A frustrating defeat at Huddersfield brought an anti-climax Derby’s return to League action - but the Rams then recovered to beat Charlton despite a nervy finish after taking a 3-0 lead. This week’s FRV is dedicated to ‘Badge Man’ Douglas Else, who has passed away, aged 86.

Shortly before the Rams played at Huddersfield, the popular and ever-present Derby fanatic Doug Else passed away, and we will miss his affable presence at football grounds - he was synonymous with the kind of long-serving, loyal support that makes our club special.

Dougie was of course famous for his amazing badge-laden jacket, and he was dubbed ‘The Badge-Man’ by the fans.

I met him regularly; I sold him the occasional badge and was always tasked by him to find a spot to pin it on his jacket! Doug was a true stalwart - I heard it reported that he hadn’t missed a home match since 1962.

I have an uncle in his 80s who has (like Doug) seen the Rams since the time of the 1946 FA Cup win, but even he can’t match the seemingly unbeatable record of loyalty that Doug recorded. Doug’s wife and son paraded the famous jacket around the stadium before kick-off at the Charlton game, accompanied by Nick Webster’s team with the Super Rams giant flag.

As another mark of respect and remembrance, in the 86th minute of the game, the stadium was enveloped by a fulsome minute’s applause in appreciation of one of Derby County’s best-loved supporters.

I am proud to have known him - RamZone send sincere condolences to the family; we will always remember Doug and hope he rests in peace. The Rams flopped at Huddersfield - but as it said on Doug’s baseball cap, they went out to ‘Do It for Douglas’ against the Addicks and won the match.

The 1-0 defeat at the John Smith Stadium was a forgettable affair in which Derby contrived to concede the Terriers’ winning goal before a minute’s play had elapsed - then failed to fashion anything at all decisive at the other end of the pitch during the remaining 89 minutes of play.

It was all very disappointing given the positivity generated by the 5-1 thrashing of Watford and the bonhomie of the long rest and overseas training break that was supposed to refresh the Rams and set them up for even higher achievements.

The fans had a ready scapegoat and one marginal squad member was singled out for their criticism. Young American Conor Doyle put in his first hour on the pitch in Derby’s first team for several months at Huddersfield and was largely anonymous.

Doyle was a baffling selection to many fans; the young Texan still seems out of his depth when stepping up to Championship level after two years at the club. With Hendrick and Bryson struggling to make an impact in midfield last Saturday, Doyle demonstrated little influence upon the outcome of the game.

Some have trouble fathoming the club’s loyalty to Doyle when he is picked ahead of better players, or those more suited to the position to be filled. The American was played as a wide midfielder, when he’s ostensibly a central striker; Michael Jacobs wasn’t picked, though he is thought to possess good delivery skills.

Tyson and Robinson were displaced, who might have given Derby more thrust and presence in the opposing half but Clough decided he wanted to slot Doyle into midfield as a straight replacement for the flu-struck Paul Coutts.

The youngster obviously trains well and is a conscientious individual; that makes a positive impression on the management and coaching staff but when Derby lose games without putting up much of a fight, then anonymous players like Doyle become the scapegoat. The radio phone-in reaction to the Huddersfield defeat laid the blame largely at the feet of the manager and the hapless American player.

Unless Mr Clough is under instruction to retain an American presence in the squad, his judgement seems variable when deciding how recruits have made the grade at Derby. Czech under-21 international Tomasz Cywka had his moments but famously fell foul of Clough for naïve defensive play and was publicly berated.

His stay was brief, as it was with winger David Martin, who had ability but little opportunity after Clough elected to play a narrower midfield system.

The manager has therefore quickly moved on some players that seemed to show more promise than Doyle and who had perhaps provided an initial impact or held a regular place in the first team - James Bailey and Ben Davies are the latest examples.

Those two appear to have outlived their usefulness too, given the emergence of Jeff Hendrick and the signing of more accomplished and influential players like Bryson and Coutts.

Derby didn’t threaten Huddersfield (who weren’t exactly rampant near goal themselves) in a sub-standard performance. After the manner of the 5-1 victory over Watford, on Saturday it appeared that Derby had gone well off the boil and that the international break - and the club’s overseas training sortie - had not actually benefited the cause to any extent.

The Rams failed to disrupt the Terriers’ unconvincing progress to three valuable Championship points; the game was there to be seized but Derby lacked quality and incisiveness, so they came home without giving any reward to the near-2,500 travelling fans.

The Rams had some pleasing possession when they woke up in the second half - but you don’t get points for being easy on the eye. Theo Robinson was criticised by Mr Clough for wandering around on the wing instead of getting in the penalty area to show intent upon the goal.

Clough turned to defender Jake Buxton late on as an emergency centre-forward, because Jake has proven his determination to get on the end of things in the opposing penalty area. The manager’s choice of Buxton over Nathan Tyson as a last-ditch attacking substitute also speaks volumes for Derby’s expectations of a goal threat from the ex-Forest forward.

Derby County will have a new chief executive in January 2013, as Sam Rush (40) joins the club from the Wasserman Group. Mr Rush has a formidable history in football agency administration and has represented top names in football and other sports.

He clearly has a quite different CV to that of the departing Tom Glick who is now working within the corporate outreach of nouveaux-riche Premier League Champions Manchester City - and Sam should bring with him considerable knowledge of the workings of the transfer and loan markets.

The midweek home game with promoted Charlton Athletic gave the Rams a chance to regain their progress up the Championship table at the expense of fondly-remembered Addicks’ boss Chris Powell.

He was once a classy full back at Derby County and is now showing prodigious management talent in reviving Charlton in super-quick time, having guided them back into the Championship in his first year.

There was no sentiment in Derby’s emphatic performance, though. Gone was the effete, ineffectual football that Derby produced at Huddersfield, as the Rams resumed their high-pressure, controlled attacking home football to dominate the first 65 minutes and take a 3-0 lead.

Star man Jamie Ward struck early on, quickly sizing up a headed clearance to ram home a fine, low 25-yard strike to put Derby ahead after 7 minutes. Just like the Sheffield Wednesday and Watford matches, it was one-way traffic with bristling performances all around the park. The Derby defence was secure, Hughes, Hendrick and Bryson sparkled in midfield and Sammon and Ward plagued the worried Addicks’ defence.

A single goal lead at the break was less than Derby deserved but Will Hughes calmly set up Bryson to rifle in a second soon after the interval. The 20,000 crowd was then up and celebrating again, relaxed and happy after an hour when Jamie Ward was upended and proceeded to slam home the penalty himself.

Expectations of four or five goals, or even that elusive League hat-trick from a Derby player after many years of waiting were not misplaced - or so we thought! The flowing football brought goals and several other good chances were spurned, as the Rams’ brisk, positive play made nonsense of the weak and unproductive possession tip-tapping they had displayed at Huddersfield.

Derby slackened off for a moment or two and Charlton actually attacked; Danny Green was allowed to crash home a long-range shot. That shocked the home crowd for its sheer quality and power, given Charlton’s feeble attacking exploits thus far. Derby had apparently put the game well beyond a Charlton side still acclimatising to their higher level of football - but doubts crept in.

Three minutes later, however, Charlton had - impossibly - forced their way back into the game with intent, claiming a second goal with the Rams’ defence under more pressure. Then Derby had to battle for the last 20 minutes to keep the points they had seemingly already won in a canter.

It was a much more even contest for the last half-hour because Chris Powell had beefed up his team by sending on substitutes with attacking intent, the dangerous Ricardo Fuller giving Derby defenders much more to think about and bringing the play into the Derby half.

Charlton’s recovery brought a tense though exciting climax to the game but on balance, despite some concerns about Derby’s defensive confidence and the need for more ruthlessness and consistency, fans will be happy as long as the three points end up in Derby’s grip.

The result pushed Derby back into the top half of the table and they have a chance to consolidate their position with another home game on Saturday, when Burnley visit Pride Park Stadium.

Like most Championship sides so far, Burnley are inconsistent - but here’s hoping that the lads go out and do it again for Douglas.

RIP Douglas Else, 1926 – 2012.

Photo: Action Images

WaltonRam added 16:24 - Sep 20 Nice tributes to the Badge Man by the fans on Tuesday and in the media. Here's an idea... how about nominating a senior fan on an ongoing basis, someone who like Badge Man has been a loyal supporter for many years. I'm sure various benefits can come towards the nominated fan, but more than anything it would just be an honour for that fan after their years of loyal support. It's just an idea and I'm sure people could come up with their own ideas of what to call this honour and how to honour them, e.g. organise a pub night for them, get a T-shirt and cap for them to wear, get the club to officially recognise their status. The nominated fan could keep the honour for life. Maybe you guys at Ramzone could organise something? I would offer myself but not in Derby too often these days.

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