He had a hard time getting matches for Everton, and at Bournemouth in particular, where he did not feature in one matchday squad in the league.
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Derby boss Nigel Pearson handed debuts to the attacking trio of Matej Vydra, James Wilson and Ikechi Anya, but it was the latter who stood out the most, the former Watford winger Anya looking sharp out wide and delivering a handful of risky balls into the box.
The game at Loftus Road will see the north-east side face a club that has promotion desires of their own with Rangers now sat in seventh in the league.
Neither side were able to muster much else in the opening half, but Derby’s Markus Olsson was unfortunate not to level the scores just after the break, having risen above his marker only to head over Matz Sels and the frame of his goal. “Everything was easier, when I say easier I mean we knew what we had to do. He’s such a great finisher and is in a team that should create a lot of chances so I think he’ll score a lot of goals this year”.
“We have some knocks and little things, but nothing serious”, said Benitez.
After taking early leads at both Bristol City and Derby County, then seeing the games out comfortably, Ian Holloway thinks that Rafa’s players “are starting to learn how to grind things out”.
“Hopefully he can give us what we are looking for”.
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“I can not fault the application”.
