Chris in London
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 21 Sep 2009
- Messages
- 13,342
I wouldn't, I think we have got the beating of them.
Recently, we have struggled to break down teams that don't play much football but try to frustrate - Stoke, Everton, Hull, and even Brum and Wigan, until the penalty in the Brum game and the red card against Wigan. Even Liverpool didn't come to try and win the game, and ended up with the 0-0 draw that was always their ambition.
We have done better against footballing sides, where if we get our noses ahead we have great options for scoring on the break - Chelsea being a perfect example. In such games, even going behind has not been a problem because when teams like Chelsea and the rags go ahead they don't usually try to sit back - they go all out for more goals, which is why we have been able to turn it around and win when we have gone behind to United (at our place) and Chelsea twice.
So I know it's a derby where anything can happen, but given the way we are playing, given the way they are playing, given that it's at our place, I expect us to win.
That said, I suppose we are overdue a draw (especially after the Swamp in September). I can't even remember the last drawn derby at our place - there were a few at their place under Keegan/Pearce/Royle. I don't think there has been a single drawn derby at Eastlands, and the last drawn derby at our place that I can remember is one that kicked off at around 11 am one saturday morning in the early 90s.
But even if that is the result, it shows how far we have come - I can remember when not getting beaten was the most important thing in a derby game. Now, if we win 1-0 I for one will be slightly disappointed - what we really want to do is give them a good thumping.
Recently, we have struggled to break down teams that don't play much football but try to frustrate - Stoke, Everton, Hull, and even Brum and Wigan, until the penalty in the Brum game and the red card against Wigan. Even Liverpool didn't come to try and win the game, and ended up with the 0-0 draw that was always their ambition.
We have done better against footballing sides, where if we get our noses ahead we have great options for scoring on the break - Chelsea being a perfect example. In such games, even going behind has not been a problem because when teams like Chelsea and the rags go ahead they don't usually try to sit back - they go all out for more goals, which is why we have been able to turn it around and win when we have gone behind to United (at our place) and Chelsea twice.
So I know it's a derby where anything can happen, but given the way we are playing, given the way they are playing, given that it's at our place, I expect us to win.
That said, I suppose we are overdue a draw (especially after the Swamp in September). I can't even remember the last drawn derby at our place - there were a few at their place under Keegan/Pearce/Royle. I don't think there has been a single drawn derby at Eastlands, and the last drawn derby at our place that I can remember is one that kicked off at around 11 am one saturday morning in the early 90s.
But even if that is the result, it shows how far we have come - I can remember when not getting beaten was the most important thing in a derby game. Now, if we win 1-0 I for one will be slightly disappointed - what we really want to do is give them a good thumping.