A debut strike from Kenny Miller earned Derby their first win of the season in a 1-0 victory over Newcastle.
Miller steers Rams to victory
A debut strike from Kenny Miller earned Derby their first win of the season in a 1-0 victory over Newcastle.
Miller struck in the 39th minute to score his first goal for Derby since his transfer deadline day £3million move from Celtic and steered the Rams away from the bottom spot of the Premier League.
The game had been a tough encounter up until that point with Newcastle, who slumped to their first defeat of the campaign, showing control in possession but lacking any real cutting edge.
Derby manager Billy Davies chose to freshen up his side with Miller taking the suspended Craig Fagan's place and Dean Leacock and Eddie Lewis restored to the side after shaking off injuries.
Newcastle recalled Shola Ameobi to their first XI with Mark Viduka (hamstring) not risked and Obafemi Martins on the bench.
Positive start
The home side got off to a positive start with Steve Howard lining up a shot and seeing his effort pushed out for a corner after just 30 seconds.
Newcastle had a chance to hit back when Stephen Pearson, who was influential through out, gave away a free-kick outside his own area but Charles N'Zogbia could not test Stephen Bywater in the home goal.
Tyrone Mears then forced Steve Harper into a save in the 10th minute, cutting inside David Rozehnal and firing hard and low at the United shot-stopper who parried at the first attempt.
Newcastle served notice of their attacking threat when a quick pass to James Milner down the left caught the Derby defence cold, but when the ball came to Rozehnal 12 yards out - and with Bywater nowhere - he powered the ball wide of the left-hand post.
Derby then showed their intent when Miller was released, but the danger passed. However the 27-year-old did not have to wait long to open his Derby account.
Miller was 35 yards out when he spotted Harper out of his goal and took an instant to volley a looping effort into the roof of the net six minutes before the break.
Ineffective
Early in the second half Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce took off Michael Owen, who was ineffective throughout as he struggled with a groin injury, as United desperately sought a cutting edge.
Matt Oakley, who was comfortably winning his battle with Alan Smith in the middle then found some space before firing high over the crossbar as he looked for a third goal of the season.
While none of Newcastle's strikers were able to find an opening as inviting as Rozehnal's in the first half, fellow defender Steven Taylor did after an hour, snatching at his finish and failing to force a save.
The hosts continued to make the most of their possession but, with 22 minutes remaining, Howard, a boyhood Newcastle fan, was beginning to frustrate with his accuracy.
His best chance of the match found him climbing highest six yards from goal but he missed once again with the full net to aim at.
Gary Teale then produced a pinpoint cross with nine minutes remaining but again Howard's finishing let him down as his diving header flashed wide with Harper static, however one goal was to prove to be enough as Derby claimed the points.
| Derby County |
Team Statistics |
Newcastle United |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 6 |
Shots off Target |
7 |
| 4 |
Blocked Shots |
1 |
| 5 |
Corners |
5 |
| 19 |
Fouls |
12 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
3 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 71.4 |
Passing Success |
73.9 |
| 30 |
Tackles |
20 |
| 63.3 |
Tackles Success |
75 |
| 46.3 |
Possession |
53.7 |
| 48.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
51.1 |
|
