‘Get out of our club’
RAMS WIN DOES NOT STOP FANS SHOWING FURY
AFTER the standing ovation for the team, a message for Derby owner and chairman Mel Morris.
“Get out of the club,” rang round Pride Park after the first home win of the season.
A financial abyss and relegation may well be waiting following the news that Derby were going into administration and the finger of blame points to one man.
Morris, who has been trying to sell the club for two years, was not in attendance. His health is not good. His communications channel appears to be closed too – Wayne Rooney and the players were kept in the dark, and the manager revealed afterwards he has not been able to speak to Morris for some time.
It meant a very different team talk followed by a first home win of the season thanks to two quickfire goals from
Max
Bird and
Curtis Davies.
Stoke staged a strong comeback but could not add to a Tom Ince goal.
The harsh reality for Derby is that a 12-point deduction beckons for a club who were already negotiating a nine-point penalty for previous financial fair play issues.
For Rooney, however, yesterday was a test of his managerial mettle and the genuine hug from counterpart Michael O’neill suggests he did well.
So far the exmanchester United and England striker has had to cope with transfer embargoes, unpaid
wages for the players, and a relegation battle which the Rams just squeaked last season.
He joked: “I am at St George’s Park next month working on my pro licence but I think they should give me an honorary one!”
Morris has seen potential takeovers flounder.
He has spent £200million on Derby, who are believed to be £70m in debt.
The breakthrough came just after a spell of sustained pressure from Stoke.
Bird collected Graeme Shinnie’s pass, ghosting across the goalmouth before launching a venomous shot which gave Josef Bursik no chance.
Stoke keeper Bursik then misread a Shinnie free-kick and defender Davies headed into an empty net.
Potters boss O’neill said: “Three minutes of madness in the first half really cost us and both goals were very preventable.”
DERBY COUNTY: Roos 8; Byrne 6, Davies 7, Jagielka 7, Buchanan 7; Shinnie 8, Bird 7; Sibley 6 (Jozwiak 73, 5), Morrison 6 (Knight 65, 5), Lawrence 6; Baldock 6 (Stearman, 83).
Unused Subs: Allsop, Stretton, Ebosele, Williams.
STOKE CITY: Bursik 6; Souttar 6, Ostigard 7, Wilmot 6; Ince 6, Sawyers 6 (Doughty 72, 5), Clucas 7, Tymon 7; Vrancic 7; Sima 6 (Powell 58, 5 ), Surridge 6 (Brown 58, 5).
Unused Subs: Davies, Batth, Doughty, Thompson, Duhaney.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Graeme Shinnie. Massive midfield influence as well as two assists.
REFEREE: Jeremy Simpson 7.