Gone for a Burton as Kidd's unbeaten run ends

IN a roundabout way, Jim Smith gave his old club a few crumbs of home comfort, even though a worrying away record continues to keep Blackburn Rovers on the Premiership danger list.

"You are looking at 40 points to be very safe. We are on 31 now and it takes away that anxiety," said the ex-Ewood boss.

So, while Smith was concerned more with his own team's situation, surely Rovers - on 21 points - have it within their own capabilities to raise a further 19 from 16 games.

Just one moment's lack of concentration, or communication, in defence, however, and hopes of prising another rare but valuable away point were gone for a Burton - a Deon Burton, as the Derby striker grabbed the late winner.

Brian Kidd felt his team deserved something for their efforts and refuses to become bogged down in a statistical swamp, for fear of becoming "paranoid".

But the fact is that Rovers remain the only team in the Premiership without an away win and that needs to be rectified soon.

For so long, they looked capable of earning at least a draw.

But matches often turn on chances and Rovers missed one through Nathan Blake 12 minutes from time, while Derby took their opportunity six minutes later. It was hard fought, scrappy at times, with both teams showing a tendency to give the ball away far too easily.

And the Premiership is a cruel place where mistakes are usually severely punished.

Apart from their carelessness on the ball, Rovers looked solid enough, not unlike Derby, and they will be pleased by much of their defensive contribution as well as the performance in attack by Ashley Ward.

But another narrow away defeat piles more pressure on home matches. The most cheering news came afterwards when it was revealed that their position, with regard to the teams below them, had not worsened.

Not so, however, with those just above, leaving the danger of being cut adrift in a five-club scrap.

The game had a fiery start, was taken over by Derby then witnessed a Rovers flurry just before half time.

Yet it seemed to have goalless draw stamped all over it as the minutes ticked away.

There was concern as early as the seventh minute when Billy McKinlay reacted furiously to a challenge by Francesco Baiano, clearly feeling the Derby man had gone over the top.

McKinlay's response could easily have led to a more serious fracas but both were yellow carded, leaving the Rovers midfielder to tread warily for the rest of the game.

It was ex-Rover Lars Bohinen who made the first serious threat, forcing a fine save and subsequent brave clearance by Stephane Henchoz, while Blake responded with an overhead kick that was just too high.

McKinlay and Baiano were soon tangling again but the referee handled things sensibly as Derby threatened to take control. Their movement was quick and imaginative towards the Rovers goal but they were generally held quite well by good organisation and there was always an individual ready to step in as Callum Davidson demonstrated with a late saving tackle.

Towards half time, Rovers emerged as a threat themselves.

Ward's header, from a superb Tim Sherwood cross, was tipped over, Blake glanced a header just wide and then needed too much time from more excellent work by the skipper.

The second half did not bring as many chances but there was one significant opening.

Great work by Ward on the left brought a far-post cross to where Blake was lurking. It was, perhaps, just a shade strong but, having got his head to it, Blake should have scored. He missed and, instead, Derby grabbed the decider.

Tony Dorigo's deep, swirling cross from the left looked as though it could have been claimed by the keeper. He decided to leave it to his defenders - there were plenty around - but Davidson in particular seemed caught out by the uncertainty.

Dean Sturridge, escaping beyond the far post, cashed in on an apparent lack of communication to head it back across goal for Deon Burton to steam in and lunge forward to head home from point-blank range.

A draw would have been a fair result but you have to take your chances and Rovers didn't. There was one final, rather sour, note in a fairly forgettable match and it should not pass without comment.

Rovers fans will certainly remember the antics of Baiano, who demonstrated the shadier side of the Premiership's foreign influx.

McKinlay, a fierce competitor, is no angel himself but at least he is up front and honest in his game. After the early incident between him and Baiano, I kept a close watch on the Italian who blatantly tried to get opponents into trouble.

He falls over far too easily - most people call it 'diving' - yet also showed he knows how to commit a reckless challenge.

Baiano's real skills are welcome in the Premiership but he should mend his ways or get back to where such behaviour is acknowledged as the norm.

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