Curtis calls on Rams to get the job done in big Blues test
DAVIES: WE CAN’T JUST WAIT FOR ROTHERHAM TO FALL
INJURED Derby County defender Curtis Davies says the Rams cannot keep expecting Rotherham United to slip up in the Championship relegation battle.
Derby’s hopes of staving off relegation to League One suffered another setback when they were beaten 3-0 by Preston North End on Tuesday night.
But, fortunately for Wayne Rooney’s side, third-from-bottom Rotherham also lost, as Middlesbrough came from behind to win 2-1 at the New York Stadium on Wednesday.
Derby are four points clear of the Millers with three fixtures remaining but Rotherham have two games in hand.
On Saturday, the Rams are at home against Birmingham City, who aren’t completely safe either after being held to a 1-1 draw by Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night, with the Reds levelling through a penalty deep into added time.
At the same time on Saturday, Rotherham visit play-off chasing Barnsley in a South Yorkshire derby.
Davies, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, was a guest on the midweek EFL Show on Quest.
He called for the Rams to take their Championship destiny into their own hands.
“Yes we have the points on the board but Rotherham have two in hand. All we can do is go and get the job done against Birmingham,” said the experienced centre-back.
“We need to make sure we give the best account of ourselves rather than waiting for them to fall.
“It’s going to be a big battle, especially with big [Lukas] Jutkiewicz up against our back four, so we need to be ready for that.”
MILLWALL boss Gary Rowett hopes to make Scott Malone a permanent signing this summer and revealed he is in talks with the defender.
Malone was sent to the Rams’ Championship rivals on a seasonlong loan, having been deemed surplus to requirements at Pride Park.
The 30-year-old has made 40 appearances and scored five goals while he has been with the Lions and has impressed Rowett with his performances.
And the former Rams boss says he is eager to keep Malone for next season.
“Scott is one that we’re still in discussion with,” Rowett told the South London Press
“I’ve been quite consistent in that he is one we’d like to keep for longer.
“But no-one is ever really in a massive rush until the summer and until we start looking like we’re coming back for pre-season.
“I’d hope to see some sort of movement on that fairly soon.”
Rowett’s latest comments come after he spoke about how well Malone had been playing at the New Den in February.
“Scottie’s done really well and I’m sure that if he continues the form that he’s in then we’ll be desperately wanting to keep him next season,” Rowett, the former Rams boss, is quoted on News at Den.
“That’s something that like any scenario we’ll look at and plan for. But at the moment he’s our loan player for the season and anything beyond there is subject to those discussions.
“But I’ve been really pleased with him, I think he’s been fabulous for us. He’s fitted in really, really well.”
It is Malone’s second spell with Millwall. He played 71 times and scored five goals for the club between May 2012 and January 2015.