Derby's previously suspect defence found Newcastle's lacklustre attack very
much to their liking in tonight's Premiership goalless zone before a disgruntled
St James's Park crowd.
The only excitement for the home fans during the entire second period came
when Derby's Stefano Eranio was dismissed, after picking up a second yellow card
when clashing with Philippe Albert.
Eranio had been booked in the 64th minute for a foul and then over-reacted to
Albert's challenge, giving referee Keith Burge no alternative but to show him
the red card.
County worked hard for their point, but United were very limited, without
captain Rob Lee, out with a leg injury, and battling to be fit to face
Manchester United on Sunday, as well as defender Darren Peacock, who dropped
down to the bench.
Kenny Dalglish had midfielders Temuri Ketsbaia and Jon Dahl Tomasson returning
to the side, while Derby boss Jim Smith dropped Costa Rican striker Paulo
Wanchope to the bench.
The visitors forced the early pace, but the in-form Keith Gillespie was soon
prominent down the right for the Magpies.
Ketsbaia had County keeper Mart Poom in trouble with a sixth-minute inswinging
corner from the left, before pacy Derby striker Dean Sturridge went even closer
a minute later with a cross-shot that flew inches past Shaka Hislop's left-hand
post.
Eranio forced a corner from which Francesco Baiano had a goalbound drive
unluckily blocked on the line by team-mate Sturridge.
But, on the quarter hour Belgian international Albert should have put the home
side ahead with their best chance of the half.
He found himself free at the far post but somehow side-footed a Stuart Pearce
free-kick back across an open goal with Tomasson inches away from making a
belated connection.
Darryl Powell then forced a superb save from Hislop, and Derby were dangerous
going forward, although Faustino Asprilla came close, from a Gillespie cross, to
his first goal since returning from long-term injury and was thwarted only by
Dean Yates.
On the half hour, Republic of Ireland midfielder Lee Carsley forced a third
fine save from Hislop, as the Rams continued to show promise in front of goal
without the necessary final touch.
The visitors played some good football on the sodden surface as the home fans
began to show very vocal signs of discontent, and the Magpies were infuriating
their supporters with sideways passing.
In the seventh minute of the second half, Deon Burton, hero of all Jamaica,
hit another fine effort which Pearce somehow deflected inches wide.
United did up their game in a short-lived onslaught on Poom's goal, but yet
again their aggressive build-up play went to waste inside the County penalty
area.
In the 55th minute, Carsley went into the referee's notebook for a bad
challenge from behind on Gillespie as the Northern Ireland winger broke through
at inside left.
Then two minutes on, Darryl Powell was booked for a foul on
Tomasson, even though there was little threat on the Derby goal on either
occasion.
Wanchope finally went on in the 59th minute, replacing a flagging Sturridge.
For Newcastle, Colombian Asprilla was not firing properly and was replaced by
Ian Rush in the 72nd minute.
The crowd's frustration grew with every misplaced pass, while Derby continued
to pick up bookings for silly and unnecessary challenges.
In the 75th minute, Gillespie did his bit to further infuriate the home
support, perpetrating a terrible pull-back, with John Barnes waiting in the
clear 10 yards out - one of a match full of missed opportunities that ensured
the full-time stalemate.
Teams
Newcastle: Hislop, Watson, Pistone, Pearce, Albert, Batty,
Barnes, Gillespie, Tomasson, Ketsbaia, Asprilla (Rush 71).
Subs Not Used: Given, Barton, Peacock, Hughes.
Booked: Ketsbaia, Albert.
Derby: Poom, Rowett, C. Powell, D. Powell, Elliott,
Burton (Hunt 81), Carsley, Eranio, Baiano (Willems 71),
Sturridge (Wanchope 59), Yates.
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Solis.
Sent Off: Eranio (80).
Booked: Carsley, D. Powell, Eranio.
Att: 36,289
Ref: K W Burge (Tonypandy).
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