Palace trip - take a car - pick a route - drive - arrive twelve twenty - chippy open - no customers - no chips - wait - eat - walk - Prince George drink.

And in twenty words that’s the best part of the day summed up. How many then for the match?

Rams all white uptight, the Eagles outta sight.

Derby as a side are lacking in sage, if you like a blank totalling page.

Vulgar fractions of formations, 4-4-1-1 said the man. Craig Bryson is to get forward and join in when he can.

It’s not enough there is no fruition. The fans want 4-4-2, we lack ambition.

On the bench we have goal scores galore. On the pitch we have a Fish that cannot score.

A dive, a push, the heart hardly races. It’s Roberts and Zaha, handbags at paces.

A corner, Legzdins comes then changes his mind. Murray heads home, Buxton watching resigned.

It’s a poor piece of defending it won’t be his last. Time after time th eagles fly past.

Just as the Lone Ranger needed his Tonto. We need another striker. Now. Pronto.

Half time and we trail, it’s a score line that flatters, get Robinson on please that’s all that now matters.

Too late, too late, the Palace double their lead. Moritz’s left foot volley and the Rams concede.

Alone as a striker - not the easiest of tasks. Clough takes off Sammon, it’s Theo he asks.

We chase a defeat with different men. It’s Plan A revised no Plan B again.

Frustrated we chant. Or is it a rant. “We are Derby County, We Want 4-4-2”. With ten to go we get want we wanted. Palace press on though, undaunted.

Buxton out jumped weak in the air, Murray beats three with flair. A shot unleashed, an unstoppable goal. The final score line flattering Derby on the whole.

Another away day, another defeat, another Monday moan-in hearing fans bleat, another performance set out to defend we set out not to lose. Another one hundred and thirty five miles before any booze.

Why do we do it? Why do we go? It’d be easier to answer if the team was more gung ho.

One final thought on this day of rest.

Why have I spent so long getting this “crud” off my chest.

Enjoy your day. It’s beer time!

Photo: Action Images

Southampton Polls