Displays are main focus, says Liam
LIAM Rosenior says Derby County’s performances, not their position in the Championship table, is what they are focused on.
Derby’s 21-point deduction this season has left them bottom and facing a mammoth task if they are to avoid relegation to League One but they are fighting to retain their Championship status.
An unbeaten run of four matches - three wins and a draw - has seen them cut the gap between themselves and safety to 11 points with 21 games left to play.
They have 11 points. Barnsley are 23rd on 14 points from 24 games and Peterborough United are 22nd on 19 from 23 games - two fewer than Derby.
Reading, who the Rams drew 2-2 with on Monday, sit just above the relegation places on 22 points from 23 matches, while Cardiff City and Hull City have 23 points from 24 games.
Asked how he views the table, Rosenior said: “I am not concerned about the table at the moment, I’m just concerned about performances.
“I don’t think we can start looking at the table until March. We just want the players to concentrate and focus on their performances in games and in training without putting too much pressure on themselves.
“It is a young group. We have got a lot of senior players but what we can’t do is put too much pressure on this group. We enjoy watching their spirit and we will see where it takes us come the end of the season.”
Two late goals saw the Rams hit back from two down to draw 2-2 against the Royals at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Monday.
Junior Hoilett’s double had put the Royals 2-0 up but Derby stormed back.
Substitute Colin Kazim-richards bundled the ball home to reduce the deficit after 86 minutes before Curtis Davies headed an equaliser in added time.
“I thought it was the least we deserved,” said Rosenior.
“I felt we dominated the game in terms of possession, we just needed that break in terms of that final third.”
Asked what the comeback against Reading said about the spirit and determination in the group, Rosenior added: “It just confirms the character we have in the group.
“We have been working on this from pre-season, we felt we could really create a team spirit and they are showing that at the moment.”
Manager Wayne Rooney kept in touch with Rosenior via Whatsapp on the phone during the draw against Reading.
Rooney missed the game due to feeling unwell. He has tested negative for Covid-19 and has cold-like symptoms but has strictly followed the club’s Covid-19 protocols and took the precautionary measure to not travel with the squad and staff.
Rosenior explained how Rooney had maintained contact and the message the manager sent to the players after the game.
“There was an extra space on the bench and so Pete Shuttleworth, our analyst, came on and the gaffer was sending meesages (through the analyst) through the game,” Rosenior said.
“I was checking with Pete and it was really, really important we had that input from Wayne.
“I spoke to him (Wayne Rooney) a few times before the game and I spoke to him at half-time.
“Through the game he was sending messages to Pete, so we were in constant communication.”
Asked if Rooney had spoken to the players after the game, Rosenior said: “I told the lads what Wayne had said to me - he was proud of them that they didn’t give up and he was proud of them in terms of our footballing performance as well.”
Kazim-richards has scored in each of the Rams’ last three games coming off the bench.
He grabbed winning goals against West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City before he found the net against Reading.
His 86th-minute goal came when he bundled the ball home after Reading goalkeeper Luke Southwood had missed Max Bird’s cross.
“Fair play to Colin. I am sure he feels he deserves to start but when he comes on he has a huge impact on the game,” added Rosenior.
“There are hard decisions for Wayne and myself and Justin (Walker) to make in terms of the starting 11, there are always reasons behind it.”
Festy Ebosele and Ravel Morrison also went on at Reading, as they did against Stoke.
“They make a huge impact when they come on, Festy this time from the left,” said Rosenior.
“We took off Fozzy (Craig Forsyth) and felt Festy could play almost as a left winger, and then Ravel comes on and gives us real control and moments of quality.
“It is not just them. Richard Stearman against West Brom was man of the match and comes out of the team and yet he is the first one off the bench when Curtis heads the equaliser, Sam Baldock the same.
“We have got good senior pros in there who are teaching our young lads not just how to behave on the pitch but also how to behave off it. They are outstandng role models.”