Football Rooney’s just one of many threats in the Derby side - Holden
BRISTOL City can retake a place in the top six of the Championship tonight if they can make it a league double over Derby County.
The Robins can move back into the play-off positions if they can make it seven wins in the last eight meetings against Derby, though that is not a foregone conclusion given some ropey form shown by City in BS3 and an upturn in the results of the side from Pride Park.
In fact, it’s just one defeat in the last eight league games for Derby a period that coincides with Wayne Rooney’s arrival as a Derby player.
The 34-year-old former Manchester United and England captain has three goals and an assist in his last four games, and the Robins will need to beware his star quality to get the points and avoid dispiriting back-to-back home defeats.
“We played them pre-season in Florida and had an interesting game against them,” said assistant head coach Dean Holden on the challenge ahead.
“That was the early stages of Phillip Cocu’s career at Derby. I think he’s a fantastic manager and if you look through their squad they have a lot of Championship experience.
“They’ll be hoping they were a bit higher in the table than they are at the moment, but they’re not too far off it and they’ll be secretly thinking they can go on a run and sneak in (the play-offs). It’s a massive test for us.
“They’ve got the obvious threat of one of the country’s best in Wayne Rooney.
“At the same time there are threats throughout the team going forward. We don’t have to just concentrate on him - there are other threats we need to be aware of, but certainly when we take the game to the opposition and we come out flying we’re a match for anyone.”
Holden has faced Rooney once before and on the pitch: at Barry Fry’s testimonial game at Peterborough United. The Bristol City assistant head coach played 56 times for Posh in the league between 200507 and got a first-hand experience of just how quick on the turn the likes of Ryan Giggs and Rooney were.
“The result wasn’t great for us but it was a great night for Barry at London Road,” said Holden.
“It was a top experience but difficult at the same time. Sir Alex brought his whole squad down,” he added.
As for tonight’s game, Nahki Wells could be handed a first start for the Robins.
Holden said: “He’s come in and he’s been clinical in training, and you can see already that he’s a fantastic finisher, off both feet. We’re delighted to have him in the squad and he’s definitely pushing for a start.”