: Chris Neal, Mawene, Jarrett, Nicholson, Ormerod.
Derby County: Carroll, Connolly, Leacock, Albrechtsen, Stewart, Kazmierczak (Mears 77mins), Addison, Green, Commons, Hulse (Davies 77mins), Villa. Subs: Bywater, McEveley, Sterjovski, Pearson, Pereplotkins.
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)