WANDERERS slumped into the bottom three of the Championship once again as home fans turned their anger on manager Dougie Freedman and chairman Phil Gartside.
Chris Martin scored twice and missed a penalty to end Derby’s 12-year wait for a win over Bolton. You couldn’t argue it was the least Steve McClaren’s side deserved for a stylish and controlled display.
Wanderers can have no complaint with the fury vented at them either after summoning a performance that never came close to the one they gave at Chelsea in the Captial One Cup in midweek.
After going two down, home fans produced the clearest demonstration against the management of the football club seen this, or any season since the days of Gary Megson.
Wanderers started in a positive fashion and only a goal-saving challenge from Richard Keogh prevented Joe Mason from opening the scoring three minutes in, as he pounced on Liam Feeney’s cross from the right.
Just a few moments later Derby had a penalty. Craig Bryson went sprawling after his skipped into the area past Matt Mills and Kevin McNaughton and despite fierce Wanderers protests of a dive, referee Mark Brown pointed to the spot.
Andy Lonergan had been in imperious form against Chelsea in midweek and he picked up where he left off at Stamford Bridge, diving to his right to push away Chris Martin’s penalty.
The Whites’ response was a god one. They hassled mistakes out of the Derby back line and looked the better bet to open the scoring for a good 20 minutes.
The nearest they came was through Mason, who forced Lee Grant into a smart save at his near post after flicking Chung-Yong Lee’s cross at goal.
Derby gradually worked their way back into it before the break and Jamie Ward came close to a sixth goal of the season when he cut in off the left and curled a shot just past the upright.
Ex-Wanderers loan target Jordon Ibe was also looking bright on the left wing and his dangerous cross after 34 minutes had to be scrambled away by Lonergan as Ward looked to pounce.
The warning signs were there for the Whites, who had started to waste the ball with alarming regularity as the half wore on.
And seven minutes before the break, Bryson fed full-back Cyrus Christie on the right and his excellent ball was turned in by Martin from close range.
From there on in, the frustration levels rose.
Wanderers continued to waste possession when they won it, each lofted ball into empty space being greeted by a chorus of boos.
Things didn’t look like improving after the break as Derby passed the ball around with confidence.
Mills claimed he should have had a penalty after getting a shove as he went up for Jay Spearing’s corner but clear-cut chances were at a premium for Freedman’s side.
Derby still looked towards the energetic Ibe for inspiration, the on-loan Liverpool winger getting behind Dean Moxey to send a shot into the side netting on 57 minutes.
Disaster struck again for Wanderers from there as Lonergan’s short goal-kick was intercepted and the Rams had a four-on-one break as Bryson squared for Martin to slam home a second.
From there the mood degenerated even further.
Two fans got on to the pitch, one grabbing the corner flag, and in the hiatus a large number of fans started to chant “Freedman out” and “Gartside out.”
Another pitch invasion followed, the calls then echoing from three sides of the Macron Stadium.
Bizarrely, the demonstration seemed to enliven the home support, creating as loud an atmosphere as there has been in these parts all season.
The game continued almost as a sideshow – with the only brief glimpse of Wanderers getting back into it being a Joe Mason goal ruled out for a clear foul.
Sub Johnny Russell should have scored a third before the end, claiming a penalty after he had skipped round Lonergan and then lifting a volley over the bar.
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