# 1998–99 Derby County F.C. season

The 1998–99 English football season was Derby County F.C.'s third consecutive season in the Premier League.

## Season summary

Derby's second tilt at European football was made in the 1998–99 season, the Rams peaking in 2nd place after 6 games with a 2–0 home win over Leicester City, eventually finishing one place better off in 8th. They reached the FA Cup Quarter finals for the third time in seven years, losing out only to late Nwankwo Kanu goal in a 0–1 away defeat to Arsenal, and recorded some memorable victories, including a league double over Liverpool 2–1 at Anfield and 3–2 at Pride Park and a 1–0 win over Nottingham Forest in the teams' first ever meeting at Pride Park. Derby County were a club on the up; Pride Park's capacity was expanded (32,913 fans attended the 3–2 victory over Liverpool) and Derby's players were getting noticed – five had represented their countries at the 1998 World Cup, and Christian Dailly was sold to Blackburn Rovers for £5.35m, comfortably the highest fee Derby had ever received. The key departure, however, was Steve McClaren – Smith's number two since he had taken the Derby managerial position 3 years earlier – who departed in February 1999 to become Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Manchester United, winning the treble in his first 3 months at Old Trafford. The 1998–99 season was Jim Smith's Derby County peak, as the financial demands of Premier League football began to catch up with them.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 38 | 15 | 10 | 13 | 51 | 46 | +5 | 55 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 68 | 49 | +19 | 54 |
| 8 | Derby County | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 40 | 45 | −5 | 52 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 38 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 48 | 54 | −6 | 51 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 40 | 46 | −6 | 49 |

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: 1998-99 FA Premier League table

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A |
| Result | D | D | D | W | W | W | L | L | L | D | D | W | D | L | W | D | D | D | D | W | L | W | W | L | W | L | D | W | W | L | L | W | L | D | L | W | D | L |
| Position | 9 | 12 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 |

## Results

Derby County's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### FA Premier League

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 15 August 1998 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 0–0 | 24,007 | |
| 22 August 1998 | Wimbledon | H | 0–0 | 21,037 | |
| 29 August 1998 | Middlesbrough | A | 1–1 | 34,121 | Wanchope |
| 9 September 1998 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–0 | 26,209 | Sturridge |
| 12 September 1998 | Charlton Athletic | A | 2–1 | 19,516 | Wanchope, Baiano |
| 19 September 1998 | Leicester City | H | 2–0 | 26,738 | Schnoor, Wanchope |
| 26 September 1998 | Aston Villa | A | 0–1 | 38,007 | |
| 3 October 1998 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 0–1 | 30,083 | |
| 17 October 1998 | Newcastle United | A | 1–2 | 36,750 | Burton |
| 24 October 1998 | Manchester United | H | 1–1 | 30,867 | Burton |
| 31 October 1998 | Leeds United | H | 2–2 | 27,034 | Schnoor (pen), Sturridge |
| 7 November 1998 | Liverpool | A | 2–1 | 44,020 | Harper, Wanchope |
| 16 November 1998 | Nottingham Forest | A | 2–2 | 24,014 | Dorigo (pen), Carbonari |
| 22 November 1998 | West Ham United | H | 0–2 | 31,366 | |
| 28 November 1998 | Southampton | A | 1–0 | 14,762 | Carbonari |
| 5 December 1998 | Arsenal | H | 0–0 | 29,018 | |
| 12 December 1998 | Chelsea | H | 2–2 | 29,056 | Carbonari, Sturridge |
| 19 December 1998 | Coventry City | A | 1–1 | 16,627 | Carsley |
| 26 December 1998 | Everton | A | 0–0 | 39,206 | |
| 28 December 1998 | Middlesbrough | H | 2–1 | 21,083 | Sturridge, Hunt |
| 9 January 1999 | Wimbledon | A | 1–2 | 12,732 | Wanchope |
| 16 January 1999 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 1–0 | 27,386 | Burton |
| 30 January 1999 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–0 | 24,440 | Prior |
| 3 February 1999 | Manchester United | A | 0–1 | 55,174 | |
| 7 February 1999 | Everton | H | 2–1 | 27,603 | Burton (2) |
| 20 February 1999 | Charlton Athletic | H | 0–2 | 27,853 | |
| 27 February 1999 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | 35,392 | Burton |
| 10 March 1999 | Aston Villa | H | 2–1 | 26,836 | Baiano, Burton |
| 13 March 1999 | Liverpool | H | 3–2 | 32,913 | Burton, Wanchope (2) |
| 20 March 1999 | Leeds United | A | 1–4 | 38,971 | Baiano (pen) |
| 3 April 1999 | Newcastle United | H | 3–4 | 32,039 | Burton, Baiano (pen), Wanchope |
| 10 April 1999 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–0 | 32,217 | Carbonari |
| 17 April 1999 | West Ham United | A | 1–5 | 25,485 | Wanchope |
| 24 April 1999 | Southampton | H | 0–0 | 26,557 | |
| 2 May 1999 | Arsenal | A | 0–1 | 37,323 | |
| 5 May 1999 | Leicester City | A | 2–1 | 20,535 | Sturridge, Beck |
| 8 May 1999 | Coventry City | H | 0–0 | 32,450 | |
| 16 May 1999 | Chelsea | A | 1–2 | 35,016 | Carbonari |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 2 January 1999 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 3–0 | 16,730 | Burton (2), Eranio (pen) |
| R4 | 23 January 1999 | Swansea City | A | 1–0 | 11,383 | Harper |
| R5 | 13 February 1999 | Huddersfield Town | A | 2–2 | 22,129 | Burton, Dorigo (pen) |
| R5R | 24 February 1999 | Huddersfield Town | H | 3–1 | 28,704 | Dorigo, Baiano (2) |
| QF | 6 March 1999 | Arsenal | A | 0–1 | 38,046 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 16 September 1998 | Manchester City | H | 1–1 | 22,986 | Delap |
| R2 2nd Leg | 23 September 1998 | Manchester City | A | 1–0 (won 2–1 on agg) | 19,622 | Wanchope |
| R3 | 28 October 1998 | Arsenal | H | 1–2 | 25,621 | Sturridge |

## Players
### First-team squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Russell Hoult |
| 2 | DF | ARG | Horacio Carbonari |
| 3 | DF | GER | Stefan Schnoor |
| 4 | MF | JAM | Darryl Powell |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Tony Dorigo |
| 6 | DF | CRO | Igor Štimac |
| 7 | MF | IRL | Brian Launders |
| 8 | FW | ENG | Dean Sturridge |
| 9 | FW | CRC | Paulo Wanchope |
| 10 | MF | IRL | Rory Delap |
| 11 | MF | SCO | Kevin Harper |
| 12 | FW | ENG | Malcolm Christie |
| 14 | MF | NOR | Lars Bohinen |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Marc Bridge-Wilkinson |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 16 | DF | DEN | Jacob Laursen |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Spencer Prior |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Richard Jackson |
| 19 | DF | ENG | Steve Elliott |
| 20 | MF | ITA | Stefano Eranio |
| 21 | GK | EST | Mart Poom |
| 22 | DF | GRE | Vassilios Borbokis |
| 23 | MF | ENG | Paul Boertien |
| 24 | FW | JAM | Deon Burton |
| 25 | FW | DEN | Mikkel Beck |
| 26 | FW | ENG | Marvin Robinson |
| 27 | FW | ITA | Francesco Baiano |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Adam Murray |
| 29 | GK | ENG | Richard Knight |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | MF | IRL | Lee Carsley (to Blackburn Rovers) |
| 22 | DF | SCO | Christian Dailly (to Blackburn Rovers) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Rob Kozluk (to Sheffield United) |
| 26 | MF | ENG | Jonathan Hunt (to Sheffield United) |

### Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | GK | IRL | Gerard Doherty |
| — | DF | ENG | Ian Evatt |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | ENG | Chris Riggott |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| 23 June 1998 | DF | Stefan Schnoor | Hamburger SV | Free transfer |
| 21 August 1998 | DF | Spencer Prior | Leicester City | £700,000 |
| 10 September 1998 | MF | Kevin Harper | Hibernian | £300,000 |
| 19 September 1998 | MF | Brian Launders | BV Veendam | Free transfer |
| 16 October 1998 | DF | Tony Dorigo | Torino | Monthly contract |
| 28 October 1998 | FW | Malcolm Christie | Nuneaton Borough | £50,000 |
| 19 February 1999 | GK | Gerard Doherty | Derry City | £20,000 |
| 12 March 1999 | DF | Vassilios Borbokis | Sheffield United | £500,000 |
| 24 March 1999 | DF | Richard Jackson | Scarborough | £30,000 |
| 25 March 1999 | MF | Paul Boertien | Carlisle United | £250,000 |
| 25 March 1999 | MF | Mikkel Beck | Middlesbrough | £500,000 |
| 18 May 1999 | MF | Seth Johnson | Crewe Alexandra | £3,000,000 |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| 22 June 1998 | DF | Chris Powell | Charlton Athletic | £800,000 |
| 13 July 1998 | DF | Dean Yates | Watford | Free transfer |
| 15 July 1998 | MF | Robin van der Laan | Barnsley | £325,000 |
| 13 August 1998 | DF | Gary Rowett | Birmingham City | £1,000,000 |
| 21 August 1998 | DF | Christian Dailly | Blackburn Rovers | £5,300,000 |
| 12 March 1999 | DF | Rob Kozluk | Sheffield United | Swap |
| 12 March 1999 | MF | Jonathan Hunt | Sheffield United | Swap |
| 22 March 1999 | MF | Lee Carsley | Blackburn Rovers | £3,400,000 |
| 28 May 1999 | MF | Brian Launders | Colchester United | Signed |
    Transfers in: £5,350,000
    Transfers out: £10,825,000
    Total spending: £5,475,000

## Statistics
### Appearances, goals and cards

    (Starting appearances + substitute appearances)
| No. | Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Russell Hoult | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | DF | Horacio Carbonari | 28+1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32+1 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Stefan Schnoor | 20+3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25+3 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Darryl Powell | 30+3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34+4 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Tony Dorigo | 17+1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 21+1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | Igor Štimac | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Brian Launders | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | Dean Sturridge | 23+6 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 30+6 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| 9 | FW | Paulo Wanchope | 33+2 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 | 37+3 | 10 | 9 | 1 |
| 10 | MF | Rory Delap | 21+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 24+3 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Kevin Harper | 6+21 | 1 | 0+3 | 1 | 0+3 | 0 | 6+27 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | FW | Malcolm Christie | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Lars Bohinen | 29+3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32+3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 15 | MF | Marc Bridge-Wilkinson | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | Jacob Laursen | 37 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Spencer Prior | 33+1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 39+1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Lee Carsley | 20+2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 27+3 | 1 | 7 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | Steve Elliott | 7+4 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 9+6 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | Stefano Eranio | 18+7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 24+7 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | Mart Poom | 15+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Vassilios Borbokis | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Christian Dailly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Paul Boertien | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | Deon Burton | 14+7 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 20+7 | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| 25 | FW | Mikkel Beck | 6+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6+1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | Rob Kozluk | 3+4 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5+5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | MF | Jonathan Hunt | 0+6 | 1 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+9 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | Marvin Robinson | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | Francesco Baiano | 17+5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 23+5 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Adam Murray | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | GK | Richard Knight | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Starting 11

    Considering starts in all competitions
* GK: #1, Russell Hoult, 26
* RB: #3, Stefan Schnoor, 25
* CB: #17, Spencer Prior, 39
* CB: #2, Horacio Carbonari, 32
* LB: #16, Jacob Laursen, 44
* CM: #18, Lee Carsley, 27
* CM: #4, Darryl Powell, 34
* CM: #14, Lars Bohinen, 32
* RF: #20, Stefano Eranio, 24 (Rory Delap has 24 starts as a right midfielder)
* CF: #8, Dean Sturridge, 30
* LF: #9, Paulo Wanchope, 37