ROO MUST PAY UP
Derby stars can’t just play for Pride, they need wages
WAYNE ROONEY watched his unpaid Derby County players grab back-to-back wins and then told the club’s board: I’ve done my bit, now you do yours.
Derby staff have only been given a small percentage of December’s wages as the Pride Park takeover saga rumbles on.
Colin Kazim-Richards’ close-range winner and a fine Kelle Roos save made it six points from six for the former England captain.
He already has more victories since getting the Derby job nine days ago than predecessor Phillip Cocu before he got the bullet in November.
But Rooney has clearly had enough with the off-the-pitch uncertainty and said: “It’s a big week for this football club, and it really needs sorting out. All I can do is keep putting pressure on the board.
“The players need to get paid first of all, and then we can look at bringing some players in.
“I’m delighted for them as this hasn’t been an easy time, but they have been fantastic. With everything that has been going on they’ve kept their focus and this is a great win.
“I can’t ask any more so hopefully this week things can get sorted and we can keep building.”
Rooney is not afraid of adventure, maintaining his three-pronged attack which saw off title-chasing Bournemouth in midweek.
But his side can clearly defend too and a second clean sheet in five days means Derby are five points clear of the drop zone.
County should have gone ahead when uncharacteristically slack QPR defending left Kazim-Richards unmarked.
So good under his new boss, the attacker made a mess of things before turning the air blue as his frustration echoed around Loftus Road. He tripped over his own feet inside the box with nobody near him, and refused to hide his obvious annoyance. Rangers striker Charlie Austin had reason to curse 10 minutes later, firing at keeper Roos after Todd Kane’s tidy cut-back.
But Rooney isn’t afraid of changing things and a half-time tactical switch saw his team leave with the points.
Excellent Graeme Shinnie marched forward, played a perfect pass to Kamil Jozwiak and keeper Seny Dieng could only push it into the path of lurking Kazim-Richards, who couldn’t miss from four yards.
The forward’s hard work was almost undone. Rangers should have had a penalty when he used a hand to clear a flicked-on corner as the QPR players’ screams were ignored.
Furious, the hosts tried to right the wrong. Ilias Chair flashed a drive just wide of the angle after a rare lapse in concentration by Andre Wisdom. Roos then got down low and fast to keep out an incredible overhead kick from defender Yoann Barbet.
Rangers boss Mark Warburton wasn’t impressed with the officials.
He said: “I don’t know how we didn’t get a penalty, it’s an obvious one. I’ve seen the replay and it’s a penalty, it’s clear.
“I don’t think we did enough to win the game, but I don’t think we did enough to lose it. We were below our best, that’s for sure.
“But when you are having a bad day you have to do the basics well and we didn’t.
“I said to the players before the game the biggest threat is ourselves and that proved to be the case.”
QPR: Dieng 6, Dickie 7, Cameron 6, Barbet 7, Kane 7, Willock 6 (Bettache 65, 6), Ball 7, Chair 7, Hamalainen 6 (Adomah 83), Austin 6 (Kelman 83), Dykes 6 (Bonne 73, 6).
Unused subs: Lumley, Thomas, Kakay, Duke-McKenna. DERBY COUNTY: Roos 7, Evans 6 (Bird 46, 7), Wisdom 7, Clarke 8, Byrne 7, Bielik 7, Shinnie 8, Buchanan 7, Jozwiak 7 (McDonald 87), Kazim-Richards 7 (Waghorn, 79), Knight 6. Unused subs: Forster, Forsyth, Sibley, Whittaker, Watson, Mitchell-Lawson.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Graeme Shinnie. Played a crucial role in the winner as well as keeping QPR in check coming forward.
REFEREE: Tim Robinson 6.