Newcastle's season is going from bad to worse.
Their England midfielder David Batty was sent off at Pride Park today and a
penalty by Italian star Stefano Eranio reinforced Derby's status as the
Premiership's surprise package.
The defeat means the Magpies, last season's runners-up, have now picked up
only two points from a possible 18 and gone six League games without a win.
Newcastle boss Kenny Dalglish had sprung a surprise by leaving Faustino
Asprilla and John Barnes on the bench, but the tactics failed to work.
Derby were worth their win, but the main talking point was the dismissal of
Batty, his second of the season, after picking up a second yellow card for a
trip Darryl Powell in the 64th minute.
Batty was already due to start a two-match ban in early January after picking
up five bookings.
And after being warned about his future conduct by the FA's disciplinary
authority at the end of last season he could face even more trouble.
Dalglish made four changes, two enforced, from the side which started the
Premiership game with Manchester United on Sunday.
Centre-backs Philippe Albert and Darren Peacock were injured so Steve Howey
made his first start in just over two months.
Des Hamilton, Jon Dahl Tomasson and Ian Rush all came back into the starting
line.
Disaster struck the visitors, and Hamilton in particular, within the opening
three minutes. The United midfielder fouled Sturridge to give away a clear
penalty, Eranio sending Shaka Hislop the wrong way from the spot.
It was a perfect response for the Italian, 31 on Monday, after he was
dismissed in the League game between the two clubs nine days earlier.
Newcastle were so hesitant they were extremely fortunate to stay only one-down
in the opening 15 minutes.
Costa Rican striker Paulo Wanchope put Eranio through once again in the 13th
minute but this time Hislop was quickly off his line to smother the ball at the
midfielder's feet.
Gradually, the visitors regained their composure, with Keith Gillespie and
Tomasson busy around the Derby box. But, as has been the case for much of the
season, the final ball was poor.
Derby's Sturridge and Wanchope were a constant menace although their early
threat gradually subsided.
Eranio was booked in the 29th minute for failing to retire 10 yards as
Gillespie attempted a free-kick. Then Batty received his first booking for a
35th minute foul on Wanchope.
Eight minutes before the break Beresford struck the Derby crossbar with a
volley which took a deflection as it flew towards the woodwork, Rush heading the
rebound goalwards only for Estonian keeper Mart Poom to collect in front of
Tomasson.
Tomasson then became the third player booked for a late challenge on Derby
skipper Igor Stimac.
It was the visitors who came out of the traps faster at the start of the
second half with a Gillespie corner causing problems for Poom.
Derby were relying on Sturridge on the break but he was finding defender
Alessandro Pistone in brilliant form.
Pistone was everywhere and it was his fine 52nd minute run which forced a
third corner of the half for Newcastle, but once again the home defence cleared
the ball with little problem.
Sturridge struck the base of the Newcastle post in the 55th minute after
Pearce failed to control a through-ball from Wanchope at inside right.
A Pearce free-kick then flew through the defensive wall of Derby only to fly
straight into the arms of Poom. And then less than a minute on and it was
Hislop's turn to produce a superb flying save from Lee Carsley after Steve
Watson failed to clear.
Asprilla and Temuri Ketsbaia replaced Tomasson and Rush with half an hour
remaining, and less than a minute afterwards the Colombian put Hamilton through
but Poom saved bravely at his feet.
Seven minutes from the end Asprilla broke through himself after a fine run,
but Sturridge appeared from nowhere to get in a decisive challenge.
Newcastle, now 10th in the table, dominated the closing stages but rarely
looked capable of claiming an equaliser.
Teams
Derby: Poom, Rowett, C. Powell, D. Powell, Yates, Stimac,
Sturridge (Burton 86), Wanchope, Carsley, Eranio (Laursen 46),
Baiano (Willems 72).
Subs Not Used: Hoult, Kozluk.
Booked: Eranio, D. Powell, Rowett.
Goals: Eranio 4 pen.
Newcastle: Hislop, Beresford, Batty, Howey (Barnes 81),
Rush (Asprilla 61), Pearce, Tomasson (Ketsbaia 61), Gillespie,
Watson, Hamilton, Pistone.
Subs Not Used: Given, Hughes.
Sent Off: Batty (64).
Booked: Batty, Tomasson, Pearce, Beresford.
Att: 30,232
Ref: M D Reed (Birmingham).
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