Derby County 0 Sheffield United 1: Akinbiyi piles agony on to Derby's anger
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Your support makes all the difference.Derby County's sacking of Phil Brown has not brought an immediate improvement in their fortunes.
Under the caretaker managership of Terry Westley, they were beaten by a 12th-minute header from Ade Akinbiyi on his Sheffield United debut, a goal that tells only part of the story.
On an ill-tempered night at Pride Park, Derby had their captain, Michael Johnson, harshly sent off and Tommy Smith saw a late penalty saved by Paddy Kenny. United, without impressing, consequently storm on towards promotion but the much-changed hosts are lurching towards danger.
It was not only at the helm that Derby had a new man. Darren Moore made his debut after signing from West Bromwich Albion and, perhaps reflecting Westley's role as academy director, 17-year-old Giles Barnes had a first start.
Moore and his central defensive partner Tomasz Hajto were still on different wavelengths when United went ahead. They conspired to leave too much space for Akinbiyi to meet Paul Ifill's cross from the right and glance home a bouncing header.
In between were the efforts from the edge of the area by David Unsworth and Ifill, though the home side responded spiritedly.
Smith was their chief inspiration and drew a falling save from Kenny before shooting straight at the keeper from a promising position. Then he laid off a short pass for David Graham to unleash a powerful drive that Kenny saved superbly.
Ifill curled narrowly wide before being involved in a massive flash-point in the 56th minute. The midfielder was left requiring treatment following a blatant and reckless challenge from behind by Johnson, one that the referee Iain Williamson amazingly deemed a red-card offence.
The Derby bench reacted furiously and Westley had to be restrained by the fourth official as he remonstrated while Johnson confronted the Sheffield United manager, Neil Warnock, before eventually disappearing up the tunnel.
Ifill resumed, booed loudly as he broke into a full sprint, to the renewed anger of Derby's acting manager.
Shipperley dragged wide a clear chance to secure Sheffield's ninth away victory before their substitute Keith Gillespie hit a post.
Derby blew their chance of a point when Smith's penalty 14 minutes from time was well saved by Kenny after Chris Armstrong handled.
Derby County (4-5-1): Camp; Edworthy, Hajto, Moore, M Johnson; Smith, Bolder (Peschisolido, 74), Idiakez, Barnes (Doyle, 86), Holmes (Jackson, 59); Graham. Substitutes not used: Poole (gk), Bisgaard.
Sheffield United (4-4-2): Kenny; Geary, Bromby, Short, Unsworth; Ifill (Gillespie, 68), Jagielka, Tonge, Armstrong; Akinbiyi, Shipperley (Kabba, 82). Substitutes not used: Morgan, Quinn, Montgomery.
Referee: I Williamson (Berkshire).
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