Kapitel 30: Luton vs Derby
The atmosphere at Kenilworth Road was electric as fans poured into the stands, their chants reverberating through the crisp September air. Luton Town, desperate to climb out of the relegation zone, faced Derby County, who had clawed their way to 15th place after a remarkable string of performances.
The starting lineups flashed on the giant screen. Luton Town lined up in their usual 4-3-3 formation, with Simon Sluga in goal, James Bree at right back, and Matthew Pearson and Sonny Bradley anchoring the center of defense. Daniel Potts rounded out the backline on the left. The midfield trio consisted of Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Glen Rea, and Ryan Tunnicliffe, while the attacking trident featured Kazenga LuaLua, James Collins, and Harry Cornick.
For Derby County, a 4-1-4-1 formation was on display. Ben Hamer guarded the net, while Max Lowe, Matthew Clarke, and Andre Wisdom comprised the back three, with Max Bird sitting deep as the lone defensive midfielder. In front of him, the midfield was orchestrated by Tom Lawrence, Wayne Rooney, Duane Holmes, and Jason Knight, supporting lone striker Martyn Waghorn.
The commentators buzzed with speculation. "This is the first time since joining Derby that David Jones isn't in the starting lineup. Do you think something's up?"
The other commentator shook his head. "Not at all. Wayne Rooney is likely resting him. The lad's been putting in back-to-back stellar performances. Trust his teammates to hold the fort."
From the bench, David sat alongside Curtis Davies, his legs bouncing with nervous energy. He itched to be on the pitch but respected Wayne's decision.
The first half unfolded sluggishly, both teams struggling to find rhythm. Luton's midfielders pressed hard, disrupting Derby's attempts to build from the back. Derby's Tom Lawrence had a decent shot from distance, but it sailed wide, while Luton's Harry Cornick saw his header parried away by Hamer.
By halftime, the score remained 0-0. The Derby players trudged into the locker room, frustration evident on their faces. David leaned forward, ready to offer himself up, but Wayne Rooney, calm as ever, held up a hand.
"Not yet, David," Wayne said. "Trust the lads. You'll have your moment."
The second half resumed with Derby showing more intent. Disaster struck in the 55th minute when Luton's Matthew Pearson collided with Duane Holmes and had to be stretchered off. Donervon Daniels came on as his replacement.
In the 63rd minute, Wayne Rooney rolled back the years. After a clever one-two with Duane Holmes, Rooney found himself 25 yards out. Spotting a sliver of space, he unleashed a curling strike that left Simon Sluga rooted to the spot. The ball smacked into the top corner, and the away fans erupted. Wayne sprinted to the corner flag, punching the air in celebration.
On the bench, David and the rest of the substitutes jumped to their feet, roaring their approval.
The joy was short-lived. Five minutes later, Max Lowe's misplaced pass was intercepted by James Collins. The Luton striker needed no second invitation, firing low and hard past Ben Hamer to make it 1-1.
Derby's defense looked shaky, and Luton capitalized again in the 73rd minute. Off a corner, the substitute Donervon Daniels rose highest, thumping a header into the back of the net. The home crowd erupted as Luton took the lead.
Wayne and assistant manager Phillip Cocu acted swiftly, introducing Jack Marriott and Chris Martin for Duane Holmes and Jason Knight in the 75th minute. The substitutes made an immediate impact. In the 80th minute, Marriott wriggled free down the right and sent in a pinpoint cross. Chris Martin met it with a thunderous header to level the score at 2-2.
Finally, in the 85th minute, Wayne signaled for David. The 16-year-old wonderkid replaced Martyn Waghorn, and Derby switched to a 4-3-3 formation, with Wayne pushing himself further forward alongside David and Lawrence.
David's energy was palpable. He darted around the pitch, making clever runs and drawing defenders. In the dying moments of the game, he delivered.
In the 91st minute, Wayne collected the ball near the center circle and spotted David's darting run. With a perfectly weighted pass, Wayne split the defense. David sprinted into the box, took a deft touch to control the ball, and fired a low shot past Simon Sluga.
The ball hit the back of the net, and the Derby bench erupted. David slid on his knees, arms outstretched, as his teammates mobbed him in celebration.
The referee's whistle blew moments later, confirming Derby's 3-2 victory. The players celebrated wildly, but for David, the match meant more than just three points. He had come off the bench to prove his worth, and his winning goal ensured that Derby's resurgence continued.
As the team returned to the locker room, Wayne clapped David on the back. "Told you to trust your teammates," he said with a grin.
David smiled, exhausted but elated. "I did. But it felt good to finish the job."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
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