Derby County 0 Bristol City 0: Gary Rowett furious as Cameron Jerome denied penalty and booked for diving
It was a decade ago this year when Derby County slipped out of the Premier League amid acute embarrassment and a record low points total.
And Derby’s hopes of ending that painful exile were damaged on Friday night by a bewildering refereeing decision which left manager Gary Rowett frustrated.
After his emerging team were denied by not one, but two Bristol City goalkeepers, referee Darren England took centre stage three minutes from time by booking Cameron Jerome for simulation.
Jerome, a Derby substitute, was clearly fouled by City defender Aden Flint in the penalty area yet was punished for diving to complete an excruciating evening for Rowett’s promotion chasers.
Frank Fielding prevented Derby from taking the lead in the first half before a groin injury ensured he was replaced by Luke Steele for the second period, with City’s other goalkeeper helping end a run of five successive defeats for his team with two fine saves.
But it was the contentious incident in the 87th minute which riled Rowett, though his team remain in second place.
“It was a stonewall penalty,” he said. “It’s the most obvious spot-kick you’ll see and I’ve seen it three or four times.
“When it’s a game that tight, one thing can define the game. The referee didn’t give it, that’s what it is. He didn’t do it on purpose but reality is that’s cost us.
“I am disappointed and I spoke to the referee afterwards. If you showed it 1,000 people, 1,000 would say it was a penalty.”
Derby arguably should have secured their ninth win from the last 12 Championship games long before the pivotal moment.
Matej Vydra, their leading scorer, forced a fine save from Fielding after a low free-kick from 25 yards and then from the corner Curtis Davies had a header cleared off the line by Flint. Ten minutes before half-time, Jonny Russell struck the crossbar from a set-piece.
Lee Johnson, the City manager, was forced into a tactical reshuffle at half-time, bringing on record signing Famara Diédhiou for his first game since October while Fielding, the goalkeeper, was also replaced due to injury.
Fielding’s deputy, Steele, produced an excellent save in the 63rd minute to push Tom Lawrence’s fierce shot over the bar.
Steele then frustrated Vydra from close range with another instinctive stop as the City defence were caught out by David Nugent’s clever pass.
Rowett introduced Jerome for the final 14 minutes and it was Derby’s new £1.5 million signing who provided the late controversy when he collapsed under Flint’s challenge.
Johnson said: “It did look like a penalty but sometimes you get away with those. My initial reaction was that it’s a dive but I’d be upset if one of my players was booked for that.
"You could say we were lucky to get away with a point but we worked very hard. It's a good point for us and it stops the mini rot."
Team details
Derby County (4-2-3-1) Carson; Wisdom, Keogh, Davies, Forsyth; Thorne, Huddlestone; Russell, Vydra (Jerome 76), Lawrence (Weimann 76); Nugent (Winnall 76).
Subs Mitchell (g), Baird, Pearce, Hanson.
Booked Jerome.
Bristol City (4-4-2) Fielding (Steele 46); Wright, Flint, Baker (Diedhiou 46), Magnusson; Brownhill, Pack, Smith, Bryan; Paterson, Reid.
Subs Kelly, Eliasson, Walsh, Kent, Engvall. Booked Bryan.
Referee Darren England (South Yorkshire).
