Crisis deepens as Derby get Tonge lashing

Sheffield United 2 Derby County

The dark cloud hanging over Derby County after the suspension on Friday of their manager, John Gregory, remained even on an afternoon of glorious spring sunshine in Sheffield, where Neil Warnock's upwardly mobile United kept their promotion challenge in overdrive with a fifth win in six matches.

The Blades, who have an FA Cup semi-final to anticipate next month, look near-certainties for a play-off berth. Derby, who have lost seven games in nine, could face the nightmare prospect of relegation to the Second Division only a year after dropping out of the Premiership.

Derby's first-half performance had not augured well, the home side taking the lead after 19 minutes as Michael Tonge advanced easily past two defenders and shot from a little outside the penalty area, giving goalkeeper Lee Grant no chance.

After on-loan Everton striker Nick Chadwick had fluffed Derby's only clear chance, Steve Kabba added a second for the home side 10 minutes into the second half. Thereafter only one result ever seemed likely. It did not make for pleasant viewing for Mark Lillis, Derby's reserve- team coach, who learned only at two o'clock on Friday after-noon, after Gregory had taken training as usual, that he would be in charge.

The action taken against Gregory is unprecedented in Derby's history and the reasons behind it remain unclear. The club's brief statement made reference to "serious allegations" against Gregory by a former medical consultant to the club, and mentioned "rash misjudgements" in relation to Scottish international Craig Burley's Achilles tendon injury which kept him out for 12 months.

No action was taken against the club physio, Stuart Walker, who was jointly accused with Gregory by consultant Alan Watson. It has also been alleged that Gregory gave certain agents preferential access to young Derby players.

The club say they suspended Gregory "in order to expedite a thorough, fair and objective investigation", and claim the allegations "have had a major adverse effect on the club". This seems to rule out any connection with the Football Association's investigation into a number of foreign transfers involving Aston Villa during Gregory's stewardship.

Should Derby succeed in dismissing Gregory on the grounds of misconduct, the cash-strapped club may save a considerable sum in compensation. Under the terms of Gregory's contract, were he to be sacked within the first 18 months of his tenure he would be entitled to a payoff thought to be in the region of £1.5m.

In other circumstances, this might already have been Gregory's fate on the grounds of results, Derby's nosedive having seen them slip perilously close to the relegation zone.

Both Burley and Fabrizio Ravanelli yesterday paid the price for the side's poor form. In their absence, a Derby side short on experience apart from Warren Barton and Rob Lee also looked to lack heart, conceding a second goal when Dean Windass swept a glorious first-time ball into the path of Kabba, who slotted his shot past the advancing goalkeeper and in off a post.

"We are taking one day at a time at the moment," Lillis said. "The quicker the situation is resolved, the better for everyone."

Lillis had accepted an invitation to assist with coaching the Northern Ireland side for their next two matches. "That might have to go on the back-burner now," he added.

Sheffield United 2 Derby County 0
Tonge 18, Kabba 55

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 18,401