Roo rues no second goal as win is elusive for Rams
DERBY County’s interim manager Wayne Rooney says the Rams paid the price for not scoring a second goal in the 1-1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers.
Duane Holmes put the Rams ahead in the first half, only for substitute Matt Bloomfield to equalise for Wycombe.
The point stopped Derby’s run of four consecutive defeats but means they have now gone 10 games without a win and remain bottom of the Championship after 14 matches.
Rooney said: “We went in 1-0 up at half-time and I stressed to the players how important the second goal is because Wycombe, at every opportunity, will put the ball in the box and cause you problems, which they did in getting the equaliser.
“We paid the price for not getting that second goal.
“It is just disappointing we didn’t get that second goal.”
Rooney made seven changes for the Championship clash at Pride Park Stadium.
Looking back at the game, Rooney said: “We were a little more direct today than we have been in recent weeks.
“You can try and play nice football but today we had to change something from how we have been playing.
“As you see with the starting 11, there were seven changes to the team.
“I felt the experience coming into the team was vital for us. I wanted experienced players on the pitch who know the League and to try to get the ball forward quicker and create chances and I felt we did that.
“We want to play football, we want to make 600 or 700 passes a game but at the minute the players are not in that frame of mind, they are not confident enough.
“The important thing for me was to try to simplify the game for the players, that is why I want those experienced players on the pitch.”
Rooney says he has no problems picking a team and leaving players out.
He had been a team-mate of the players in the Rams dressing room this season before the draw against Wycombe.
Rooney said: “I got asked by one of my mates, ‘you’ve obviously been in the dressing room with the players, how are you going to handle leaving them out?’
“That is not an issue, I need to do what is best for the team, I’ve no problem leaving players out as I have shown today (against Wycombe).
“If players play well and train well, they will earn their place in the team.
“That is something I have told the players, you need to perform on the training pitch, have a good attitude. If you do that you will obviously have a better chance of playing.”
Asked how much he enjoyed being “manager” for the first time, Rooney said: “I don’t think it was a great game to watch.
“I enjoyed the whole process of the day and getting the team ready, and being on the touchline and figuring out what changes you can make to try to have an impact on the game.
“This is what I want to do. I have been playing for the last 20 years.
“I know there is a time when that (finishing playing) time comes, whether that time is now or some time in the future, but I am a confident person. I feel I am ready.”