Defeat is deserved as Derby fail to see the signs
WAYNE Rooney admits Derby County’s defeat by Queens Park Rangers was a setback but says they will keep fighting as they look to pull off a great escape.
The Rams sit bottom of the Championship on one point and are 19 points adrift of safety with 26 games left to play.
Derby went into Monday night’s fixture unbeaten in three and took an early lead through skipper Tom Lawrence’s emphatic finish.
Rangers responded in the second half and goals from Chris Willock and substitute Andre Gray gave the visitors a 2-1 victory.
“I have said to the boys in the last few weeks we will lose games. Let’s not get carried away when we win games, but also when we lose,” said Rooney.
“It is a setback, but we know this division. A week can make a big difference. We have to keep fighting, keep pushing.
“I am open and honest with the players. I have said to the lads there is a possibility we will be in League One, let’s not get away from that, we all know that, but it is an opportunity for these lads to show their character, their fighting spirit.
“They have done that and I have no doubts they will continue to do that. We will keep fighting. In this Championship strange things happen.”
Looking back at the QPR game, Rooney added: “It wasn’t through lack of effort or tryng by the players, it was maybe lack of concentration.
We didn’t value the ball enough, we were a bit careless with the ball.
“We have to go again Saturday. We will give everything we can to try and stay in this division. It is a very difficult task, but if there is a chance we can do it we will do everything we can.”
Rooney had no complaints about the result. “I think QPR deserved to win,” he said.
“I thought we started really well. The goal we scored was exactly what we worked on.
“We felt if we could get them to play into the middle of the pitch and press them in there and win the ball back and we wanted runners off that.
“It was a perfect example of what we worked on, a great ball and a great finish from Tom.
“From then we dropped too deep. At times the gaps between the back line and the front line were too big. It made it very difficult for the midfielders to get any pressure on the ball.
“We were sloppy with the ball, I could see it coming, the warning signs were there. I said to the boys at half-time ‘we need to wake up, we are lucky to come in leading’ and it continued second half.
“There were little moments second half but certainly not good enough to win the game. I felt the result was a fair result.”