ROO: RAMS ALL ROVER THE PLACE
Cocu won’t be around much longer... unless he pulls his finger out
WAYNE ROONEY claimed dismal Derby were “all over the place” and apologised for this defeat as the pressure mounts on boss Phillip Cocu.
Cocu needs Rooney and Co to do a lot better on the telly at Norwich on Saturday lunchtime.
Derby were ripped apart by impressive Blackburn and have lost all three opening games.
“With three games played, none won, one goal and a lot conceded, something has to change,” said Cocu ( right).
There will be an inquest into what’s going wrong.
“We have to sit down, all together, to get it done. We have a lot to talk about and we are going to do it.”
What he needs most is for Rooney to get fit and get back to running the team.
Rooney, 34, was about as quick as a wardrobe in this game and not dissimilar in shape.
Two goals from Derby old boy Bradley Johnson and another from Tyrhys
Dolan put Blackburn
3- 0 up in four minutes. Adam
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC Johnson and Armstrong (right) scoring for Rovers
Armstrong added another in the second half.
It’s Derby’s worst start to a season in nearly 30 years – a stat Rooney is not used to in his trophy-laden career. Injury restricted Rooney’s pre- season work but he said: “I can’t make excuses, so I apologise to the fans.
“We weren’t good enough. I’m not going to say we are going to win the next three, four, five games, but we will be working hard to get better.
“There was a spell when it looked as if there was a bit of confusion and we were all over the place and conceded three goals.
“We lost 4-0 and that’s not good enough.”
Rooney was as poor as anyone and Cocu blasted his players’ attitude.
The Dutchman has invested in young players, following the long-term plan laid down by owner Mel Morris, but won’t be around to see them get much older unless he pulls his finger out.
“This kind of result will affect the young players,” admitted Rooney. “Young players, when it’s going well, it’s brilliant for them. When it’s not going well it can affect them, so we have to make sure they are all right.”
Rovers could be a surprise bet to go up. Tony Mowbray has an exciting team based on wingers Ben Brereton and Dolan, the goal instinct of Armstrong and the midfield strength of Johnson.
“We always have been an attacking side,” said central defender Derrick Williams.
“But we were vulnerable when we lost the ball. We have tightened that up.”
DERBY: Marshall 7, Byrne 6, Wisdom 5, Te Wierik 5, Buchanan 5, Bird 6 (Holmes 71, 5), Rooney 5, Knight 5, Sibley 5 (Whittaker 76, 5), Jozwiak 5, Marriott 5 (Evans 46, 5)
BLACKBURN: Kaminski 7, Rankin-Costello 7 (Nyambe 59, 5), Lenihan 7, Williams 7, Bell 7, Holtby 7, Johnson 9, Rothwell 7 (Bennett 79, 5), Dolan 8 (Chapman 68, 5), Armstrong 7, Brereton 8
MOTM
BRADLEY JOHNSON (BLACKBURN)