Match report: Accrington 0-1 Derby County
A report on an entertaining game at the Wham Stadium, which hosts Accrington were very unlucky to lose.
John Coleman speaks: And to say the Accrington manager is unhappy would be quite an understatement. “I feel physically sick,” he tells BT Sport. “I’m rapidly falling out of love with football. Every week we get stiffed by a refereeing decision. It wasn’t a sending off, it was a fair tackle ... a coming-together. Unfortunately, two weeks running we get an horrific decision. We’re getting this every week and sometimes I feel like packing it in. Good luck to Derby County, but there’s no way their fans will think they deserved to win that game. I hope they go on to win it now, but I can’t see it myself.”
Accrington are miffed: In the build-up to the corner that led to Derby’s goal, Janoi donacien was incorrectly penalised for a “foul” that was actually an excellent tackle. Accrington boss John Coleman raised it with referee John Moss at the time, but I was unsure what his beef was.
Frank Lampard speaks: “The result pleased me the most,” he tells BT Sport. “It was a tough match and we had to work hard for it. The conditions were difficult and we had to adapt a little bit. Accrington also made things very difficult for us and we’re glad to get the win. It’s nice for all the fans who have travelled to support us. The energy Accrington put into the game made things very hard for us.”
Hats off to Accrington: The League One side were a tad unfortunate not to earn at least a draw from this game. They gave as good as they got throughout and rather shot themselves in the foot when Daniel Balaser was sent off with 30 minutes remaining. Two rash, needless challenges earned the midfielder his marching orders, although it could be argued that Accrington’s performance levels didn’t drop in his absence.
Full-time: Accrington Stanley 0-1 Derby County
Peep! Peep! Peeeeeeep! It’s all over and Derby County win by the skin of their teeth. Martyn Waghorn’s scrappy goal in the 78th minute was the difference between the sides, but set up a nail-biting finish. A fine Kelle Roos save from a Billy Kee free-kick at the death ensured Derby got the win after Jayden Bogle had received a straight red for bringing down Paul Smyth when he was clean through on the Derby goal.
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90+5 min: Another long free-kick from Accrington, which Derby clear.
90+4 min: Accrington win a free-kick deep inside their own half. Goalkeeper Jonny Maxted takes it too quickly, pumping the ball forward before any of his team-mates have had a chance to get into the Derby box.
90+3 min: Another free-kick for Accrington in a good position. Jozefzoon is booked for refusing to retreat 10 yards. The ball’s touched to Billy Kee, who smashes it into the Derby wall.
90+1 min: Accrington have two men in the Derby wall, who move out of the way as Billy Kee attempts to place the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. An unsighted Kelle Roos gets down to save brilliantly, although Kee could have hit the ball a lot harder.
Red card! Jayden Bogle is sent off – a straight red - for dragging down Paul Smyth after the striker latched on to a long ball down the field and was advancing towards the Derby penalty area. Accrington have a free-kick just on the edge of the penalty area.
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89 min: For all their good play, Accrington havenb’t done enough in front of goal this afternoon. They haven’t had a single shot on target yet.
88 min: There’s a break in play as Martyn Waghorn receives treatment for an injury. He walks off the pitch and is replaced by Max Bird.
86 min: Accrington win a free-kick, with Smyth going down under a challenge from Jayden Bogle, just outside the Derby penalty area, in the right-back area of the field. The ball’s chipped into the penalty area, Bogle clears for Derby and they gallop down the pitch on the counter. Through on goal, Mason Bennett shoots and brings a good save out of Jonny Maxted, who stands tall and keeps his team in the game.
84 min: Accrington double-substitution: wing-backs Janoi Donacien and Callum Johnson have both had excellent games, but make way for Scott Brown and Paul Smyth. Smyth makes his Accrington debut, having signed on loan from QPR yesterday.
83 min: Accrington win a corner and the ball’s floated into the Derby penalty area, hanging on the wind. It’s headed clear.
80 min: A kick in the teeth for Accrington, who have done so well this afternoon. Holmes took the corner, playing it to a team-mate stabnding on the right edge of the penalty area, before receiving the return pass and marauding into the penalty area. He took a shot which was blocked by Sean McConville, but the ball broke for Waghorn, who fired home from close range, courtesy of a deflection.
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GOAL! Accrington 0-1 Derby County (Waghorn 78)
Derby take the lead! It’s a scrappy goal from a corner, with Waghorn bundling the ball over the line after excellent work from Duane Holmes.
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75 min: Callum Johnson tries to pick out Donacien in the Derby penalty area with a cross from the right, but the ball doesn’t bounce kindly for the wing-back and Derby clear their lines. The Championship side have failed utterly to make their man advantage count in the past 15 minutes.
73 min: Derby corner. Duane Holmes rolls it to Scott Malone on the edge of the area in a move from the training ground, but his shot is blocked. The ball goes out for another corner, from which nothing comes.
71 min: Derby County substitution: Florian Jozefzoon on for Harry Wilson, who’s had a very poor game by his own high standards. The loan signing from Liverpool has been very quiet today.
70 min: Completely unmarked, Billy Kee gets on the end of a cross into the Derby penalty area from the right and sends a good header flashing inches wide of the upright. This is very impressive from Accrington, who have created two decent scoring chances since going a man down.
68 min: On the left flank, Holmes, under the hammer, switches the play from one side of the pitch to the other. His side win a free-kick for a foul on Richard Keogh, the Derby captain who has played every minute of every single match his team has played this season.
66 min: It’s as you were for Accrington, despite them being down to 10 men. They’re still playing with three at the backs and their wing-backs are still getting forward at every opportunity. Their only concession to being a man down seems to be right-winger Sean McConville playing in a more central role.
65 min: Billy Kee gets his first sight of goal and sends a shot fizzing just wide after being teed up just inside the Derby penalty area by Donacien. That was a great chance.
62 min: With a man advantage, Derby set about trying to win this game in the final 30 minutes. They get a two-on-two in the Accrington half, but squander a decent opportunity when Harry Wilson misplaces a pass. Accrington subsequently win a free-kick when Sean McConnville is barged over the sideline by Mason Bennett.
Red card! Moments after his near miss, Barlaser is sent off for picking up his second yellow card. He needlessly dived into a challenge on David Nugent and can have no complaints. His first yellow was also for needlessly reckless challenge on Harry Wilson. Accrington are down to 10 men and the camera in the home dressing-room shows Barlaser to be utterly distraught.
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56 min: A brilliant block by Fikayo Tomori prevents Daniel Barlaser from opening the scoring for after a neat one-two with McConville in the Derby County penalty area.
54 min: Mason Bennett sends an inviting cross into the Derby County from the left flank. Ben Richards-Everton makes a dog’s dinner of his effort to block and allows the ball to squirm between his legs. Luckily for him, he got enough of a touch on it to steer it out of the reach of the lurking Jayden Bogle at the far post.
53 min: The windy conditions are causing several of the players problems and Accrington keeper Jonny Maxted is the latest to suffer as a clearances is carried out over the sideline.
52 min: Accrington go on the attack, having been under the cosh in the early stages of this second half. Ross Sykes attempts to cross the ball into the Derby County penalty area from a deep position on the right, but overcooks his effort and sends the ball sailing wide.
50 min: Derby County attack down the left flank again and Scott Malone floats in a terrific cross. Martyn Waghorn slides in to try and poke the ball home at the far post, but the ball bounces underneath his outstretched left leg and away to safety. A let-off for Accrington.
48 min: Mason Bennett plays a good ball down the left flank for Duane Holmes to chase. With David Nugent haring into the penalty area screaming for the ball, Holmes sends in a cross. Janoi Donacien is on hand to clear.
47 min: Interviewed on BT Sport as he returned to his dug-out, Accrington manager John Coleman had this to say: “[We need to] just believe in themselves a bit more. There’s nothing in it. We’re pleased with the way we’ve stuck to our game plan, but we’ve got to do more. We’ve got to make their goalkeeper work more.”
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Second half: Accrington 0-0 Derby County
46 min: Derby get the second half started and immediately go on the attack. David Nugent drives down the left side and pulls the ball into the penalty area. Mason Bennett tries to steer the ball goalwards, but has to stretch and can’t make clean contact under pressure from a defender.
Half-time: Accrington Stanley 0-0 Derby County
It’s all square at the break at the Wham Stadium, where the deadlock remains unbroken. Both sides have had their chances to score in an entertaining first half, in which Accrington demonstrated they are anything but pushovers. It’s all to play for in the second half, with a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup up for grabs.
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44 min: Duane Holmes crosses into the Accrington penalty area after good hold-up play from David Nugent. It’s a decent cross, which Mason Bennett attempts to steer goalwards with an ambitious, acrobatic overhead kick that doesn’t quite work out for him.
43 min: Jayden Bogle and Ross Sykes get a telling-off form Jon Moss for an off-the-ball incident after Bogle had been dispossessed by a good tackle in the Accrington penalty area. Sykes subsequently accused the player of diving, somewhat unfairly in my opinion, prompting a bit of minor handbags.
41 min: Scott Malone plays the ball forward for Derby County, but it’s hacked clear by a defender. Accrington Stanley are more than holding their own in this first half, showing no fear whatsoever. They’re being encouraged to get forward, particularly their two wing-backs, Callum Johnson and Jordan Clark.
38 min: Mason Bennett is immediately penalised for a foul on Ross Sykes, whose heels he clips as the Accrington man chases the ball down the touchline.
37 min: Derby substitution: Mason Mount off with what looks like a hamstring injury, Mason Bennett on. It’s a speedy striker for a midfielder, but a Mason for a Mason.
35 min: For Derby, George Evans tries his luck from distance. He doesn’t get much power on his low, bouncing drive, but there are several bodies between he and Accrington goalkeeper Jonny Maxted, who sees the ball late but saves nevertheless.
35 min: Derby win a corner. Mason Mount, who looks to be struggling with some sort of niggle, sends the ball arrowing into the penalty area. Ross Sykes clears for Accrington.
34 min: Kee is fit to continue and play resumes with a throw-in for Accrington.
31 min: Billy Kee goes down injured under a challenge from Martyn Waghorn while trying to hold the ball up. Accrington’s fans are incensed as Derby’s players refuse to put the ball out of play. Fikayo Tomori eventually does so and Kee gets treatment for an ankle injury. Replays show that Waghorn fouled him, sliding in and catching his ankle.
29 min: Accrington’s Sean McConville attempts to curl a shot into the top right-hand corner from distance, but his effort goes a little too high and a little too wide of the angle of cross-bar and upright.
28 min: Jordan Clark picks out Callum Johnson in acres of space just outside the Derby penalty area, near the right side. The ball bobbles towards the full-back, but he steers his first-time effort wide of the far post.
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27 min: George Evans tries to wriggle down the right wing for Derby County, but can find no way past Ben Richards-Everton.
25 min: Jordan Clark advances towards the Derby County penalty area and unleashes a shot. His low drive goes through the legs of Richard Keogh, but is pulled wide of the far upright.
22 min: McConville releases Janoi Donacien down the left touchline, but Martyn Waghorn is back to dispossess the St Lucian, who is on loan from Ipswich Town, of possession.
21 min: An excellent challenge by Accrington central defender Mark Hughes in his own penalty area prevents Duane Holmes from unleashing a shot on goal.
19 min: Derby County win a corner after a good marauding run through the centre by Richard Keogh. The ball’s swung into the mixer and Accrington clear.
18 min: A foul by Martyn Waghorn gives Accringotn a free-kick on the left flank, but Sean McConville’s flat delivery doesn’t trouble Derby’s defence. This has been a decent game so far. Both teams could and should have scored at least once, but Accrington are in the ascendency.
16 min: Barlaser and Clark combine on the edge of the Derby penalty area and Accrington get a cross into the box, aiming for Billy Kee. It’s cleared.
15 min: Sean McConville releases Jordan Clark down the left hand side with a beautiful pass. Play is switched to the right flank, the ball’s crossed into the penalty area and Accrington win another corner. Nothing comes of it.
13 min: Accrington win a corner which is taken short to Barlaser. “Get the ball in the box!” comes a roar from the crowd and Accrington eventually do exactly that. It’s cleared.
10 min: Accrington go close. Sean McConville gets on the end of a wonderful cross-field pass to the corner from Daniel Barlaser and sends a cross fizzing into the penalty area from the right. It’s a great delivery, but Jordan Clark makes a mess of his volley from seven or eight yards out with the goal at his mercy. It’s possible his team-mate Billy Kee got in his way and distracted him, but that was a brilliant chance.
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8 min: Mason Mount crosses into the Accrington penalty area, where Martyn Waghorn’s downward header bounces into the arms of Jonny Maxted. Waghorn should have scored, but the pitch seemed to take the venom out of his header.
7 min: Accrington win a free-kick just inside the Derby half, wide on the left. Sean McConville boots the ball long, trying to pick out the imposing Ben Richards-Everton. He heads goalwards, but his effort is saved easily.
4 min: Derby attack down the left flank again after Dutch goalkeeper Kelle Roos plays the ball out from the back. Harry Wilson wins a throw-in, but Accrington full-back Callum Johnson hoofs the ball clear.
3 min: Accrington midfielder Daniel Barlaser gets booked for a late lunge on Harry Wilson.
2 min: Accrington goalkeeper Jonny Maxted gets an early touch, placing the ball for a goal-kick and booting it long over the halfway line.
2 min: Derby County work the ball down the left and Mason Mount sends a cross in from the left. It’s headed clear.
Accrington v Derby is go ...
1 min: the home side get the ball rolling on what looks a sunny but crisp and fresh afternoon in Accrington. Accrington wear all reed, while Derby County are in all white kit. The pitch looks a bit threadbare and is quite muddy in spots.
Not long now: There’s nothing so glamorous as a tunnel at the Wham Stadium, so the teams congregate outside the poky dressing-rooms and amble out on to the pitch ledf by referee Jon Moss. Kick-off is just a minute or two away.
It’s a sell-out: The “House Full” signs are up outside Wham Stadium, where all 5,400 tickets have been sold for today’s game. Derby have taken 2,600 supporters, which should make for a terrific atmosphere.
John Coleman speaks: Speaking to BT Sport, Accrington’s manager, who masterminded his team’s ascent from the seventh to the third tier of English football, sounds very bullish about his team’s chances. “I find it funny, to be honest,” he says, when asked about people considering this match a bye for Derby. “A lot of teams have come to this ground expecting a bye and they’ve gone home with their tails between their legs.”
Asked about the ethos of the club and its players, he has this to say. “Players have to buy into the team spirit. I want my players to make loads of money, but they’re not going to do with that us. What we can do, however, is give them a platform from which to showcase their talent and work ethic and hopefully we’ll get two or three years out of them before they move elsewhere. If we can make a few quid out of them in the process, all the better.”
Frank Lampard speaks: “It’s a tough job, a great test for us and it’s the reverse of what we’ve done in the cups so far,” says Derby’s manager, in an interview with BT Sport.
“I’ve named a strong team but we go week by week, there’s not so many midweek games this month but we do not have many options across the back, so the team picks itself to a degree. I’ve put a couple of young lads in there and they’re ready to give it a go.”
Accrington Stanley v Derby County line-ups
Accrington Stanley: Maxted, Johnson, Hughes, Donacien, Richards-Everton, Clark, McConville, Sykes, Conneely, Barlaser, Kee.
Subs: Brown, Zanzala, Rodgers, Mangan, Mingoia, Evtimov, Smyth.
Derby: Roos, Bogle, Keogh, Tomori, Malone, Harry Wilson, Evans, Mount, Waghorn, Nugent, Holmes.
Subs: Jozefzoon, Bennett, Mitchell, MacDonald, Bird, Huddlestone, Mitchell-Lawson.
Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire)
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Early team news
Accrington are without midfielder Sam Finley, who has been given a five-game ban for violent after appearing to stamp on Charlton’s Lyle Taylor last weekend. Goalkeeper Jonny Maxted is available after having his red card for an incident in the same game overturned.
For Derby, Tom Lawrence, Scott Carson and Andre Wisdom are all out injured, while Ashley Cole is unlikely to be fit enough to play despite signing for the Rams earlier this week.
FA Cup fourth round: Accrington v Derby County
Accrington and Derby County meet for the very first time in a competitive football match, with a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup up for grabs. League One side Accrington have already beaten Championship opposition, having beaten Ipswich in the third round, while Derby County also punched above their weight. Frank Lampard’s side went through on penalties after a third round replay against Southampton. Accrington’s 5,400-capacity Wham Stadium is the venue for this afternoon’s encounter and kick-off is at 12.30pm (GMT). Stay tuned for team news and build-up.
