THINK OF FA CUP SHOCKS AND YOU think of David versus Goliath: a lower-league team raising their game, busting their guts and straining their sinews to dump their more illustrious opponents out of the world’s oldest knockout competition. None of that happened at Layer Road on Saturday, but Colchester United, of Coca-Cola League One, are in the fifth round and, on this evidence, Derby County, of the Championship, are nowhere.
To get through, Colchester had to do little more than turn up, warm up and play their usual high-tempo game against demoralised and toothless opponents who appeared still to be reeling from the shock of losing 6-1 away to Coventry City last weekend. Three scruffy goals in a 15-minute spell either side of the interval put the game out of the visiting team’s reach and demonstrated why Colchester have won 18 of their past 20 matches — and why Derby are nineteenth in the Championship.
Neil Danns reacted quickly to a long throw by John White to give his side the lead on the stroke of half-time and the former Blackburn Rovers midfield player extended it soon after the interval with a similar strike. Richard Garcia wrapped up victory with a tap-in before Tommy Smith grabbed a consolation from the penalty spot 11 minutes from time.
That raised a cheer from the travelling supporters, but that benevolent streak was nowhere to be seen when one of their number disrupted Phil Brown’s post-match press conference. “Who pays your wages, Phil?” the supporter asked. “I drove all the way from Derby to watch that. You are letting us down week in and week out. You are a disgrace. God knows how they gave you a three-year contract. Resign now.”
The Derby manager regained his composure before laying the blame for this latest embarrassment at the feet of his players. “There were strong words said in the dressing-room,” Brown said. “They were hungrier and they wanted it more than us. When my players cross that white line they have to take responsibility for their actions and none of them did that today.
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“The fans are getting disgruntled with the board, the players and with myself, so it is a difficult situation, but the problems are not insurmountable and I am 100 per cent committed to this club and I am not walking away.”
Clubs who are £40 million in debt cannot afford to dismiss managers who have 2½ years remaining on their contracts and the Derby board demonstrated its confidence in Brown by allowing him to spend £500,000 on Darren Moore last week. The former West Bromwich Albion defender was cup-tied, but on this evidence it is doubtful whether one player would have made much difference to the result.
Colchester, on the other hand, are in no position to buy players — they borrow them or give them second chances — and although injuries to four key men prompted Phil Parkinson to discount his side’s chances of victory last week, the replacements the manager had at his disposal proved to be more than a match for their opponents.
Rumours were circulating around Layer Road that several Barclays Premeirship clubs, as well as Reading and Luton Town, of the Championship, had expressed an interest in signing Danns before the transfer window closes tomorrow, but the midfield player was too busy wallowing in his newfound celebrity to think beyond the next round. “Some people would say this was an upset, but to us it’s not because we know what we are capable of,” he said. “We were quietly confident that we would win because there is a lot of talent in our dressing-room and if you put talent and hard work together, you are going to get results.”
Few clubs will fancy their chances if they are drawn to visit Layer Road in the next round, but it is hard to envisage any other team rolling over as Derby did on Saturday. One crunching tackle by Michael Johnson on Greg Halford aside, the East Midlands team’s resistance was token and their heads drooped as soon as they went behind.
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If any more evidence of the comprehensive nature of this victory was required, it was provided by Halford, who admitted that he and his team-mates had “coasted through” the game. The Colchester midfield player added the caveat that he did not want to be disrespectful to Derby, but he did not need to bother — his opponents had already shown their contempt for their club with their feeble performances.
Colchester United (4-4-2): D Gerken — K Duguid, G Richards P Baldwin, J White — G Halford, N Danns, K Izzet, M Yeates (sub: G Williams, 78min) — C Iwelumo, R Garcia (sub: S Stockley, 77). Substitutes not used: J Guy, G Elokobi, M Cousins
Derby County (4-4-2): L Camp — T Hajto, A Davies, L Nyatanga, M Johnson — M Bisgaard, P Thirlwell, A Bolder (sub: L Holmes, 59), T Smith — I Idiákez, P Peschisolido (sub: D Holdsworth, 38). Substitutes not used: K Poole, R Jackson, M Edworthy
Referee: B Curson