Hoodoo hits Roo Spot an Old Trafford trend
GARY ROWETT’S Derby hoodoo kept the Rams worrying about relegation.
“That’s three wins and a draw when I’ve been back to Derby,” said the Millwall manager, who took the Rams to the play-offs three years ago.
Rowett’s family home is in Derby and he added: “I hope Derby stay clear of trouble but I’m Millwall manager now.
“We won here last season and finished eighth in the table.
“I’m looking to see if we can improve on that this season.”
Shaun Hutchinson (above) struck with a header just before half-time to win a game in which Derby had most of the control, but no finishing power.
Millwall defended superbly and the closest they came to conceding was a 78th-minute close-range shot by sub Louie Sibley that hit the bar. Wayne Rooney looked to have taken Derby clear of relegation when he first took sole charge of them, but it is now five games without a win and no goals in four. “We were in control of the game,” said Rooney.
“From our goalkeeper up until the edge of their box we were good. But in trying to score we were poor.
“The attacking players have to want to score, they have to be prepared to put their bodies on the line to get across defenders.”
Hutchinson’s winner came from the first time Millwall were even in Derby’s penalty area and the first corner.
Jed Wallace took it and Hutchinson headed into the corner of the net.
DERBY: Roos 6; Edmundson 6 (Watson 60,6), Mengi 6, Clarke 6; Byrne 7, Knight 5 (Roberts 60, 5), Shinnie 7, Forsyth 6; Waghorn 6, Jozwiak 5 (Sibley 73, 5); Kazim-Richards 5.
MILLWALL: Bialkowski 6; Hutchinson 7, Pearce 7, Cooper 7; Romeo 6, Woods 8, Thompson 6 (Mitchell 76), Evans 6 (Williams 83), M Wallace 7 (Ferguson 66, 5); J Wallace 6 (Bodvarsson 83), Bennett 6 (Bradshaw 76).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ryan Woods. Tireless running and really caught the eye in a bright Lions show.
REFEREE: Darren England 5.
NO NEED to wrinkle our brains pondering if West Ham are really elite class when they go to Manchester United (7.15pm).
The stats say Bruno Fernandes (left) will be licking his lips. Get on ‘penalty in match’ at 7/4 (Hills).
Leicester, with an FA Cup quarterfinal looming, welcome doomed Sheffield United (2pm). A riddle wrapped in a banana skin. But 12/5 (Unibet) ‘penalty in match’ is fruity.
Forster, Walker-Pe Bednarek, Vesterg Bertrand, Redmond,
Prowse, Minami Armstrong, Tella, A
BRIGHTON: Sanchez, Veltman, White, Burn, Gross,
Bi Mac Allister, Tross
Lallana, Maupa
MAX POWER warned Sunderland are a re-energised club and need to end their “Wembley hoodoo”.
The skipper (right) reckons the stars are aligning for boss Lee Johnson to guide the Wearsiders to glory in the Papa John’s Trophy today – and then win automatic promotion.
Sunderland are unbeaten in eight games, with seven wins, and the 2-0 victory at Portsmouth last Tuesday was their most complete performance for years.
Ex-Tranmere star Power, who played 127 games for today’s opponents, said: “Lee Johnson has re-energised the club and training ground.
“He has given us belief. He has come in and set us up. Months of repetition on the training ground. Everyone has responded. We have the most in-form striker in the country. We have been keeping clean sheets.
“We are a club on the up. Winning games brings that feeling. There has been a lot going on with the takeover the last 12 months but that is put to bed, new owner, and the club is moving forward. The fans are at ease with the direction the club is going. As players our job is to win matches, and everything filters down.
“The gaffer is hands-on and that has a good effect on the group. He is very thorough.
“Everything is in place, the training ground is one of the best in the country.
“It is just about putting it all together.”
BY STEVE BATES
SEAN DYCHE has revealed he dedicated victory at Everton to his brother-in-law who passed away recently.
The Burnley boss (right) said: “My wife Jane lost her brother. He was only 47 and he was buried last week, so that was for him.
“I played a song before the game, a dance classic from Ibiza. The players didn’t know anything about it before the game but I told them afterwards.
“It was just a personal thing that I don’t normally do.” Everton lost Jordan Pickford to a recurrence of a rib injury which could make him a doubt for England’s looming World Cup qualifiers.
Boss Carlo Ancelotti said: “I hope he can recover soon and it’s not going to be a big problem.”