Derby County

QPR 1-1 Derby
Tommy Smith rescued a point for Derby with a fine equaliser at Loftus Road. Both sides struggled to find their feet in a poor first half but Gareth Ainsworth almost put QPR ahead with an audacious lob before the break. The home side did take the lead when Marc Nygaard headed home Paul Furlong's cross but Smith equalised when he curled in a superb left-footed shot. Furlong missed two late chances for QPR before Derby had Darren Moore sent off for a second booking before the end. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QPR caretaker manager Gary Waddock "I felt we passed it well, created chances and should have gone on to win the game. "I'd have been devastated if we'd have got nothing. But we'll keep being brave, getting the ball in the box and creating chances. "We've got three games against good sides left, so I can have a look at the players and see if they are going to be good enough to take us forward." Derby manager Terry Westley "That's my 13th game in charge, and the responsibility of trying to keep a club of Derby County's stature in this division is draining. "There is so much going on and the club is in a transitional period. "But at least now we know where we are next season." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- QPR: Jones, Kus, Shittu, Evatt, Milanese, Ainsworth, Donnelly (Furlong 58), Bailey, Langley, Cook, Nygaard. Subs Not Used: Cole, Santos, Lomas, Howell. Booked: Bailey. Goals: Nygaard 59. Derby: Camp, Jackson, Moore, Nyatanga, Michael Johnson, Smith, Barnes (Peschisolido 64), Bolder (Idiakez 64), Seth Johnson, McIndoe (Holmes 64), Lisbie. Subs Not Used: Poole, Edworthy. Sent Off: Moore (88). Booked: Moore. Goals: Smith 67. Att: 12,606 Ref: T Kettle (Berkshire).

Derby eye Barnes deal extension
Derby are in talks with Giles Barnes with a view to extending his contract, according to the club website. Barnes, 17, signed for the Rams last August, landing a deal until June 2008. The club say they hope the midfielder's contract can be extended by a further year - as per a clause that was activated when he made his 10th outing. Meanwhile, Derby have agreed to terminate the contract of Bosnian defender Mo Konjic, 35, who is set to retire from the game.

Ipswich v Derby
Ipswich striker Alan Lee is out for the rest of the season after picking up a hamstring injury and broken nose. Ian Westlake is hoping to play a part after making a quicker-than-expected recovery from an ankle injury. Derby will be without Paul Peschisolido who is injured and defender Darren Moore, who completes a suspension. Mounir El Hamdaoui (groin) and Kevin Lisbie (hamstring) will also be missing but Seth Johnson returns after being rested for the draw against Hull.

Ipswich 2-0 Derby
Two second-half goals ended Ipswich's eight-game winless streak as they managed a first home win in over two months against injury-hit Derby. After a quiet first half, Nicky Forster scored 53 seconds into the second half, shooting home from Owen Garvan's pass. Rams trio Paul Peschisolido, Mounir El Hamdaoui and Kevin Lisbie were absent through injury and it blunted their threat up front. Darren Currie's 65th minute volley into the bottom corner clinched the points. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ipswich boss Joe Royle: "We were fortunate to be level at the interval today but the introduction of Jaime Peters gave us more bounce and better balance. We had more width and more threat. "Once Nicky Forster scored one could feel the pressure fizz out of the place. "He is a threat and we haven't had that sort of threat for most of the season. You are only as good as your forwards." Derby caretaker manager Terry Westley: "We have won only two away games all season and you could see why today. "With our away record it's a miracle we will start in the Championship next season. "There is a lack of mental strength after we fall behind. We were poor in the second half and I am annoyed we've not got anything out of the game." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ipswich: Supple, Wilnis (Sito 41), De Vos, Naylor, McEveley, Currie, Magilton (Peters 45), Garvan, Richards, Haynes (Juan 52), Forster. Subs Not Used: Price, Brekke-Skard. Goals: Forster 46, Currie 65. Derby: Camp, Edworthy, Addison, Nyatanga, Michael Johnson, Seth Johnson (Bolder 68), Idiakez, Bisgaard (Jackson 78), McIndoe (Holmes 67), Smith, Barnes. Subs Not Used: Poole, Thirlwell. Booked: Idiakez. Att: 24,067. Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).

Smith rues Rams' lack of finance
Derby striker Tommy Smith admits that financial restraints at Pride Park have had a bearing on their season. While talks over a possible takeover have taken place this season, the Rams are set to finish in lower mid-table. "We haven't got too many excuses, but the lack of finances does have an impact," Smith told the club website. "In terms of new faces, we have had to make do with loan players, who have not necessarily been exactly what we've been looking for in most cases."

Addicks recall Lisbie from Derby
Charlton have recalled striker Kevin Lisbie from his loan spell at Derby. Lisbie had joined the Rams in January on an initial loan for a month and that deal was then extended until the end of the season. Charlton boss Alan Curbishley has decided to bring the 27-year-old back because of a shortage of strikers. Derby manager Terry Westley told the club's website: "Kevin has done well for us and has led the line well and so it is a blow to lose him."

Derby County takeover deal agreed
A five-man consortium led by Peter Gadsby is expected to take control of Derby County in the next 24 hours, reports BBC Radio Derby. A deal has been agreed in principle with the Co-op Bank for transfer of ownership of the club from Jeremy Keith and Steve Harding to the group. Former Rams vice-chairman Gadsby is expected to be named as the new chairman of the Championship club. John Sleightholme resigned as chairman earlier this month. The main sticking point in the takeover deal has been getting the ownership of the Rams' Pride Park stadium away from the Panama-based ABC Corporation, which was used to finance the last takeover in October 2003.

Derby v Sheff Wed
Derby face a striking crisis with Mounir El Hamdaoui, Lionel Ainsworth and Paul Peschisolido injured and Kevin Lisbie recalled by Charlton. Morten Bisgaard or Tommy Smith could be drafted into a striking role, while Darren Moore returns from suspension. Sheffield Wednesday continue to be plagued by injuries, with as many as 11 first-team players ruled out. On-loan Manchester City defender Mikkel Bischoff could return after missing four games with a knee problem.

Derby 0-2 Sheff Wed
Derby may have been beaten by Sheffield Wednesday but there was a celebratory mood around Pride Park following the recent takeover of the club. Marcus Tudgay grabbed the opener for the visitors when he fired home from a Jon-Paul McGovern cross. Tommy Smith had a chance to level after Marc Edworthy's cross but failed to finish from close range. And Leon Best rounded off a win for the Owls when his deflected shot looped over keeper Lee Camp. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derby boss Terry Westley: "The scale of the task in front of us was there for all to see - there's a massive amount of work still to be done next season. "This season hasn't been a success. But the club's future, which is crucial, has been secured by local people. "What's needed now is leadership on the football side." Sheffield Wednesday number two Kevin Summerfield: "(Manager) Paul Sturrock was at two games yesterday and he's at back-to-back games today, but hopefully he'll bring back something which leads to a signing. "I'm delighted we've finished the season by winning at Derby. "It takes everyone connected with the club - not least of whom are the fans - into the summer on a good note." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Derby: Camp, Edworthy, Moore, Nyatanga, Michael Johnson, Bisgaard (McIndoe 64), Bolder, Seth Johnson, Barnes, Smith, Peschisolido (Holmes 45). Subs Not Used: Poole, Thirlwell, Jackson. Booked: Barnes, Bolder. Sheff Wed: Carson, Diallo, Bullen, Coughlan, Spurr, McGovern (Best 78), Folly, O'Brien, Tudgay, McAllister, Burton. Subs Not Used: Adamson, MacLean, Collins, Partridge. Booked: McAllister, Diallo, Spurr. Goals: Tudgay 5, Best 85. Att: 30,391 Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Play-off semi-final dates: First legs Leeds v Preston (Elland Road, Friday, 5 May, 1945 BST) Crystal Palace v Watford (Selhurst Park, Saturday, 6 May, 1215 BST) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second legs Preston v Leeds (Deepdale, Monday, 8 May, 1945 BST) Watford v Crystal Palace (Vicarage Road, Tuesday 9 May, 1945 BST) Play-off dates for other divisions to be confirmed

Luton deny Newell link with Rams
Luton chairman Bill Tomlins has denied reports which stated that Hatters boss Mike Newell had been interviewed for the managerial vacancy at Derby. "I have spoken to Derby's new chairman (Peter Gadsby)," Tomlins said. "He confirmed that they had not spoken to our manager, and would not do so without our permission. "I had not given Mike permission to speak to another club and, as Mike is a person of integrity, I knew he would not have done so without our consent." Newell had been linked with another Championship club, Leicester, during the spring - but insisted he was happy at Kenilworth Road.

Defender Hajto released by Derby
Derby defender Tomasz Hajto has had his contract cancelled by mutual consent and has left the club. Hajto, 33, joined the Rams in January from Southampton but only made five league appearances for his new team. Derby managing director Mike Norton told the club website: "It became obvious that Hajto's future lay away from Pride Park. "He didn't establish himself in the side and was unsettled here and that situation can lead to disruption."

North End explain Davies decision
Preston chairman Derek Shaw has revealed why he refused Derby's approach for manager Billy Davies. "In Billy's own words, Billy Davies will not leave Preston unless it was right for him and the Preston board," Shaw told the Preston website. "We do not feel it is right to lose him to a Championship club." Davies is said to be threatening North End with legal action because they let him speak to Charlton - who turned him down - but not Derby. Shaw added: "At the end of the day I am here to protect the interests of Preston and to be seen to step aside and allow our manager to join one of our league rivals, I feel would be wrong." Derby approached Preston with a view to talking their manager, but the Lancashire club turned the request down before telling Davies. "If the stance is they (Davies and his advisors) want to take legal action then that will be down to the lawyers, not me," said Shaw. "If legal action does follow then it will be dealt by our lawyers."

Derby to play friendly with Dons
Derby have agreed to play their first 2006/07 pre-season friendly in England at Milton Keynes on July 15. The match was arranged after Queens Park Rangers joined Colchester in calling off a planned friendly against the Dons. Some Rangers fans had protested at the fixture because of their opposition to the Dons' relocation from Wimbledon. Conference South outfit Histon also decided to cancel their friendly with the Dons, following fans' concerns. QPR chairman Gianni Paladini said: \"After several phonecalls and threats from our own supporters, I have decided not to go ahead with the game.\" Histon chairman Gareth Baldwin added: \"Sometimes ethics and principles have to come before making money.\" In 2003, Tottenham, Charlton and Luton all cancelled friendlies against the Dons, following fans' pressure.

Promising Barnes stays at Derby
Derby have seen off interest from several Premiership clubs and secured the services of 17-year-old Giles Barnes for another four years. The England Under-18 international broke into the first team last season after graduating from the academy. \"We've had numerous enquiries from Premiership clubs and two written offers,\" managing director Mike Horton told the Derby website. \"They were refused and we're delighted he sees his future at Derby.\"

Derby v Southampton
Derby are expected to give new signing Steve Howard his debut. The midfielder has recovered from an ankle strain and means new County boss Billy Davies will be selecting from a fully-fit squad. Southampton will parade a host of debutants with Kelvin Davis, Pele, Marcelo Sarmiento and Bradley Wright-Phillips pushing for starts. Fellow new boys John Viafara and Mario Licka have got international clearance but Rudi Skacel is short of fitness.

View Full Version: Derby County