Richmond Spurs: Derby match Report

Courtesy of Official Site-

Three goals in 14 first half minutes and a first White Hart Lane goal for
Darren Bent ensured maximum points profit against Derby County.Our
first points of the season were recorded in considerable style, Steed Malbranque
opening the previously sticky gates to early season success with a two-goal
salvo that effectively counted Derby out of the contest early on. Unlike on
Tuesday night, this one got off to the perfect start when, with just one minute
showing on the clock, Tom Huddlestone knocked a free-kick left to Steed
Malbranque and the industrious Frenchman clipped a shot that beat the dive of
Stephen Bywater to the goalkeeper's right and rattled the back of the net.
Things only got better on six minutes when Pascal Chimbonda picked out the run
of Darren Bent down the right channel and the England man squared and who was
waiting but that man Malbranque and his finish was all the sweeter this time
around - curling his effort inside the left-hand upright with Bywater well
beaten. It was time for a treble eight minutes later and Jermaine Jenas helped
himself. Picking up the ball at around half way, the athletic midfielder just
ran and ran through the centre, skipped a few challenges along the way and then
calmly slipped the ball beyond Bywater and it went in off the inside of the
right hand post. Huddlestone, enjoying his first start of the campaign, was
looking a majestic figure in the centre of midfield against his old club, with
Wayne Routledge, Ricardo Rocha and Lee Young-Pyo also starting for the first
time this term. For Routledge it was his first Spurs start since December 2005
at West Brom. Jenas was providing the legs in midfield and he made another
surging run just before the half hour mark and for a few moments looked set to
go all the way again, before electing to swap passes with Robbie Keane and
switch to supply mode. Bent then powered down the left and centred for Keane,
who made a bit of a hash of his attempt, but the ball ended up in front of
Routledge and was promptly put into the net. The celebration was cut short by
the flag of the assistant. Jenas was later a matter of inches wide with a
teasing curler from just outside the area. Derby's big man in attack Steve
Howard forced Paul Robinson into his first meaningful action with a header, just
before Malbranque was threatening a hat-trick at the other end with a skilful
surge into the area. Huddlestone's vision was sublime minutes before half-time
when the outside of his boot dispatched a defence-dissecting ball into the path
of Keane in the area and the Irishman clipped across goal to where Bent was
waiting. Our No.23 went to beat his marker Jay McEveley and was clearly caught,
but referee Mr Foy decided against the award of a penalty. Keane then forced a
brave block out of Bywater and then stretched the former West Ham man in first
half stoppage time. It was three at the break, but six would have been a more
accurate reflection on the events of the first 45 minutes. The second half was
probably always going to struggle to live up to the heights of the first, but
almost complete domination was again established. Keane forced Bywater into a
smart save before the introduction of Adel Taarabt to bring his very own brand
of skills to proceedings. Routledge made way, but not before sub Gar Teale
ensured Robinson's fingertips were well warmed with a powerful drive from out on
the right. Taarabt was the entertainment for the final 20 minutes, twisting,
turning, shooting and generally delighting his audience. Jermain Defoe was next
on stage, replacing captain Keane. On 80 minutes came No.4 from a Huddlestone
free-kick and a Chimbonda header, Bywater did brilliantly to divert the ball
onto the bar, but the predatory Defoe and Bent were waiting to nod the ball into
the net - and Bent won to score his first ever goal at his new home.