Bird and Davies lift the mood for Rooney
Derby 2 Stoke 1
AFTER the standing ovation for the team, a message for Derby owner and chairman Mel Morris.
“Get out of the club,” rang round Pride Park after the first home win of the season.
A financial abyss and relegation may well be waiting after the news on Friday night that Derby were going into administration and the finger of blame points to one man.
Morris, who has been trying to sell the club for two years, was not in attendance. His health is not good.
Boss Wayne Rooney had to give a very different team talk before this win thanks to two quickfire goals from Max Bird and Curtis Davies (below).
Stoke staged a strong comeback but could not add to a Tom Ince goal.
The harsh reality for Derby is that a 12-point deduction beckons for a club who were already negotiating a nine-point penalty for previous financial fair play issues.
Rooney joked: “I am at St George’s Park next month working on my pro licence but I think they should give me an honorary one.”
Potters boss Michael O’neill said: “Three minutes of madness cost us.”