Gritty rather than pretty but what a lift!
HANDS up those who had a quick glance at the league table following Derby County’s gritty victory over West Bromwich Albion.
The Rams produced a wonderfully uplifting result in their final home game of what has been a horribly tough year for fans following the club.
Monday’s fixture against high-riding promotion hopefuls Albion marked the halfway stage of the Championship campign.
It was not a Christmas cracker and endeavour far outweighed the quality of football from both teams.
It was a forgettable match but a memorable afternoon because when you talk about spirit, when you talk about fight, when you talk about commitment and desire, Derby’s display in the 1-0 win was full of all of those ingredients – and the fans loved it.
They responded by providing terrific backing for the players, as they have all season.
A special atmosphere crackled with resilience to match that being shown by the players, manager Wayne Rooney and his staff.
Derby’s points punishments this season mean they remain bottom and needing a football miracle if they are to avoid dropping into League One, although the gap between themselves and safety is now 14 points with half a season to go.
The task, if Derby are to complete a great escape, remains a mammoth one. No-one is kidding themselves and the odds remain heavily stacked against them but this is the Championship and you just never know.
Derby have taken four points off Albion this season. This victory followed up their goalless draw at The Hawthorns in September.
The Rams might sit bottom but their record against the leading teams deserves credit and respect.
They have also beaten leaders Bournemouth and have drawn with second-placed Fulham, as well as Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town, who also sit in the top six.
What is Derby’s secret against the leading teams? Belief, according to Rooney.
He is spot on. Belief, confidence, call it what you like, is vital in gaining positive results. The more positive results gained – and Derby have won three and drawn one of their last six games – the more confidence blossoms.
The record against the top six also shows Derby are a much better side than their league position shows.
All teams can look back over the first half of the season and wonder what if – what if that defeat was a draw, what if that draw was a win? Derby have missed opportunities to give themselves more than seven points, their current total, but there is nothing gained in looking back other than to learn lessons.
This is a time to look forward and three key points if Derby are to have a stronger second half of the campaign than first half emerged from the Albion game.
Derby do not have the biggest squad but the win highlighted how important the squad will be. The performances of defender Richard Stearman, goalkeeper Ryan Allsop and young midfielder Liam Thompson showed this.
Stearman had made only four starts in the League for Derby before Monday and had not started a game in almost three months, yet he delivered an impressive performance in helping to keep Albion out.
Allsop has been back-up to Kelle Roos for much of the season but he has started the last three matches and his faultless display against Albion showed why he is a capable Championship keeper. He was solid and confident in everything he did and his save deep in added time from Kyle Bartley’s powerful header was brilliant.
Thompson stepped into midfield in the absence of Graeme Shinnie, one of a number of regular firstteamers missing, and the youngster was excellent.
Derby are having to lean on many young players and they are having to learn quickly in a competitive environment. They are stepping up to the plate. Of the 14 players used against Albion, six are Academy graduates.
The importance of the squad was further highlighted by Colin KazimRichards grabbing the winning goal in the 58th minute, a minute after coming off the bench. The experienced striker has been unable to win back a starting role since his return from injury but he was ready to make an impact when called on.
A mix-up between Albion keeper Sam Johnstone and defender Cedric Kipre gifted the chance to Kazimrichards, but he guided the ball into the open net expertly.
This was very much a team effort and will be remembered as such. A day for warriors ahead of wizards.
Rooney would like to strengthen his squad in the January transfer window but first he wants to be in a position to sort out a number of contracts that are due to expire in the summer and that of Phil Jagielka, whose deal runs out on January 17.
Whether or not the manager will be able to do so will depend on the ongoing search for a new owner of the club.
The Rams have been in administration for more than three months. The administrators have said they are close to naming a preferred bidder and time is pressing. Doing so is vital so that Rooney can start to put his plans for the squad in place.
Another key factor from the Albion win was the bond between team and fans. This has been in place all season, but never more so than on Monday when the efforts on the pitch and the tremendous backing of the fans off it screamed defiance in the face of adversity.
The players are showing they are ready to fight right to the end and the fans are showing they are ready to stick by their team, whatever the outcome.
That togetherness will be crucial in the second half of the season and there was renewed hope in the air as the Derby supporters filed out of Pride Park purring with pride.