05/08/2003 00:00
TW
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Staff reporter REAL Mallorca's pre-season tour of England suffered a set back on Sunday when the Spanish Cup holders lost 3-1 to Derby County. Derby's exciting young prospect Izale McLeod inspired the rams to victory over Real Mallorca at Pride Park. McLeod scored twice, missed a penalty and laid on a third as Derby stepped up their pre-season preparation in fine style. Candido Costa's exit with a facial injury paved the way for Chilean Gianfranco Tome to make his Derby bow and he made an instant impact. Tome's low attempt at goal was headed home by the alert McLeod. It was Tome's trickery that won Derby a penalty as a desperate Nino handled the ball, giving McLeod the chance to convert the penalty. McLeod missed the chance of a first-half hat-trick when his penalty was saved by Mallorca keeper Campano, atoning for his initial error in bringing Lee Morris down. Derby were not to be denied and McLeod set up the Rams' third when his pace took him clear and his low cross was nodded in by Tome after his initial effort had been blocked on the line by defender Nino. The heat took the pace off the game in the second half, although Derby kept possession well. Mallorca grabbed a late consolation through Samuel Eto'o. The defeat was watched by Mallorca's new signing, Dutch international striker Arnold Bruggink who joined the training camp over the weekend after signing a two-year, with an option for a third, contract in Palma last week. Real Mallorca`s next pre-season game is against Bolton Wanderers who have just returned from their pre-season training camp in Malta. Mallorca, nursing injuries to Miki and Ibagaza, travel to Bolton tomorrow with coach Jaime Pacheco still concerned about the midfield. The Portuguese says that he needs three new players to bolster the midfield, but he knows that he has currently got too many players in the squad, in particular up front. The arrival of Bruggink takes the number of strikers to six, including Samuel Eto'o who has still yet to make a decision about his future, but not expected to be with Mallorca by the start of the season.