Jutkiewicz double leaves Rooney on a survival mission
2
TOM CRUISE is in town and Wayne Rooney might want a word about what is starting to look like a mission impossible.
Cruise is filming for Mission: Impossible 7 in a disused quarry in Derbyshire while Rooney has an epic battle to keep Derby from falling off a cliff and into League One.
The Rams were a goal up on 36 minutes thanks to Colin Kazim-Richards.
But they were still beaten by two Lukas Jutkiewicz headers which made Birmingham safe from relegation but put the Rams in grave danger.
Thanks to the supporting cast around them at the bottom of the table all losing, Derby’s fate is still in their own hands.
But Jukiewicz took his personal run of life-saving
Blues goals to five in Lee Bowyer’s eight games in charge at St Andrew’s.
Rooney badly needs some firepower like that as he goes into the last two games of the season vulnerable to a revival from Rotherham, who are four points behind and have two matches in hand.
And second-bottom Sheffield Wednesday, who are at Pride Park on the last day.
He said: “Lapses of concentration, the two key moments, cost us the game.
“I’m feeling very frustrated. I felt today was a chance to put ourselves in a very good position.
“The other sides around us have lost and we haven’t taken advantage. On the other hand it still gives us a chance.
“The games are running out and the other teams have to pick up points and are under pressure. But we can’t keep relying on other teams.
“We keep letting opportunities slip. We have got to win on Saturday at Swansea.”
The last time the Rams were relegated into the third tier it was the old Third Division
36 years ago.
A return now would be a disaster, both for rookie manager Rooney and the proposed £60million Erik Alonso takeover.
But one win in 13 and five successive defeats for the first time in 10 years tells its own story. KazimRichards’ goal was his first in
11 games and it should have given Derby a platform.
He tapped in after Lee Buchanan squared a pass to him.
But the Blues took over in the second half as Bowyer exchanged skill for strength.
One sub, Alen Halilovic, hit the post but it was the Juke who did the damage.
Marc Roberts’ long throw undid Derby in the 62nd minute, Jutkiewicz heading in from a few feet.
And six minutes from time he connected with a cross to score.
“I didn’t think we’d be safe with two games to go,” admitted Bowyer.
“It’s some achievement and up there with anything I’ve done.”
DERBY: Roos 6; Byrne 6, Edmundson
7, Clarke 8, Forsyth 7; Knight 6 (Jozwiak 88th), Shinnie 7 (Roberts
87th), Waghorn 6; Lawrence 6, Buchanan 6 (Sibley (75th) 6), KazimRichards 7 (Bird (75th) 6)
BIRMINGHAM: Etheridge 6; Colin7, Roberts 7, Dean 7, Pedersen 6; Gardner 6 (San Jose (54th) 6), Sunjic
7, Leko 6 (Miller (75th) 6, McGree 6 (Halilovic (53rd) 6); Seddon 6 (Sanchez
(46th) 6), Jutkiewicz 9
STAR MAN: Lukas Jutkiewicz
REF: R Jones
Derby Birm’ham
2 Shots on target 2
4 Shots off target 2
1 Blocked shots 3
0 Corners 3
13 Fouls 22
2 Offsides 4
0 Yellow cards 0
0 Red cards 0
57.2 Passing success % 62.8
16 Tackles 13
62.5 Tackles won % 30.8
43.5 Possession % 56.5