Derby on march to a miracle

Hudd’field v

BY

WAYNE ROONEY has seen enough fighting spirit in his dressing room to believe Derby can pull off a miracle.

The Rams travel to promotion-chasing Huddersfield tonight in the next step of their incredible fight to stave off relegation.

Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham salvaged a point which now puts them just seven points short of the safety mark.

Krystian Bielik’s dramatic 96th-minute goal brought a defiant response from 19-year-old flying machine Festy Ebosele (above).

Rooney has total belief in a squad of players docked 21 points – but still scrapping for their lives.

He said: “We’re edging closer. We won’t go down through lack of effort or fight. Everyone was expecting us to get relegated but I’m extremely proud of everyone at this

DAVE ARMITAGE

club and the way they have stood up to everything that has been thrown at them.

“I’ve stressed that it always matters when you lose. It hurts, it should do.”

Derby fans are fighting too – 9,000 joined a ‘Save Our Club’ march (above) to Pride Park before the Birmingham match.

Rooney, focused on tonight, said: “Huddersfield are having a good season but I think if we can play our way we can cause them problems.

“We will keep fighting. I made it clear I wanted a good dressing room because if you haven’t got that then it is a problem.”

Bielik is a doubt after injuring his shoulder in equalising on Sunday.

Rooney said: “Thankfully it is not as bad as first feared. Krystian is 50-50 for the game.”