Travelling Rams dig deep to fight back against Dons
ANOTHER BIG FOLLOWING FOR WARNE’S MEN IN AWAY WIN
A WONDERFUL finish from James Collins and an emphatic strike from Nathaniel Mendez-laing helped Derby County end a demanding week with a crucial 3-1 win away to MK Dons.
The Rams had to come from a goal behind to seal their victory as the Dons raced out of the traps, with Joe Wildsmith producing a fine save from Will Grigg.
The keeper also kept out Bradley Johnson’s header, while at the other end Lewis Dobbin saw a goal ruled out for offside following a Conor Hourihane cross.
But the Dons broke the deadlock in the League One encounter when, from a Rams corner, Louie Barry ran clear on a counter-attack before rounding Wildsmith and giving the home side the lead.
Derby hit back immediately when Hourihane’s corner into the box was met by Haydon Roberts, who thumped a header beyond Jamie Cumming.
Rams head coach Paul Warne would have demanded more incisiveness in the second half and he got it as the visitors took the lead.
A free kick from Hourihane was launched into the box and Collins spun acrobatically to rifle the ball past Cumming.
The linesman had his flag up for offside but the referee overruled the decision and allowed the goal to stand.
Mendez-laing wrapped up the win when he collected a fine pass from Max Bird to swivel inside the area and bury past Cumming.
Here are the main talking points from the clash against the Dons:
■Respect is due
Nathaniel Mendez-laing looks like his fuel warning light has come on, Max Bird’s legs are heavy and James Collins is running on exhaust fumes.
There are a few Rams players who look as though they could do with a rest, which head coach Paul Warne would undoubtedly love to give them.
The problem is there are no adequate replacements who can give them a temporary reprieve and that will will form part of Warne’s thinking when it comes to the January window.
But until he can add greater depth, Warne is going to have to rely on the same players who had a shorter preseason than everybody else due to the takeover only being completed at the start of July.
We will have to accept that tired minds will lead to tired performances and, in the first half, some looked a little weary after their exertions at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup in midweek.
But the players keep going to the well and their reward here was an
excellent three points that lifted the Rams into the top six.
They deserve credit for the way they are grinding out results when they are no doubt desperate for a breather after a particularly gruelling schedule.
■Warne proved right over fans
After a heroic performance against Liverpool in midweek, Warne said his biggest fear was that going from Anfield to MK Dons would be something of an anti-climax.
But he said the fact that more than 6,500 Rams fans would be travelling to Saturday’s game would help negate the difference between going to Anfield and Stadium MK.
He believed the backing would serve as an inspiration and he was absolutely right.
The fans were terrific on the day as they whipped out their hymn sheets to go through their array of ditties during the game.
Nobody should under-estimate the impact of such support because the energy they bring on the terraces is like a fuel injection.
So when the Rams were attacking the away end in the second half with 6,500 fans screaming encouragement, you definitely noticed how the players thrived off it to record a fine win.
After recent long trips to Morecambe, Torquay United and Liverpool, the backing at MK Dons certainly ranked as the best of the season so far for the Rams.
Indeed, once the stadium was empty after the game, you could still hear the travelling fans singing outside the ground on what was an away day to cherish.
■A nice reward
One of the incentives Warne has introduced at the Rams since he was appointed head coach is promising his players a day off if they score from a set-piece.
Haydon Roberts’ equaliser against MK Dons came direct from a corner, meaning the players have now stashed some extra rest in the bank.
It’s unlikely to be this week because the Rams have another gruelling seven days, with an FA Cup replay against Torquay tomorrow followed by a trip to Portsmouth on Friday.
It has been an unrelenting schedule with trips to Morecambe, Torquay United, Liverpool, MK Dons and it’s not over yet.
But assistant head coach Richie Barker said the players and the staff have more than earned their break.
“I did bring that up (the day off) because I could do with a day off myself,” he joked.
“Unfortunately it won’t be on Monday because we play on Tuesday but we will definitely be looking at a long weekend after Portsmouth.
“It’s one in the bank for all of us. I have to say we are probably sick of the sight of each other.”
■Super Joe
It would be remiss of this column not to praise the Rams’ goalkeeper, who has been excellent in recent weeks.
One of the first things Warne did when he came in was stop Wildsmith being an auxiliary centre-back that he essentially became under Liam Rosenior when the Rams had possession.
All Wildsmith is being asked to do now is to concentrate on being a goalkeeper and he is reaping the benefits.
His save from Harvey Elliott against Liverpool in midweek was exceptional and he followed that up here with an equally fine stop to deny Bradley Johnson in the first half.
He’s a humble character off the pitch, given that you usually associate goalkeepers with being the eccentric members of the squad.
It’s nice to see somebody so grounded enjoying a rich vein of form.
Long may it continue.