Rooney’s nightmare

Cocu’s men cave in as Rovers run riot

WHEN Wayne Rooney agreed to join Derby, it is safe to assume he did not do so to be scratching around in the lower reaches of the Championship.

Yet after three straight defeats, that is exactly where the former England captain finds himself after Derby were brushed aside at home by Blackburn to leave manager Phillip Cocu looking vulnerable.

In front of watching owner Mel Morris, Derby were 3- 0 down inside 15 minutes. Teenage winger Tyrhys Dolan put Rovers ahead in the 11th minute before former Derby midfielder Bradley Johnson scored a spectacular double. Adam Armstrong added a fourth after 77 minutes to make it nine goals in two league games for Tony Mowbray’s men.

Cocu was scathing about his players’ approach to a game that saw Blackburn register 23 shots.

The Dutchman said: ‘The difference between us and them was unacceptable. A big part of our defeat was attitude, passion, desire to defend, close down, block shots.

Three goals in four minutes says enough. The attitude was much better in the second half but it’s a little late when you’re 3-0 down.’

Rooney’s impact when he arrived in January was impressive but this game largely passed him by. Some of his team- mates do not look Championship standard, while the four academy products in the starting XI are stil l l earning the game.

So it is no surprise to see the 34- year- old looking forlorn and frustrated at the end of a hugely turbulent 12-month period for the club, which saw former captain Richard Keogh sacked and players Mason Bennett — now wit h Millwall — and Tom Lawrence charged with drink-driving after a team-bonding night in September last year. Later in the season, Derby were also cleared of an EFL charge for breaking spending rules, though the governing body have appealed against the decision.

Cocu, who signed a four-year deal when he was appointed in July 2019, insists he retains the backing of the hierarchy. He added: ‘Yes, I do have their support. It was always going to be a challenge, but now the challenge is even bigger.

‘ Wayne missed quite a lot in pre-season so he’s still not in his best moment, but the more he plays, the better he will get.’

Derby nearly took the lead in the ninth minute when Max Bird’s effort was cleared off the line by Darragh Lenihan, but i t was Rovers who moved in front. Joe Rothwell intercepted Rooney’s misplaced pass and f ed Ben Brereton who hit the post but Dolan reacted quickly to tap in.

Derby could do little about the second as Johnson picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and hit it beyond David Marshall into the bottom corner.

The midfielder then made it three goals in four minutes when his powerful deflected volley from the edge of the box flew into the goal.

Rooney was pushed f urther forward for the second half but his impact was limited. Armstrong guided in the fourth from substitute Harry Chapman’s cross.

‘We could have scored more today and our front three look like they will be a threat against anyone, I hope,’ said Mowbray. By contrast, things are starting to look bleak for Cocu.