ROONEY SAVED AT THE DEATH
Crazy game is like the story of season, says Wayne as crucial late penalty sends Wednesday down
WAYNE ROONEY escaped the ignominy of relegation to League One in his first season as a manager despite his Derby team winning only once in their final 15 games.
In the end, one point was enough against Sheffield Wednesday, who were condemned to League One for a third time since slipping from the Premier League in 2000.
‘ Relieved, obviously,’ smiled Rooney after the frantic conclusion to a dismal campaign. ‘Crazy game, that game is the story of the season. Up, down, good, bad. The important thing was that we stayed in the division.’
With 18 minutes to play, Wednesday were 3-2 ahead and both teams were facing the drop before Rams substitute Kamil Jozwiak was tripped by Chey Dunkley and referee Mike Dean awarded a penalty.
Martyn Waghorn was settling the ball on the spot when news filtered into the stadium from South Wales. Marlon Pack had snatched a late equaliser f or Cardiff against Rotherham.
Derby would be on the way to survival if Waghorn scored and Wednesday would be if he did not.
‘There was a lot of pressure on that penalty,’ said Rooney but Waghorn made no mistake, sweeping the ball past goalkeeper Kieren Westwood.
It was his second of the game in a fabulous personal display after crashing into a goalpost in the first half, a blow that required a lengthy spell of treatment. Ultimately, this delay played out in Derby’s favour. There were still six minutes plus six minutes of stoppage time at Pride Park when Rotherham’s game ended in a draw in Cardiff.
Derby knew then a point was enough and Wednesday threw everything forward in the knowledge a winner would save them.
Curtis Davies was sent on for his first appearance in five months to man t he resistance. ‘ He’s not trained, he’s not fit,’ said Rooney. ‘I asked him if he could head the ball and he said yes. I thought he did well. The lads showed great character.’
Derby’s players and staff celebrated wildly at the final whistle but Rooney went to commiserate with Owls boss Darren Moore. ‘I felt for Sheffield Wednesday, another massive club,’ he said. ‘This was a cup final and I’ve lost in cup finals and it’s not nice. I felt for Darren Moore and his staff.’
Moore was back after missing four games with post-Covid pneumonia and blood clots. He received the all-clear only on Wednesday. If he hoped to inspire the Owls it seemed to work when they took the lead in first-half stoppage time.
Sam Hutchinson stabbed the ball over the line from close range after Derby goalkeeper Kelle Roos denied Jordan Rhodes with a reflex save.
‘The half-time message was to stay calm,’ said Rooney, who prepared for the crunch game with the help of Whoopi Goldberg, not for the first time. Before his first Champions League final, in 2008, he beat pre- match nerves by watching Sister Act. On Friday, he watched the sequel, Sister Act 2. ‘Watching a feelgood movie with a bit of music helps me relax,’ said Rooney.
Derby came out and scored twice in three minutes at the start of the second half. First Waghorn, with a header from a Tom Lawrence cross. Then Patrick Roberts, on loan from Manchester City, with his first for the club, a delightful goal curled beyond Westwood from 20 yards.
Wednesday have not fought back from behind to win all season but they did sum mon a positive response. Callum Paterson made it 2-2, driving a low shot past Roos when Craig Forsyth failed to clear a long ball from Adam Reach, and Julian Borner made it 3-2 after a scramble following a corner. ‘Two very sloppy goals,’ said Rooney, and this was the big test of nerve for Derby and their young manager.
It has been a miserable season with uncertainties about proposed takeovers and a terrible run of form since the end of February.
Questions were asked about his desire and ability to manage at this level but the final day’s final twist turned in his favour.
‘I believe in myself,’ said Rooney. ‘I have a lot of confidence in myself. I like challenges. It was a challenge. It still is a challenge. I believe if you put the work in, put the effort in, you get your rewards. ‘We’ve done it the hard way but we’ve got there.’