Hows that fair?
WARNOCK LEFT FUMING OVER JAGIELKA LUNGE AT HOWSON
NEIL WARNOCK claimed Middlesbrough’s Jonny Howson was lucky to survive a double leg break because of a Phil Jagielka tackle in a bruising game.
Jagielka felled Howson right in front of the two benches in the second half and Boro boss Warnock stormed: “I thought it should have been a straight red.
“When you look at it, it’s horrific. How he’s not broke Howson’s leg in two or three places I don’t know.
“Howson’s alright now, but he’s got stud marks down his leg.
“Luckily Howson said he saw it coming, so he actually made a movement away and he just stopped the impact.
“If that impact had gone across Howson’s shin it would have snapped his leg in two.”
Jagielka, making his home debut for Derby, was yellowcarded by busy referee Andy
Davies, who also booked the Rams’ Nathan Byrne plus Lee Peltier, Marcus Tavernier, Marc Bola and Isaiah Jones of Middlesbrough.
The game was red-blooded and Derby manager Wayne Rooney praised his team for not being bullied by Boro.
He said:“i thought we played well in the first half but then what I feared happened – we were drawn into the way Middlesbrough play, but we weren’t bullied.”
Veteran Jagielka is on a short-term deal, but Derby could do with him for their long-term fight.
Rooney is begging, bringing in on loan and persuading players to join desperate Derby.
And Jagielka, 39 years old, could be his star, despite the tackle that brought Warnock’s fury.
Jagielka and Curtis Davies, 36,
have a combined age of 75 at the heart of their defence – only three years older than Warnock.
Middlesbrough couldn’t break them down and Jagielka, who played for Warnock at Sheffield United, finished with a cut head.
Derby’s transfer embargo means free agent Jagielka is only on a six-month contract.
“They just glued up the cut and we got Jagielka back out there,” said Rooney.
“I played with Jagielka at Everton, he was captain there for about 10 years. He has great experience.”
Derby haven’t conceded a goal in the two games Jagielka has played and Rooney added: “Jagielka and Davies were excellent. Jagielka is a leader who brings calmness to the team. He has been doing what he did today for years.”
When Boro did break through, keeper Kelle Roos made a good save at pointblank range from Howson, who had only been on for four minutes.
“I don’t think Howson could have done any more with that header,” admitted Warnock. “Sometimes you have to say it was a good save.”
Matt Crooks hit the crossbar with a header late on, but Boro goalkeeper Joe Lumley also needed to make two smart saves from Max Bird to keep Derby out and Rooney warned: “We are making more chances now and we have to be clinical with them.”
DERBY: Roos 7; Byrne 6, Jagielka 8, Davies 7, Forsyth 6; Bird 7, Shinnie 7; Sibley 6 (Stretton 64, 5), Morrison 6, Jozwiak 6 (Buchanan 82); Baldock 6 (Watson 71,5)
Unused Subs: Allsop, Stearman, Hutchinson, Williams
MIDDLESBROUGH: Lumley 7; Peltier 6 (Howson 58, 5), Mcnair 7, Fry 6, Bola 6; Morsy 6; Dijksteel 6, Tavernier 6, Crooks 6,Jones 6; Ikpeazu 7 (Coburn 79,5).
Unused Subs: Daniels, Hall, Payero, Olusanya, Spence.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Phil Jagielka. At 39 years old, finished Derby home debut with cut head and defiant performance.
REFEREE: Andy Davies .7