We Are (joint) Top of the League

Well that was what we call, a good day at the office.

2-0 vs Derby! In our previous encounters against those at the top of the table, victory had eluded us, with a 1-1 and 0-0 in home games vs Watford and Bournemouth respectively.

This game was different, however, this game was a statement of intent, much as the victory at Millwall the week before was. If you can put 5 past a team then it shows you are strong, but to hold the leaders and make them look like a team fighting relegation, not tipped for the top, then you can count yourself as either very good, or very lucky. And I'd like to believe it is the former.

Every single player on the pitch did their duty, even Leo on the touchline and Karanka up in the stands. (And the guy sat next to AK, who I did my work experience with!)

The tactics for the game were much appreciated on social media, by both sets of fans. But as Steve Claridge himself said, that is how to set up a team against a 4-3-3.

I disagree with Claridge over a lot of things, including his understatement of Boro. With him saying on FLS that we pressured 'the best team with the ball.' And although he did refer to us as the best team without the ball, I think we put Shteve's men to the sword and showed that we are even better than them.

From kickoff, however, it looked like AK was taking after his friend at Stamford Bridge as we sat back as Derby played it around their defense. That wasn't to be the case. As the first time we entered their half (basically) we got a goal out of it. As the ball was played to Reach and he showed the pace that us, the Boro faithful adore to see from our homegrown left wingers and he looked to pull the ball back from the byline. With only seconds to think, Bamford stroked the ball towards the net with a finesse that has endeared him to us smoggies and did endear him to the Derby fans. That endearing was soon undone as he wheeled off to celebrate,

Paddy received a lot of stick from the Derby fans for that. Despite going over to clap them at full time. Many also thought that his 'treatment' to his 'former teammates was appalling.'

But he was just on loan, you say. Well if he was like this, complementing the team etc at Derby and then leaves and tries extra hard against them, then I would feel aggrieved if the teams were reversed. But as Leadbitter once said 'That's football'

And the football did continue for 84 minutes after Bamford put the ball past the dive of Grant (their goalkeeper, not Leadbitter)

But he more than made up for his errors later in the match. 20 minutes after the goal, Bamford was set through and after making that save, proceeded to make another great save to deny Jelle from getting his first goal on Teesside. Grant was the only reason that Boro weren't up by a fair few by halftime, with the indignant Keogh's moaning and Shotton's giggling at pushing the neck of Bamford not doing anything to stop Boro's onslaught.

Now, I feel I'm writing 'Bamford' a lot in this post. I've tried to vary it with 'Paddy' but it feels very repetitive. But I'm not going to moan if it means that he plays how he does every week. He and Vossen pressurised the defense constantly in both halves, with the only difference between the two being Derby's formation. They went 2 up top with the Coldplay singer being partnered by th ex-Manchester United striker. Oh, no sorry that is LEON Best up top with Chris Martin (but not that one) This was a tactic to combat the dominance of Gibson and Ayala at the back, who had Martin in their collective back pockets. Jordan Ibe was also introduced.

Truth be told, they did little to enthuse the Derby faithful. Grant, therefore, felt the need to entertain them by 'dilly-dallying' on the ball and diving 'Jens Lehmann' style over Bamford's attempt to get the ball.

The giggling Shotton I mentioned before, whom all game was tormented by the Chelsea loanee, brought Bamford crashing to the floor 15 minutes after the interval. His smile was non-existent as a chorus of 'Cheerios' ushered him off the pitch. I don't know a time where i've been so confident in our penalty taker. He dispatched his 6th penalty of the season in similar style to the previous 5. Hard and low into the corner.

The only real threat that Derby posed to the goal came in the final minutes of the second half as complacency leaked into the back line and, luckily, Dimi was alive to the well struck shot.

But we were top, for a matter of a few hours, as Bournemouth (who I feel will be our nemesis throughout this season) dispatched Cardiff, who look a shadow of their former selves under Malky Mackay. Their is an air of hope that is now turning into genuine optimism around Teesside. And I hope that this is realised, when Karanka eventually looks at the table on the last day of the season.