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IDIAKEZ STRIKE QUICKENS PEDESTRIAN RAMS' STEP
Mansfield Town 1 v 1 Derby County
A stunning strike from Inigo Idiakez was not enough to record a hat-trick of pre-season victories for Derby County as hosts Mansfield Town grabbed a late equaliser at Field Mill last night.
Idiakez's special, a rasping half-volley around the hour mark, appeared to have secured another win following the defeats of FC Gratkorn and MK Dons.
But Mansfield substitute Michael Boulding, a striker who has been linked with the Rams in recent seasons, cracked home a leveller two minutes from time.
Manager Billy Davies says friendly results count for nothing and it is foolish to read too much into games during July but he was clearly happier with the second-half performance than a poor and at times pedestrian showing in the opening 45 minutes.
Half-a-dozen changes at the break injected energy, purpose and greater fluency. Davies suddenly looked a little more content in the dugout, having appeared exasperated on occasions before the interval.
Lewin Nyatanga, having been told he is too quiet at centre-back, found himself at left-back and the 17-year-old was uncomfortable in an uncertain start.
Darren Moore returned after a groin injury and partnered Michael Johnson in the heart of the back four. Both had to be on their toes against Mansfield's front pair, the lively Simon Brown and much-travelled Richie Barker.
Paul Peschisolido wore the captain's armband, the fourth to do so in three matches as Davies decides on his leader.
Lee Grant took his turn to play 90 minutes as the battle for the goalkeeper position with Lee Camp hots up and Grant was in the action after only two minutes when he did well to save from John Mullins.
Tommy Smith started his third successive game up front but the Rams carried little forward threat in the first half.
Shades of last season? Unfortunately, yes, and the need to strengthen the striking department is both clear and increasing in urgency.
To be fair to Davies, he is fully aware of where he needs to bolster the squad and he and managing director Mike Horton are striving to bring in new faces.
Derby rarely troubled Mansfield's backline in the first half.
Nyatanga failed to connect properly with Morten Bisgaard's corner, the youngster's header flashing wide, then Jonathan D'Laryea was perfectly placed to deny Bisgaard a headed chance after a neat move involving Smith and Peschisolido.
Bisgaard started on the right of midfield and there was a noticeable improvement when he moved inside after half-an-hour.
But Mansfield had the better chances. Both Adam Birchall and Barker should have hit the target rather the crowd behind the goal.
Barker's was the better chance. Mullins' long ball caught a square Rams defence napping and Brown sprinted away. He crossed and the well-placed Barker powered his header wide.
A firm drive from Brown brushed Grant's fingertips on its way over and the expected half-time changes came with the Rams making six substitutions.
The reshuffle saw Nyatanga move across to centre-back and immediately look more at home, and Giles Barnes pushed up alongside Smith.
Moore was handed the armband to keep the captain guessing game going, and Idiakez came on and pulled some strings in midfield.
After Seth Johnson's low shot crept inches wide and a Barnes drive tested Carl Muggleton low down to his right, Idiakez opened the scoring with a terrific goal from 25 yards.
He struck his shot as sweet as a nut after Paul Boertien's cross was cleared and the ball arrowed into the bottom corner with Muggleton at full stretch but with little hope of stopping it.
Smith tried to trick his way through on a number of occasions, sometimes tryintg to do too much, and he wanted a penalty when Jon Hjelde appeared to clip him in the area.
Lee Holmes drifted about with some menace in the second half rather than sticking out on the left and the Rams had some control over proceedings unitl Mansfield's late show.
Grant denied Chris Beardsley with a fine one-handed save but could do nothing when Boulding thumped home an equaliser from the edge of the area.
Another of the substitutes, Danny Reet, went for a winner but Grant was equal to his effort as the game ended all square.
Mansfield Town: Muggleton; Mullins, Hjelde (McIntosh, 73), John-Baptiste, Jelleyman (Collins, 73); Hamshaw (M Boulding, 63), Dawson (Lloyd, 57), D'Laryea (Coke, 57), Birchall (Arnold, 63); Brown (Beardsley, 57), Barker (Reet, 73).
Other subs: Sleath, R Boulding.
Derby County: Grant; Edworthy (Jackson, 46), Moore, M Johnson (Boertien, 46), Nyatanga; Bisgaard (Thirlwell, 46), Bolder (Idiakez, 46), Barnes, Meredith (Holmes, 46); Smith, Peschisolido (S Johnson, 46).
Other sub: Camp.
Referee: R Booth (Nottinghamshire).
Attendance: 2,971 (1,032 away fans).