New Delhi: A first half goal by Kris Commons was enough to hand Derby County a famous win over Manchester United in the first leg of their Carling Cup semi final at Pride Park.
Derby County welcomed Manchester United to Pride Park for the first leg of their Carling Cup semi-final hoping to impress new manager Nigel Clough watching from the stands.
Clough must certainly have been delighted with the first half performance of his side, the Rams looking by far the brighter and more dangerous side in a lively opening period.
As early as the fifth minute the Championship side had the European champions worried. A goalmouth scramble eventually fell out wide to Davies whose shot was blocked at close range by Kuszczak before Vidic finally cleared.
Minutes later and following a corner, Evans was forced to hoof a ball off the goal line after Sterjovski had found space in the box to fire a shot goalwards.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s men had been warned and just short of the half hour mark, Derby finally broke the deadlock and grabbed a deserved lead.
Commons picked up the ball in midfield, some 30 yards from goal and found time to turn before firing an unstoppable shot low and past a helpless Kuszczak into the bottom corner.
A sluggish United looked to respond, Scholes twice trying his luck from range but failing to even find the target and the champions trooped off at half-time deservedly behind and having failed to force former stopper Carroll in the Derby goal into a single save.
Ferguson’s patience lasted until the hour mark when, with the Red Devils showing no sign of making a comeback, he sent for the cavalry with Rooney and Ronaldo replacing Scholes and Welbeck.
Yet Derby continued to press the visitors, giving them no time and space on the ball and remaining the more threatening side as the English champions struggled to shake off their lethargy.
Carrick was the next to arrive charged with inspiring his team and within minutes United had their best chance of the match, Ronaldo shooting inches wide after being set up by Rafael.
The Portuguese went even closer minutes later, a free kick leaving Carroll stranded, but shaving the post and Derby survived.
The hosts should have gone one better and doubled their lead moments later; Commons turning Evans brilliantly and beating him for pace before shooting at Kusczczak which the Pole could only parry into the path of Hulse who blazed over from close range.
Moments later Commons again found himself in space and bearing down on goal but again he couldn’t find the target with his left footed finish.
The visitors barely deserved their let-offs but couldn’t muster any kind of pressure at the other end and Derby held on for a well-deserved victory.
The Rams now just have the simple task of surviving 90 minutes at Old Trafford in a fortnight’s time to book themselves a spot in the Carling Cup Final at Wembley.
Derby: Carroll, Connolly, Todd (Savage, 87), Nyatanga, Camara, Sterjovski (Teale, 58), Green, Addison, Commons, Hulse, Davies (Barazite, 81)
Man Utd: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Vidic, Evans, O'Shea, Anderson (Carrick, 74), Scholes (Ronaldo, 63), Gibson, Nani, Tevez, Welbeck (Rooney, 63).
GOAL
1-0 Derby County (Commons, 29)
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