El Clásico De Midlands
As midlands rivalries go, it’s fair to say there are one or two more high profile than Derby County and Shrewsbury Town. In fact, up until their clash in the League Cup in August, most Derby fans probably wouldn’t even have been aware they had a long standing rivalry with their Shropshire neighbours. However, such was The Shrews determination to win this game, there would be little doubt at the final whistle how much this game meant.
Shrewsbury arrived at Pride Park having sold out their full away ticket allocation and judging by the party atmosphere in the stands, cheap hotels in Derby would have had a sudden been inundation with bookings from fans in no state to drive home. Travelling up from Shrewsbury, fans could have had little expectation of turning Derby over on their own patch, considering the disparity between the two clubs, with The Rams being a full two divisions higher than their west-midlands counterparts.
However, Shrewsbury weren’t at all daunted by their opponents as they struck first on the quarter-of-an-hour mark with a neat set piece. With Marvin Morgan connecting with an excellent corner from Lionel Ainsworth, planting the ball in the bar corner of the net. Not content with the lead, Town kept on the front foot, moving the ball quickly in the Derby half. They got their reward for their incisive, positive play, stunning Derby with a second goal on 30 minutes with another assist from Ainsworth from the wing. Sending the ball directly on to the head of James Collins to make it 2 – 0.
With Derby shell shocked by the initiative taken by their underdog guests, Shrewsbury went on the offensive again. Unbelievably notching a third goal a minute later with yet another cross from Ainsworth, finding Morgan lurking at the back post to send the visiting support into raptures and his team 3 – 0 up at half time.
Derby boss Nigel Clough must have drawn on some other-worldly inspiration as the team that took the field in the second half instantly seemed reinvigorated and focused on the task at hand. Within a minute of the restart County pulled a goal back through former Aberdeen hitman Chris McGuire, setting up a nervy 44 minutes ahead for Shrewsbury.
However, Shrewsbury managed to settle with ex-Derby youngster Ainsworth playing like a man with a point to prove. Derby were drifting in and out of the game, but somehow scraped another goal back against the run of play. A quick counter-attack lead to a break from Derby’s Robinson, who’s run and neat finish gave The Rams and unlikely lifeline.
With minutes to go and the pressure mounting, Derby could have been forgiven for canvasing prices for hotels in Shrewsbury, as they sought the goal that would take the game to a replay. However, the Shrews held on for a famous victory and a night that would live long in the memory down on the Welsh borders. For County, left with only the lesson learned, never to take local rivalries lightly.
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