2006–07 Derby County F.C. season

During the 2006–07 English football season, Derby County competed in the Football League Championship.

Derby County
2006–07 season
ChairmanPeter Gadsby
ManagerBilly Davies
StadiumPride Park Stadium
Championship3rd (qualified for play-offs)
Play-offsWinners
FA CupFifth round
League CupSecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Steve Howard (16)
All: Steve Howard (19)[1]
Highest home attendance31,920 (vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers, 26 December 2006)
Lowest home attendance21,295 (vs. Barnsley, 1 November 2006)
Average home league attendance25,944[2]

Season summary

Derby County finished the season in third place in the Championship, four points behind champions Sunderland and two points behind runners-up Birmingham City. With new ownership, Derby had been able to compete in the transfer market for the first time in a number of years, with Luton Town's Steve Howard becoming the club's first £1 million signing since François Grenet six years previously and, alongside captures from Premiership clubs such as West Ham United's Stephen Bywater and Fulham's Dean Leacock, manager Billy Davies began shaping a side capable of competing at the right end of the table. This wasn't apparent from the off, however, and a return of just five points from the club's opening six fixtures did not hint at instant success for Davies, leaving influential and creative players such as Tommy Smith and Iñigo Idiakez to depart the club prior to the closing of the August transfer window. However, a 1–0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 12 September proved a catalyst as the club lost only four of its next 27 fixtures (a run which included winning all six league fixtures in November and an eight-match winning streak of six league and two FA Cup games from 30 December to 10 February). After a 2–2 draw at home to Hull City on 10 February, Derby were six points clear at the top of the table[3] and had strengthened for the promotion run-in with the signing of Tyrone Mears, Jay McEveley, Gary Teale, David Jones, Craig Fagan, Stephen Pearson and Jon Macken for a combined £5 million. However, a 2–0 defeat away to Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round preceded a notable wobble in results and the club recorded a return of just six points from the next five games, conceding top spot to Birmingham City after a 1–0 defeat at St. Andrews on 9 March.[4] A resounding 5–1 win against Colchester United (by far the biggest win of a campaign which saw victory by a two-goal margin or greater on just six occasions) looked to have put the club back on track, but, after taking just 12 points from the next ten fixtures, the club slipped out of the automatic promotion places altogether and a 2–0 defeat at Crystal Palace in the penultimate game of the season confirmed a 3rd-placed finish and entry into the 2006–07 Championship playoffs.

Derby defeated West Bromwich Albion 1–0 in the play-off final with a goal from Stephen Pearson to return Derby to the top flight of English football for the first time in five seasons.

Striker Steve Howard, who was also Derby's top scorer that season, was awarded the Jack Stamps Trophy as Derby's player of the season. Defender Darren Moore was named in the PFA's Championship Team of the Year.

Kit

Spanish company Joma remained Derby's kits manufacturers, and introduced a new home kit for the season, the first time since 1998 that Derby had not used the same kit for two seasons running. The Derbyshire Building Society continued sponsoring the kits.[5]

Final league table
Main article: 2006–07 Football League
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Sunderland (C, P) 46 27 7 12 76 47 +29 88 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Birmingham City (P) 46 26 8 12 67 42 +25 86
3 Derby County (O, P) 46 25 9 12 62 46 +16 84 Qualification for Championship play-offs
4 West Bromwich Albion 46 22 10 14 81 55 +26 76
5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 22 10 14 59 56 +3 76
Source: RSSSF
Rules for classification: In the Football League goals scored (F) takes precedence over goal difference (GD).
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted.

Results

Derby County's score comes first[6]

Legend
Win Draw Loss

Football League Championship
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers
6 August 2006SouthamptonH2–221,939S Johnson, Peschisolido
8 August 2006Stoke CityA0–220,013
12 August 2006Hull CityA2–115,261Oakley, Smith (pen)
19 August 2006Norwich CityH0–022,196
26 August 2006Colchester UnitedA3–44,574Lupoli (2), Peschisolido
9 September 2006SunderlandH1–226,502Oakley
12 September 2006Wolverhampton WanderersA1–021,546Howard
16 September 2006Preston North EndH1–122,220Howard (pen)
23 September 2006Sheffield WednesdayA2–123,659Peschisolido, Howard
30 September 2006Southend UnitedH3–022,395Lupoli (2), M Johnson
15 October 2006Plymouth ArgyleA1–313,622Lupoli
17 October 2006Queens Park RangersA2–110,882Bisgaard, Howard
21 October 2006Birmingham CityH0–125,673
28 October 2006Cardiff CityA2–217,371Howard, Barnes
1 November 2006BarnsleyH2–121,295Barnes (2)
4 November 2006West Bromwich AlbionH2–125,342Oakley, Barnes
11 November 2006Coventry CityA2–119,701Stead, Howard
18 November 2006Luton TownA2–09,708Stead, Howard
25 November 2006Leicester CityH1–028,315Stead
29 November 2006Ipswich TownH2–122,606Howard, Lupoli
2 December 2006West Bromwich AlbionA0–120,494
9 December 2006Leeds UnitedA1–020,087Barnes
16 December 2006Crystal PalaceH1–023,875Jones
23 December 2006BurnleyA0–012,825
26 December 2006Wolverhampton WanderersH0–231,920
30 December 2006Plymouth ArgyleH1–025,775Bisgaard
1 January 2007Preston North EndA2–119,204Howard (2, 1 pen)
13 January 2007Sheffield WednesdayH1–028,936Jones
20 January 2007Southend UnitedA1–010,745Howard
30 January 2007BurnleyH1–023,122Howard
3 February 2007SouthamptonA1–027,656Howard
10 February 2007Hull CityH2–228,140Teale, Moore
21 February 2007Stoke CityH0–224,897
24 February 2007SunderlandA1–236,049Barnes
2 March 2007Colchester UnitedH5–126,704Jones, Lupoli, Barnes, Howard (pen), Barker (own goal)
6 March 2007Norwich CityA2–123,462Jones (2)
9 March 2007Birmingham CityA0–120,962
13 March 2007Queens Park RangersH1–127,567Moore
17 March 2007Cardiff CityH3–127,689Howard (2, 1 pen), Barnes
31 March 2007BarnsleyA2–117,059Jones, Oakley
6 April 2007Leicester CityA1–124,704Fagan
9 April 2007Coventry CityH1–129,940Oakley
14 April 2007Ipswich TownA1–224,319Oakley
20 April 2007Luton TownH1–028,499Nyatanga
29 April 2007Crystal PalaceA0–219,545
6 May 2007Leeds UnitedH2–031,183Currie, Mears

Championship play-offs
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
SF 1st Leg12 May 2007SouthamptonA2–130,602Howard (2, 1 pen)
SF 2nd Leg15 May 2007SouthamptonH2–3 (won 4–3 on pens)31,569Moore, Best (own goal)
F28 May 2007West Bromwich AlbionN1–074,993Pearson

FA Cup
Main article: 2006–07 FA Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R36 January 2007WrexhamH3–115,609Lupoli (3)
R427 January 2007Bristol RoversH1–025,033Peschisolido
R517 February 2007Plymouth ArgyleA0–218,026

League Cup
Main article: 2006–07 Football League Cup
RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorers
R122 August 2006Stockport CountyA1–03,394M Johnson
R220 September 2006Doncaster RoversA3–3 (lost 7–8 on pens)5,598Howard, Moore, Lupoli

Players

First-team squad
Squad at end of season[7]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ENG Lee Camp[notes 1]
2 DF  ENG Marc Edworthy
3 DF  GUI Mo Camara
4 DF  SCO Jay McEveley[notes 2]
5 DF  ENG Dean Leacock
6 DF  JAM Michael Johnson[notes 3]
7 MF  ENG David Jones
8 MF  DEN Morten Bisgaard
9 FW  ENG Steve Howard[notes 4]
10 FW  ENG Craig Fagan
11 FW  CAN Paul Peschisolido
12 FW  IRL Jon Macken[notes 5]
13 GK  ENG Lee Grant
14 DF  ENG Richard Jackson
15 MF  ENG Ryan Smith
16 FW  ITA Arturo Lupoli (on loan from Arsenal)
17 DF  ENG Paul Boertien
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF  ENG Seth Johnson
19 MF  ENG Darren Currie (on loan from Ipswich Town)
20 FW  ENG Lee Holmes
21 DF  SCO Bob Malcolm
22 MF  ENG Matt Oakley (captain)
23 DF  JAM Darren Moore[notes 6]
24 DF  ENG Tyrone Mears[notes 7] (on loan from West Ham United)
25 MF  SCO Stephen Pearson
27 MF  SCO Gary Teale
28 FW  ENG Giles Barnes[notes 8]
29 FW  ENG Lionel Ainsworth
30 DF  WAL Lewin Nyatanga[notes 9]
31 DF  AUS James Meredith
32 MF  ENG Tom Cumberworth
34 MF  BEL Jeremy Bossekota
35 GK  WAL Steven Cann[notes 10]
43 GK  ENG Stephen Bywater

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
4 MF  ENG Adam Bolder (to Queens Park Rangers)
7 FW  ENG Tommy Smith (to Watford)
10 FW  ENG Jon Stead (on loan from Sunderland)
12 MF  ENG Paul Thirlwell (to Carlisle United)
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 MF  ENG Nathan Doyle (to Hull City)
27 FW  ESP Iñigo Idiakez (to Southampton)
33 DF  ENG Theo Streete (to Rotherham United)

Notes
  1. Camp was born in Derby, England, and represented them at U-21 level, but also qualifies to represent Northern Ireland internationally and would make his full international debut for Northern Ireland in March 2011.
  2. McEveley was born in Liverpool, England, and represented them at U-20 and U-21 level, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and represented them at B level before making his international debut for Scotland in August 2007.
  3. Johnson was born in Nottingham, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1999.
  4. Howard was born in Durham, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and would later represent them at B level.
  5. Macken was born in Blackley, England, and represented them at U-20 level, but also qualifies to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in August 2004.
  6. Moore was born in Birmingham, England, but also qualified to represent Jamaica internationally through his parents and made his international debut for Jamaica in 1999.
  7. Mears was born in Chadderton, England, but represented Jamaica in February 2009, apparently qualifying through his father. It was later discovered that his father was actually from Sierra Leone and Mears was ineligible to represent Jamaica.
  8. Barnes was born in Barking and Dagenham, England, and represented them at U-19 level, but also qualifies to represent Jamaica internationally through his paternal grandparents and would make his international debut for Jamaica in May 2015.
  9. Nyatanga was born in Burton upon Trent, England, but also qualifies to represent Wales internationally through his mother and Zimbabwe through his father, and represented Wales at U-17 and U-21 level before making his international debut for Wales in March 2006.
  10. Cann was born in South Africa, but also qualifies to represent both Wales and England internationally, and has represented Wales at U-17, U-19, and semi-professional level.

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Coca-Cola Football League Championship – Updated 10/02/2007". dcfc.co.uk. 10 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  4. "Coca-Cola Football League Championship – Updated 09/03/2007". dcfc.co.uk. 6 March 2007. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
  5. http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Derby_County/Derby_County.htm
  6. http://www.statto.com/football/teams/derby-county/2006-2007/results
  7. http://www.footballsquads.co.uk/eng/2006-2007/flcham/derby.htm
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