Kris Commons' stunning strike gave Derby County a 1-0 victory over Man United in a thrilling Carling Cup semi-final first leg.
Clough watches from the stands on glorious night for Rams
On a night when Nigel Clough watched his new side from the stands Derby County put in a performance his father would have been proud of, as Manchester United came away from Pride Park with theirs deflated as Kris Commons' goal settled an entertaining Carling Cup semi-final first leg.
Clough's appointment has raised beleaguered spirits off the field and on it his Derby players responded magnificently to their first major semi-final since 1976.
Commons' first half scorcher from 25-yards was richly deserved and, somewhat perversely, given the chances created over the 90 minutes it will perhaps be Derby that are most disappointed with the result.
While Roy Carroll was rarely tested on a bitterly cold Midlands night, his opposite number Tomasz Kuszczak was far busier than he would have anticipated - with Rob Hulse in particular guilty of squandering a gilt-edged chance after the break.
Clough legacy
After four triumphs in the competition for the legendary Brian, now it is Nigel's turn to take the Carling Cup by storm.
Derby's new manager has not even taken official charge yet. But he will have done by the time the Rams head to Old Trafford for a second-leg meeting with Manchester United in a fortnight, looking to defend the priceless advantage Commons gave them with his 30th-minute winner.
Earlier and Steve Davies must have thought he would score when, after Kuszczak had saved his initial close-range shot, he met the rebound with venom, only for stand-in captain Nemanja Vidic to slide in and make a magnificent block.
When Vidic strained to head away from the penalty spot, Mile Sterjovski was given far too much room to line up a volley which was flying towards the bottom corner when Jonny Evans stuck out a leg to turn it away.
United under-par
With the opportunities came the confidence Clough needs to instil in his players on a more consistent basis as Derby began to string passes together and United continued to struggle.
There was a brief interlude, during which Paul Scholes screwed a couple of long-range efforts wide before John O'Shea, racing onto Nani's return pass, flicked an intelligent shot which would have had former team-mate Carroll in trouble if Paul Green had not been on hand to turn it away.
But largely it was Derby dictating the game, Derby who looked more assured. United making all the unforced errors.
So it was no surprise and certainly well deserved when Commons struck. United did not heed the earlier warning about giving opponents too much room and failed to close the Scotland international down as he collected Sterjovski's short pass.
With the visitors having invited the shot, Commons obliged by drilling a low effort into the right corner that gave Kuszczak no chance.
Little was seen of Carlos Tevez, whose Old Trafford future has been a major subject of interest over the past few days.
A speedy charge out of his area by Carroll prevented Nani getting to a loose ball at the start of the second half. But entrusted with set-piece duties, Nani wasted the lot.
Such was his fitful contribution that it was a surprise the men to give way were Paul Scholes and Danny Welbeck when Ferguson cashed in his hefty insurance policy after 63 minutes and brought on Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Deserved win
Not that it changed much as Davies flashed a shot narrowly wide. Ronaldo did the same at the other end, by which time Michael Carrick had been introduced as well, in time to see the brilliant Portugal winger send a free-kick whizzing just past Carroll's post.
But if that was a near thing, Derby came even closer 10 minutes from time as Kuszczak pushed away Commons' low shot.
To be fair to Hulse, the rebound came at him lightning fast. Yet if the striker had only been able to keep it down rather than scoop it over, the Clough family really would have had reason to rejoice.
| Derby County |
Team Statistics |
Manchester United |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 4 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
10 |
| 3 |
Blocked Shots |
2 |
| 8 |
Corners |
4 |
| 17 |
Fouls |
11 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
1 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 65.7 |
Passing Success |
79.8 |
| 16 |
Tackles |
21 |
| 81.2 |
Tackles Success |
71.4 |
| 36.4 |
Possession |
63.6 |
| 52.4 |
Territorial Advantage |
47.6 |
|
