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*Baiano style spoils Collymore return*

Stan Collymore’s return for Aston Villa presented this most mixed-up of footballers and the rest of his team with many more reasons for feeling fed up with life. Torn apart in a devastating first-half spell, they were lucky not to lose by more.

When the sides met last September John Gregory’s side sat atop the Premiership but they have long since fallen from those dizzy heights and in this sixth defeat in their last seven outings they were always second-best to a slick Derby team quickly erasing their FA Cup frustration.

Collymore, still undergoing treatment for stress, joined Paul Merson up front with Dion Dublin employed as a central defender in front of Mark Bosnich, who was appearing for the first time since injuring his shoulder in October. At one time Merson and Collymore could have been attacking partners for England; now they make an interesting case study for an army of counsellors.

Derby were full of running and clever thoughts, the surges of Francesco Baiano from between midfield and attack giving the home side a look of danger every time they ventured forward.

The smaller of Derby’s two Italians initiated the move that put them ahead. Spencer Prior took it on and, when Stefano Eranio sent the ball across, Baiano thumped it past a helpless Bosnich.

The goal that followed three minutes later was even better. Baiano, centrally involved again, produced a clever backheel that set up Deon Burton. Once more the shot, struck with considerable power, from 25 yards, left the goalkeeper grasping at thin air.

Villa were being pulled around and were not working effectively enough to prevent the ball from the flanks. A neat Collymore touch gave Merson a glimpse of goal, but Derby were dictating things.

Then out of the blue Villa hauled themselves back into contention when Alan Thompson delivered a rasping shot into the corner of the net a minute before the interval.

Villa saw much more of the ball in the second half but struggled to exert sustained pressure. Bosnich pulled off a splendid save to tip away Paulo Wanchope’s header. Igor Stimac collected the rebound and hit the outside of a post. Then Wanchope should have scored but allowed the keeper to block with his legs.