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[Freddy Adu]

Derby survival chances Hammered


Written by: AFP

	Derby´s chances of surviving in the Premiership were dealt another blow as West Ham inflicted a demoralising 5-0 defeat on the bottom side in front of their own supporters. Lee Bowyer, seen here during an October 2007 game, scored twice.

DERBY, England (AFP) - Derby's chances of surviving in the Premiership were dealt another blow as West Ham inflicted a demoralising 5-0 defeat on the bottom side in front of their own supporters.

A Lee Bowyer double, an own goal by Eddie Lewis and strikes from Matt Etherington and Nolberto Solano gave West Ham a victory that lifts them into the top half of the double and was their best Premiership win in seven years.

Despite the return from injury of Scotland striker Kenny Miller, Derby had failed to muster a single attempt on target by the time Bowyer gave the visitors the lead, four minutes before half-time.

The excellent Solano was the architect, his precise delivery from wide allowing Carlton Cole to knock down for the midfielder, who fired a low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

The Hammers' came out after the break looking like they were determined to wrap things up as soon as possible and after Luis Boa Morte had sent one good chance straight at the goalkeeper and Matthew Upson had hit the bar, that is just what they did.

Matt Etherington combined with Bowyer before firing home six minutes into the half and any hope of a Derby fightback was extinguished minutes later when Eddie Lewis scored an unlucky own goal following a shot from his fellow American Jonathan Spector.

Lewis looked to have blocked the strike but fell over and inadvertently deflected the ball over the line.

To their credit, Derby did attempt to push forward and get back into the match. But, almost inevitably, they were picked off on the counter-attack.

Solano was once more instrumental with an astute ball out of the defence that sent Carlton Cole clear in a wide position.

The former Chelsea striker's cross was as perfectly judged as Bowyer's run and the midfielder finished confidently.

The icing on the cake for the visiting supporters came with just over 20 minutes left, when Solano capped his outstanding display with a free-kick that Bywater never had any chance of stopping on its way to the top corner of the net.

[Freddy Adu]

Five-star Hammers rock Derby



Derby County's chances of surviving in the English Premier League were dealt another blow as West Ham United inflicted a demoralising 5-0 defeat on the bottom side in front of their own supporters. A Lee Bowyer double, an own goal by Eddie Lewis, and strikes from Matt Etherington and Nolberto Solano gave West Ham a victory that lifts them into the top half of the table and was their best top flight win in seven years.

Despite the return from injury of Scotland striker Kenny Miller, Derby had failed to muster a single attempt on target by the time Bowyer gave the visitors the lead, four minutes before half-time. The excellent Solano was the architect, his precise delivery from wide allowing Carlton Cole to knock down for the midfielder, who fired a low shot through the legs of goalkeeper Stephen Bywater.

The Hammers came out after the break looking like they were determined to wrap things up as soon as possible, and after Luis Boa Morte had sent one good chance straight at the goalkeeper and Matthew Upson had hit the bar, that is just what they did.

Matt Etherington combined with Bowyer before firing home six minutes into the half, and any hope of a Derby fightback was extinguished minutes later when Eddie Lewis scored an unlucky own goal following a shot from his fellow American Jonathan Spector. Lewis looked to have blocked the strike but fell over and inadvertently deflected the ball over the line.

To their credit, Derby did attempt to push forward and get back into the match. But, almost inevitably, they were picked off on the counter-attack.

Solano was once more instrumental with an astute ball out of the defence that sent Carlton Cole clear in a wide position. The former Chelsea striker's cross was as perfectly judged as Bowyer's run and the midfielder finished confidently.

The icing on the cake for the visiting supporters came with just over 20 minutes left, when Solano capped his outstanding display with a free-kick that Bywater never had any chance of stopping on its way to the top corner of the net.

FIFA.com - Five-star Hammers rock Derby

[Freddy Adu]

Biggest win
West Ham United completed their biggest league win since returning to the top-flight two years ago when they crushed bottom club Derby County 5-0 at Pride Park. Three of West Ham's goals came in an eight-minute spell in the second half as Billy Davies's side recorded their fifth successive game without a goal, their worst run since 1920. Lee Bowyer put West Ham ahead after 42 minutes before Matthew Etherington (51), an own goal from Eddie Lewis (55), a second from Bowyer (59) and a free-kick by Nolberto Solano (69) piled on the home team's misery.

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[Freddy Adu]

Derby, Villa, Blackburn eyeing Paraguay striker

A string of Premier League clubs are tracking Paraguayan forward Nelson Cuevas, skysports.com reports.

The 27-year-old is coming out-of-contract at Club America of Mexico and he is lining up a free transfer to England when the transfer window opens in January.

Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp has already expressed an interest and during a recent visit to Britain Cuevas is believed to have held talks with Pompey.

Derby, Aston Villa and Blackburn are amongst those understood to be interested.

Cuevas' international team-mate Roque Santa Cruz has shone at Blackburn since moving from Bayern Munich in the summer and he is believed to have encouraged his club to make a move for his fellow countryman.

Cuevas, who would qualify for a work permit to play in the Premier League, is set to consider his options over the next month with a view to a move in January.

[Freddy Adu]

Curbishley upset despite superb West Ham victory

West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley amother day of injuries, despite their 5-0 thrashing of Derby.

From being 1-0 up at half-time through a Lee Bowyer goal, the game was over within nine minutes of the restart as Matthew Etherington, Jonathan Spector and Bowyer's second made it 4-0.

Nolberto Solano completed the rout with a stunning free-kick.

George McCartney was forced off before the quarter-hour mark with an ankle problem, while Bowyer was playing with a groin injury and Curbishley revealed he will have an operation on Tuesday.

"Fantastic result for us," said Curbishley.

"Lee Bowyer's got to have something done. He was playing with a groin strain. He's got to have an operation on Tuesday.

"We're hopeful Georgie isn't as bad as we think.

He added: "It's the way it's been for the last month or two.

"Everyone's been going on about the injuries, it's there, everyone can see it.

"But it's a little disrespectful to the players who have been playing. They have been picking points up."

Of the game, he said: "I think, today, the first goal was always going to be the vital one and we managed to get it.

"That really settled us down and put Derby on the back foot.

"It's very difficult when you're down the bottom there and you go one down.

"We had opportunities in the first half, perhaps to get the second, and it didn't happen.

"We sat down at half-time and said if we go out and set about this right and we get another one, then we can enjoy it. And that's what happened."

[Freddy Adu]

Derby boss Davies offers no excuses after thrashing

Derby boss Billy Davies offered no excuses for his players after their 5-0 thrashing by West Ham United.

Despite insisting he still believes Derby can avoid the drop and that he is the man to help them do so, Davies pulled no punches in his assessment of his side's display.

From being 1-0 down at half-time to a Lee Bowyer goal, the game was over within nine minutes of the restart as Matthew Etherington, Jonathan Spector and Bowyer's second made it 4-0.

Nolberto Solano completed the rout with a stunning free-kick.

"A crazy 10-15 minutes cost us dearly and at the end it was men against boys," Davies said.

The Rams boss refused to make an excuses for his side, who were without a number of key players through injury.

"That is not an excuse. The excuse is that in the first 20 minutes we had opportunities to take the lead," he said.

"We still had enough quality on that pitch to pick up points but it wasn't to be."

Davies was unhappy with his side's response to going behind, saying: "They let their heads go down too easily, they stopped competing.

"The confidence drained out of us, the belief drained out of us.

"That's a disappointment."

Of the international break, he said: "There's a fortnight now to do what we can.

"I have lost no belief, I have lost no confidence.

"I know exactly where we are and what we have to do."

[Freddy Adu]

Davies warns Derby players of big January market

After their 5-0 defeat by West Ham, Derby boss Billly Davies promised big chances during the January market.

"They all know the next transfer window is going to be very important to us," Davies said. "We had to play a 35-year-old centre-back in Marc Edworthy today."

[Freddy Adu]

West Ham's Spector delighted with goal

Jonathan Spector hopes his strike for West Ham in yesterday's 5-0 thrashing of Derby stands.

"We worked really hard," Spector said. "We had to and it was a pretty emphatic result in the end. We knew the first goal was going to be important in the second half and when we got that it opened the floodgates."

Of his goal, the USA international told whufc.com: "It was a set-piece. The ball was half cleared and it came to me. I just tried to place it in the corner. Eddie Lewis was there and kind of fumbling with it and it went over the line. Hopefully it won't be taken away from me as it will be my first goal ever. If the [disputed goals] panel don't give it to me, I'll have Eddie call them and tell them it wasn't an own goal!"

[Freddy Adu]

West Ham confirm Bowyer surgery

West Ham will be without midfielder Lee Bowyer in the coming weeks as he is due to undergo hernia surgery on Tuesday.

Due to the Hammers' current injury crisis Bowyer had been playing through to pain barrier to make up the numbers.

But after scoring twice in West Ham's 5-0 win at Derby, manager Alan Curbishley has now booked the midfielder in for an operation.

"Unfortunately he's been one who's been playing with an injury," Curbishley told Sky Sports.

"He's having an operation on Tuesday, so he's going to be out for a while."

Bowyer has confirmed he is undergoing surgery next week, although it remains to be seen how long he will be out of action.

"I'm playing with a hernia. I get that done on Tuesday," Bowyer said.

[Freddy Adu]

West Ham boss Curbishley: Don't write-off Derby

West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley insists Derby can still beat the drop - despite thrashing them 5-0 at Pride Park on Saturday.

The former Charlton boss had words of comfort for beleaguered opposite number Billy Davies.

"I know what he's going through," Curbishley said. "I had a couple of results like that last year.

"These results come along but, if you care to look down there, no-one's stranded.

"It's still all to play for. He's got to take some positives out of it and push on for the next game."

[Freddy Adu]

Derby boss Davies confident he can be Premiership success

Derby County boss Billy Davies is confident he can cut-it in the Premiership, despite Saturday's 5-0 home defeat by West Ham.

He said: "That's obviously a question that everybody asks. When you win the Premier League someone says have you got what is takes to win the Champions League? When you win the Champions League, someone says have you got what it takes to win the World Cup?

"I've lost no confidence. I know exactly what I've got.

"If I'd spent £30-40million at this football club and we were sat in this position, I'd be asking myself questions.

"We've got to show more character, we've got to show more discipline in our play.

"We'll look at the videos. We'll again show them some of the things that have happened in the game. We will continue to work hard."

[Freddy Adu]

Sunderland vs Derby County

Premier League 2007/2008 | Campeonato | Day 15

Sunderland Derby County

Date 2007-12-01 City Sunderland Stadium Stadium of Light Referee

[Freddy Adu]

Derby's Mears: West Ham defeat embarrassing, devastating

Derby County fullback Tyrone Mears admits he was devastated and embarrassed by Saturday's 5-0 home defeat by West Ham.

"It's embarrassing to get beat away from home five or six nil against the big teams but to get beat 5-0 against West Ham at home - I don't know what to say," said full-back Mears.

"The manager told us to take a look at ourselves after the game. I don't think he needs to say anything more.

"I'm devastated. It's my old club, it's 5-0, we're at home and we're bottom of the league.

"We're fighting to stay in this league and it's not going to happen if we carry on playing like that."

The 24 year-old defender moved to Upton Park in July 2006 in a £1m deal from Preston North End.

[Freddy Adu]

Derby trials for Dubnica prospect Klabnik

Derby County have handed trials to ZTS Dubnica defender Martin Klabnik.

Klabnik is trialling with Derby's U19 team and his agent, Emil Kovarovic, told SITA: "The first-team manager (Billy Davies) is expected to see him in training.

"I recommended Martin to Derby after the summer's Under 17s tournament in Hungary.

"The English team were watching him during the Under 17s' qualifier in Scotland and two weeks ago they arrived to see him in a domestic league game."

[Freddy Adu]

Derby boss Davies warned over transfer funds

Derby County boss Billy Davies has been warned he won't get any money for the January market should results not improve.

Davies is desperate to bring in fresh faces in the transfer window - but new supremo Adam Pearson said: "Our spending plans are not always what the fans want to hear. We have to be pragmatic.

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"Some will definitely be spent in the New Year but some might be kept in the locker for the summer, depending where we are.

"The younger element of supporters want to just spend the money and get the big stars in.

"But fans who have been here a while at what is a very traditional club with a good heritage, they remember how close the club was to the abyss and are rather more realistic.

"We are working very hard on getting some investment in the club as we really need to provide decent funds for Billy to strengthen the squad and compete on a level footing in January."

[Freddy Adu]

Derby boss Davies remaining upbeat

Derby head into the international break living up to their tag of relegation favourites, but boss Billy Davies is not feeling miserable.

The Rams were hammered 5-0 at home by West Ham on Saturday, but Davies likes to put things into context.

"A job is a job and I try to put it in its place," he said. "I know there are bad times in this job, complaints from fans, that goes with the territory and it doesn't concern me.

"I'm confident in what I do, I do the best I can every day and believe what I do is the right thing - the way I handle the players and the staff.

"It's a job that I thoroughly enjoy. It has its bad days but I certainly don't go home and cry into my soup. There is more to life than football and all you can do is your best."

Davies gained promotion to the Premier League in his first season at Pride Park and added: "For me, this is not the toughest period in my managerial career.

"Getting two provincial clubs like Preston and Derby County into a play-off place is tougher than taking Derby into the Premier League and trying to compete with the quality and spending power of clubs around us."

[Freddy Adu]

Clough urges Derby to stick with Davies

Nigel Clough has urged Derby County to stick with manager Billy Davies.

Former Nottingham Forest and Liverpool striker Clough, now in charge of Burton Albion, said: "Billy has my unequivocal support.

"He's a victim of his own instant success."

Nigel is the son of former Derby manager Brian Clough.

[Freddy Adu]

Derby boss Davies targets six new signings

Derby County boss Billy Davies has set his sights on bringing in six new players in the January transfer window to try and keep the Rams in the Premier League.

Davies accepts that his squad are short of the quality needed to survive in the top-flight, with County having won just once in 13 league games this term.

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The Scot told the Evening Telegraph: "Six players are needed and my instruction to my staff is very clear - we have to go out there and find these six players.

"We don't want players who are content to visit the Premier League for a few months. We want players who want to come in and be a part of it for a long time.

"We have to find players with the necessary quality, confidence, desire and belief to compete at this level.

"You have got to have leaders at this level. We have got very good players here, now we must look for players who are confident to play in front of 33,000 in the Premier League and believe they can win matches.

"Of course new signings will require money because the top players do not come cheap and do not come and play for nothing.

"It will take a bit of cash to go and find these players and bring them here, but I am very confident we can do that. To survive at this level we need to spend."

[Freddy Adu]

West Ham confident over £7M deal for Derby's Barnes

West Ham United are confident of a deal for Derby County winger Giles Barnes.

The Times says the Hammers expect to sign Barnes, 19, in January, five months after a deal worth up to £7 million fell through because of concerns about the condition of his ankle.

[Freddy Adu]

QPR snap up Derby fullback Malcolm

QPR have snapped up Derby County fullback Bob Malcolm.

The former Rangers defender has signed with the R's on-loan to the end of the year.

[Freddy Adu]

Derby chairman Pearson admits American investment talks

Derby County chairman Adam Pearson has admitted he is in talks with an American consortium about possible investment in the Rams.

And Shamrock Holdings, the financial institution owned by Roy Disney, could be one of the investors involved.

But Pearson has played down the importance of these discussions, saying talks are also taking place with half a dozen other interested parties.

He says talks with one group in America and one group in the Far East have progressed further.

Pearson initially denied having had any contact with Disney or Shamrock.

Now he maintains that there was no link with Disney and said that he was having no direct talks with Shamrock.

They were only one of six potential investors in one US consortium.

"It's just a shame that we can't conduct this business in private," he told the Derby Evening Telegraph.

"We are talking with a number of parties and it's unfortunate there's a Disney name in there.

"But it bears no connection with this company [Shamrock].

"It's just another part of our discussions for the future."

[Freddy Adu]

Reading, Derby go for Kansas City Wizards star Johnson

Reading and Derby County are battling to sign £2million-rated MLS hitman Eddie Johnson.

The Kansas City Wizards star, 23, bagged 15 goals in 24 games this season. An MLS spokesman said: "There are offers on the table.

"Depending on what can be sorted out he will be moving in January."

[Freddy Adu]

Derby boss Davies warned about January spending

Derby executive chairman Adam Pearson has warned Billy Davies that he will not have a big transfer war chest to spend in January.

Davies is hoping to sign up to six new players when the transfer window reopens in January to bolster his squad.

Reports suggested Davies could be handed £10million in the next transfer window, but Pearson has moved to reject the rumours and insists the club will be sensible in their spending.

"I don't think we will be in a position to throw bundles at the transfer market - and spending £10m is highly unlikely," Pearson told The News of the World.

"We want to trade positively and actively to give the club a boost but we must also plan for the future especially if, by January, we are not in touch with other teams at the bottom.

"If we are in touch we will have a little go but otherwise we have to make sure we are strong going forward.

"We ought to try and improve things and shall do so in January - but within our budget."

[Freddy Adu]

Chelsea have no competition in this one... Forca DERBY!

[Freddy Adu]

Derby boss Davies targets European market

Derby County boss Billy Davies admits he'll be buying outside the UK in January.

"We have identified a list of players," said Davies. "We are looking at one or two possibilities in Britain and we have identified several foreign players, what I call 'door openers', little gems in the side we need.

"Of these six players, two or three will be foreign signings if we can get them.

"Myself and my staff are now ready to go and look at these players who we feel will provide the quality required to sustain a Premier League challenge."

[Freddy Adu]

Davies makes plea for Derby transfer cash

Derby County boss Billy Davies will plead with chairman Adam Pearson for a healthy transfer budget for the winter market.

He said: "There will be transfer fees involved. This is not the Championship, this is the Premier League and to sustain a challenge you have got to spend."

Asked if the club faced a race against time, Davies replied: "Not really. It is like the last transfer window, you have to put your money where your mouth is.

"To get a player in, especially at this level, you know there is going to be competition. You don't go for players at this level and not have competition.

"To beat that competition it will take decent transfer fees and contracts."

[Freddy Adu]

Derby boss Davies seeking market "gems" like Everton's Arteta

Derby County boss Billy Davies admits he's seeking a "gem" like Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta in the January market.

"He is a real quality gem - a player who can pass, cross, score a goal out of nothing and make things happen," said Davies.

"That is what we need, we need two or three gems.

"Players who can turn a game on its head with a little piece of magic.

"Sometimes it is the foreign players who can give you that but there are also British players who can do it as well.

"Getting the right balance in the team between British players and foreign players is important and we are now ready for that."

[Freddy Adu]

Derby's Johnson extends Sheffield Wednesday stay

Derby County have agreed to allow defender Michael Johnson to remain on-loan at Sheffield Wednesday another month.

Owls boss Brian Laws said: "I'm really pleased that we are able to keep Michael for a further month.

"He has settled in here and been a superb influence."

[Freddy Adu]

Derby v Chelsea


Derby aren’t completely doomed just yet, but a shambolic defence is letting their hopes slip away. The transfer window could see Derby strengthen at the back, a move which would leave them in with a good chance of staying up.

However, games over the festive period will ultimately seal their fate, so they must try and win at least a game to have any realistic hopes of staying up. Another problem is goals, as they have only scored five this season. Luckily, all these have come at home, so Chelsea better beware!

Chelsea will not be disappointed with a tough draw against Everton, but will be looking to get some more wins to keep up the pressure on Arsenal and United. It has been quite amazing how the Blues have coped under Avram Grant, and we can no longer rule them out of the title race. Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are forming a seemingly telepathic communication, which can only be good. Chelsea are yet to blip under Grant, but they will surely blow Derby away.

Chelsea will easily win this game due to the difference in player quality and talent. Derby will be looking to concede less than three just to keep hope and confidence, but realistically, games against Birmingham and Wigan will be more important to them.

Prediction: Blues To Run Riot

[scotttttttttttttt]

just saying "chelsea vs derby" makes me laugh