FUL THROTTLE
Odoi: Rams got away with parking the bus at Pride Park. If they try it again at the Cottage, we’ll take them apart
DENIS ODOI has warned Derby that negative tactics will see their Wembley dream ripped apart.
The Fulham defender watched in frustration as the Rams played defensively in Friday’s first leg, while snatching the only goal on a rare attack.
But Odoi still expects the Cottagers (boss
Slavisa Jokanovic, right) to be facing Middlesbrough or Aston
Villa on May 26 for the chance of promotion.
He said: “If they play like that again, we will score for sure. Five at the back? It felt like they were playing eight at the back!
“They just dropped so deep, they really had no intention of attacking.
“They got a good result for them, so they will say they are happy. They had their tactics and, for them, it worked well but, not to sound cocky, we are still confident about ourselves. “We know how we’ve played in the past and, if they play like that again, we will get
one for sure. I don’t think we have to do so much different. We need a few extra per cent in the box and maybe need to be a little bit stronger in holding the ball.
“We don’t need to pressure ourselves into thinking we have to score after five minutes.
“Even if it’s 0-0 after 70 minutes, we still have time and, if it comes to extra-time, we will see what happens, but we’re still confident.
“Not being arrogant, they have their way of playing, but I to book tonight.
Rowett’s team is packed full of promotion-winning experience, with the likes of Curtis Davies, Bradley Johnson, Cameron Jerome (who scored the only goal in the first leg) and Tom Huddlestone.
Rowett feels he has men for the big occasion in his Pride a don’t think they had any chances apart from the goal.” Derby boss Gary Rowett reckons his side has plenty of proven “biggame” performers Wembley spot Park squad, which also includes top-scorer Matej Vydra.
Rowett said: “When you have played in those type of games, sometimes it takes a big game to really motivate you in that same way. That is the challenge any team like us has.
“When you go to the smaller teams in the division away from home then, occasionally, your players just don’t have quite the same mentality, which is just the way it is.
“Someone like Cameron Jerome has played in big games, Bradley Johnson loves the big occasions and the big games.
“Matej Vydra always revels in the big occasions in terms of the quality he shows – he scored two goals in a semi-final for Watford once. We have got lots of players like that.”