[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Courtesy of Kenneth Zohore's first Albion goal on Wednesday night, Albion remain one of four sides in the Championship unbeaten in the league, and our current position of 6th is probably a fair reflection of the performances so far. The desire to play good football and break with pace is there, but at times the passing game isn't quite gelling with the confidence and fluency we'd like. There are chances being regularly created, but chances don't turn into goals by themselves, and at least one of our strikers needs to play himself into a bit of form. Defensively it's the occasional lapse or decision to stand off the opposition that's allowing free headers in the box and free shots outside it, with the result being no clean sheets in any competitive game thus far. These are all things for Bilic to work on in the months ahead, but in the meantime, we've got a real barometer of our progress so far and our chances for the season ahead with a visit to Pride Park in Saturday's early game.

In their post-Lampard malaise, Derby haven't been particularly quick out of the blocks this season, but Philip Cocu is still acclimatising himself to the English game, and with two resounding defeats against the Rams last year, Albion have to be wary. The likes of Lawrence, Waghorn and Marriott are still on hand to cause us problems, and if we decide that it's Zonal Marking Awareness Week at set-pieces then we could be in for a long afternoon.

However, it's been two wins from two for the Baggies on the road so far, and hopefully we can continue that form. A draw would be a good return considering last season's encounters, and anything better would be a real statement of intent for the campaign to come.

[Beefy 1965]

Same #wba team that has won two away games so far. (4-2-3-1)

Johnstone; Ferguson, Bartley, Ajayi, Gibbs; Livermore ©, Sawyers; Phillips, Krovinovic, Edwards; Zohore

Subs: Bond, O'Shea, Furlong, Brunt, Diangana, Pereira, Austin

[talkSAFT]

Great start! Derby 1-0 up 5 mins.

[valpayne]

Utterly predictable let’s hope we can be the comeback kings yet again but I fear for this one ?

[talkSAFT]

Johnstone saves 2nd (very debatable) penalty to keep at 1-0.

[valpayne]

Johnstone saves a second pen tf

[Salopbaggie]

The only person who seems to think it was a penalty was that linesman!! Another thing that struck me is the phrase used a lot by commentators when an official takes a while to make the decision, "he had a good look at it". What does that actually mean? The official had exactly the same length of time to 'look' at it as everyone else, so how could they have "a good look at it"? They could have had a good view of it, but that is not the same meaning as having a good look at it.

[St Charles Owl]

Replays suggest it was more arm than shoulder for the pen but its one of those you want as the attacking team and get pissed off it was given as the defending team. Interesting that the offending player didn't argue the decision, maybe just his personality but he seemed to stay away from the ref.

Great save by Johnstone in the end anyway!!

[talkSAFT]

Same again. Zohore pen 85 mins 1-1

[Salopbaggie]

So it looks as if Pereira brought the penalty, oh well, he did come with the reputation of how do you say this nicely, 'falling over a little on the easy side' especially in the box.