Steve McClaren’s Five Memorable Games As Derby County’s Head Coach

dcfc.co.uk looks at Steve McClaren's top five games in charge of Derby County.

Derby County today announced that Head Coach Steve McClaren, First Team Coach Paul Simpson and Goalkeeping Coach Eric Steele had signed new three-year deals with the Club.

The trio, who were appointed at the end of September 2013, have committed their futures until the summer of 2017 ahead of the start of the 2014/15 campaign.

Here on dcfc.co.uk, we look at the five stand-out matches under McClaren and his coaching staff after they guided Derby to a third place finish in the Sky Bet Championship during the 2013/14 season.

Game 1: Derby County 3-1 Leeds United, Saturday 5th October 2013

Steve McClaren’s first game as Head Coach of Derby County proved to be an entertaining affair against Leeds United, with the Rams displaying some of the exciting attacking football that was to follow for the rest of the 2013/14 season. The side went into the game without a home win in their opening five league fixtures, but they put the record straight in style. Chris Martin and Johnny Russell’s goals had Derby 2-0 up and although Jason Pearce pulled a goal back just before half-time, Will Hughes confirmed the win with a fine solo goal in the second half.

Game 2: Wigan Athletic 1-3 Derby County, Sunday 1st December 2013

Derby County’s 3-1 victory against Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium proved to be a landmark game in the 2013/14 season, as it was the day that McClaren’s side broke into the Championship’s top six for the first time – and from that stage they never looked back. A scintillating first-half display saw Derby 3-0 up at the turnaround thanks to a fine free-kick from Craig Bryson, a composed finish from Simon Dawkins and penalty from Chris Martin. Nick Powell did manage to put a goal back for the Latics in the second half, but ultimately the Rams’ excellent opening 45 minute display proved to be more than enough.

Game 3: Derby County 3-2 Yeovil Town, Tuesday 28th January 2014

Derby County had endured a tricky start to 2014 after back-to-back league losses against Wigan Athletic (1-0) and Leicester City (4-1), but had got back on track with a narrow 1-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion and a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers thanks to goals from new loan signing Patrick Bamford. Struggling Yeovil stunned Derby by taking a 2-0 lead at the interval in their final game of January, courtesy of goals from John Lundstram and Ishmael Miller. That prompted McClaren to revert to a 4-2-4 formation for the entire second half, and Derby stormed back to take all three points. Bamford headed a goal back five minutes after the break and the side enjoyed heavy spells of pressure for the majority of the half, before Craig Bryson swept home an equaliser with two minutes left. Then, as the Rams went in search of a winner, Chris Martin headed home Bryson’s free-kick in injury time to complete a dramatic turnaround.

Game 4: Derby County 5-0 Nottingham Forest, Saturday 22nd March 2014

Derby County had gone four games without a goal when they took on bitter rivals Nottingham Forest in March, but they soon put that right with a superb performance at a sold-out iPro Stadium. They led 3-0 at the break after Craig Bryson scored a brace and fellow midfielder Jeff Hendrick also got his name on the scoresheet, while in the second half Johnny Russell added a fourth before Bryson became the first player in over 100 years to score a hat-trick in the fixture involving the two sides from the penalty spot to round off the scoring. It was a day to savour for everyone connected with the Club as the Rams got back to winning ways in a fashion supporters could only have dreamed of on the morning of the game.

Game 5: Derby County 4-1 Brighton & Hove Albion, Sunday 11th May 2014

Derby County secured their place in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley as they beat Brighton & Hove Albion 4-1 in an outstanding attacking display, to clinch a 6-2 aggregate Semi-Final victory at the iPro Stadium. The Rams, who led 2-1 after the First Leg, extended their lead when Will Hughes flicked in Craig Forsyth’s cross. Chris Martin bundled the ball over the line after Jamie Ward's knock-down and George Thorne volleyed in a spectacular third. Jeff Hendrick made it 4-0 after substitute Patrick Bamford's pull-back, before Kazenga Lua Lua's consolation from 18 yards rounded off the scoring. It was another superb attacking performance by Derby before a full house at the iPro Stadium, as the players carried out McClaren’s pre-match instructions to the letter.