Derby, 7 March 2009

Off, then, for the second time in two months to Pride Park. And even before I've got there I've had a row with the car park attendant at the place I've always used. He tells me to go to a specific area, I oblige with a smile and wave. Only to find there are no spaces where he sent me.
"Why did you send me there?" said I.
"I didn't," said he.
"Well I didn't go there for a laugh," responded I
"I don't like your attitude," responded he.
"Well I don't like yours. Or your stupidity," concluded I.
"Are you late or something?" concluded he.
I know. There hasn't been dialogue like this since Boys From The Blackstuff, but I quite liked his surreal pay-off.
Onwards I trudge. At the door, Derby claim - nicely of course - that they haven't had my request for accreditation, although I'd seen the e.mail the office sent. I charm my way in. It's one of those days and since tit's a 1pm kick off, it's not even midday yet.
The food remains inedible (although in fairness the half-time cake is all-too-edible), but a pretty woman offers me a cup of tea and the world starts to look brighter already and in the press box I have empty seats to the left and right of me and Spencer from The Observer to talk nonsense to. Life isn't that bad after all
In fact, Derby County's game against Bristol City is a humdinger.
Derby go one up in the first minute. Bristol take over but somehow take over 80 minutes to equalise, only for Derby to sneak upfield and win it. Gripping stuff.
Afterwards, I'm confused. I can't quite follow why, at half-time, Nigel Clough took off an injured striker, Chris Porter, and replaced him with defender Andy Todd, who's never had a good game. In effect, the territory they yielded allowed Bristol to further seize the initiative. In fairness, Clough sort of agrees, admitting “needs must”. he got away with it today. That won’t happen too often in the future, but he’s surely smart enough to know that. And he’s transformed Robbie Savage...