Possession and palpitations: Rams beat Wednesday to close play-off gap

"When I see Matt Clarke on the left wing, I have a bloody heart attack!” John Eustace joked to me in his post-match press conference.

But potential palpitations aside, Eustace was clearly delighted as his side got their third straight home win in a game full of heart. The Rams also broke a second hoodoo in as many weeks by winning a game with the majority of the ball (55 per cent possession) to move within three points of the top six.

South American football expert Tim Vickery once said: “Everything around the football is what makes the football everything!” This was certainly a day which proved that.

Part of the biggest Pride Park crowd this season; the travelling Owls fans brought the best home atmosphere I have heard (bar promotion) since Derby’s own administration woes. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. Supporting the team is the one thing you can do in their situation - the togetherness and a sense of gallows humour bring a remarkable atmosphere to 90 minutes of escapism from constantly looking over the abyss.

What a day to hold Derby’s dedicated Her Game Too fixture – an award-winning campaign to tackle sexism in sport.

Though the occasion was better than the performance. Derby never really got out of first gear in a very physical and transitional affair but created chances aplenty.

From the first whistle, they were put under pressure down their right flank, which was often left exposed as Lewis Travis tended to cover the space vacated by Derry Murkin, as opposed to the other flying wing back, Joe Ward.

But The Rams ruthlessly took the lead after 11 minutes, as two former Blades linked up to put their old city rivals to the sword. After Charlie McNeil’s pot-shot was saved by Josh Vickers, Derby broke. Rhian Brewster played a delightfully weighted reverse pass for Ben Brereton Díaz to run onto and slot past Pierce Charles from the 18-yard-line.

Three minutes later the duo would combine again, as Brewster, who replaced Carlton Morris in the only change to Derby’s starting XI, drilled the ball to the back post, only for Brereton Díaz to toe-poke it well over the bar.

Sam Szmodics then looked to catch Pierce Charles off his line from just over the half-way line but fired wide. Eustace may have identified complacency as the biggest danger in a game against an already-relegated side, but confidence was clearly flowing.

Any threat of complacency was rapidly extinguished when Henrik Pedersen’s men levelled from their next attack. Some loose marking from Dion Sanderson allowed Jamal Lowe to cross to the front post where former Ram Jerry Yates headed into the top corner.

Having joined Wednesday on loan from Luton in January, Yates was his usual relentless self, chasing lost causes up front all afternoon. The applause from all four stands when he was later substituted were indicative of how appreciated his hard work has been at both clubs.

Brewster had a great chance to restore Derby’s lead when he headed Derry Murkin’s inch-perfect cross over the bar. And that was the only invitation Matt Clarke needed to come forward himself as the game found itself at a stalemate, using his frame to hold the ball up well and win corners as The Rams found themselves camped on the edge of Charles’ box towards the end of the first half.

They Just missing that final pass, but the goal came on the stroke of half-time. After Ward’s corner was headed away, he was given a second bite of the cherry and found Clarke at the front post, who glanced a header into the far corner.

Like Brereton Díaz, that’s two in two for Derby’s number five.

The second 45 were more open, but quieter, with the first real chance coming when Jamal Lowe scooped a free kick over Vickers’ goal on the hour.

Patrick Agyemang fired wide from a fast break two minutes later following some swift threaded passes from Brereton Díaz and Brewster. Clarke then headed over from another corner before the leg of Charles denied Brereton Díaz again.

Now losing the possession battle, David Ozoh’s introduction gave Eustace’s side more control of the ball, but even the wide threat of Jaydon Banel and Carlton Morris’ presence up front couldn’t help them find a third.

Bobby Clark probably went closest in the closing stages, his effort blocked by Liam Palmer after a vital tackle and yet another adventurous run into the final third from Matt Clarke in a player of the match display.

Many would have seen this as the perfect opportunity to rest players, particularly with Millwall to come in midweek. But in making just one change from the win over Blackburn Eustace was clearly conscious of not underestimating Wednesday, who through the fault of Dejphon Chansiri alone, are probably the Championship’s biggest ever banana skin.

Undeniably, three consecutive home wins for the first time since November represents vital momentum which The Rams have not often had at Pride Park this season.

In a fitting end to a game which will be remembered for the atmosphere more than the football, there was one youngster given a chance. The lad Eustace pulled out of the crowd to start the bounce.

Goals: Brereton Díaz 11’, Clarke 45’ | Yates 17’

Derby (4-2-3-1): Vickers (GK); Ward, Sanderson, Clarke, Murkin; Clark (Fraulo 89’), Travis (C); Brereton Díaz, Szmodics (Banel 74’), Agyemang (Morris 74’); Brewster (Ozoh 62’).

Unused Substitutes: O’Donnell (GK); Forsyth, Gordon; Eames, Allen.

Sheffield Wednesday (3-1-4-2): Charles (GK); Iorfa, Otegbayo, Palmer (C); Heskey; Fusire (Ugbo 89’), McNeil (Ndala 73’), Inglesson, Adaramola; Yates (Thornton 82’), Lowe.

Unused Substitutes: Stretch (GK); McGhee, Emery; Johnson, Nakamba; Grainger.