How did Rams let it slip against Forest?
DERBY MANAGER FRUSTRATED AFTER REF WAVED AWAY SPOT KICK APPEALS IN DRAW
WAYNE Rooney believes Derby County were denied a clear penalty in their 1-1 draw against rivals Nottingham Forest.
Skipper Tom Lawrence fired the Rams ahead after only 11 minutes of the Championship clash at Pride Park Stadium and there were loud shouts for a penalty for handball against Forest defender Joe Worrall shortly before half-time.
Referee Tim Robinson waved away the appeals and afterwards Rooney said: “It’s a clear penalty.
“It is disappointing because we had this last season, we had it at Blackburn away, we had it in various games last season where it is clear penalties.
“There are four officials. If the referee doesn’t see it, one of them can see it. They have headsets on, they can communicate, so I think someone needs to take the lead there and make the decision.”
Forest improved in the second half and Brennan Johnson equalised for the visitors after 82 minutes when he drilled a low shot underneath Derby keeper Kelle Roos.
Asked if he thought Roos could have done better on the goal, Rooney said: “I think it is a tough one because it is from close range. I don’t know if it went through Lee (Buchanan’s) legs or not or bounced just before him, I’m not sure, but he will know he should do better.
“I will look at that and speak to him on that if I think he can do better because they are big moments in games.”
Derby have let one-goal leads slip in three of their five Championship matches this season.
“Forest tried to press us a little bit higher in the second half. We know teams are doing that so we have to be better in second halves of games. It is a common theme at the start of the season,” said Rooney.
“In the second half we haven’t been as good as in the first half, so that is something for us as coaches to look at, to find out why and try and make sure we are better in the second half because we have taken the lead in a lot of games this season and let points slip.”
Lawrence limped off after 67 minutes and was replaced by Jack Stretton.
On Lawrence, Rooney said: “He has had an issue with his groin. He had an injection to get him through the game.
“I don’t know whether it is his groin, I think it looked more like his calf. I’m not sure but credit to him for getting through the minutes he did and getting his goal.”
In the absence of strikers Sam Baldock, who missed the game due to a hamstring injury, and Colin KazimRichards – who faces a lengthy spell out due to an Achilles injury – Lawrence played as a false number nine against Forest.
“We had Tom Lawrence and Ravel Morrison as two false number nines, and Kamil (Jozwiak) and Sibs (Louie Sibley) trying to pin their back four. I thought it worked quite well in the first half but again it is us having to adapt to what we have, obviously, with Colin and Sam being injured,” said Rooney.
“Sam will be fine for the next game, he had a tweak on his hamstring.”
Derby’s next game is against Birmingham City at St Andrew’s in the Championship on Friday, September 10, after the international break.
“I’ll give the players a bit of a break now to enjoy with their families and friends because it is a long season,” Rooney said.
“I need the players fit so any chance I can get to give them some time off to rest and get their energy back, I will.”