ANDY BUCKLEY-TAYLOR’S DERBY COUNTY BLOG: Clarets’ loss was ‘worst home display’ for three seasons

Derby went into the international break progressing to the third round of the Capital One Cup with a comfortable 5-0 thrashing of Brentford, and a 0-3 reverse at home to Burnley.The manner of the defeat to the Clarets was disappointing.Despite having the lion’s share of possession, Burnley simply outclassed Derby when it came to creating and converting chances.Derby looked a shadow of the side that were impressive at Brighton and came away with three points at Yeovil.Freeman had his worst game so far in a Rams shirt, though his was in my opinion very harshly singled out by Nigel Clough as the main culprit for the visitor’s first two goals.Our defence has at times looked calamitous. Richard Keogh has thus far failed to reproduce the form that saw him win ‘Player of the Season’, indeed he has been outplayed by Jake Buxton. Craig Forsyth is not and does not look like a left back. He is too slow and isn’t the greatest of tacklers.Jeff Hendrick was missed in a midfield that looked totally disjointed. Will Hughes had an off day, yet did produce the best attack of the game. Craig Bryson had a quiet game by his own high standards. He did however get the long awaited call up from Gordon Strachan for the Scotland squad. It has to be said that a dip into the loan market is going to be necessary to cover the loss of Hendrick for about 12 weeks.There is still a lack of width about the side. Michael Jacobs is the only natural winger in the side and it is crying out for another wide man. Someone like Chris Burke would be ideal.Strikers aren’t going to bag any goals if they aren’t getting enough service.The only real pluses were the performances of Adam Smith who came on after the break and seemed to breathe new life into the side and Conor Sammon who was in a determined mood when he got the chance to come on in the second period.I have said make a judgement after eight to 10 games, but this was the worst home performance in about three seasons. The worst since being on the end of a thrashing by Scunthorpe.