Kazim-Richards gives Derby breathing space
DERBY COUNTY j ust cannot shake off that impression of being in turmoil behind the scenes.
Their players have only just been paid some of t heir December wages, a transfer embargo has scuppered January business and the much-anticipated Abu Dhabi takeover seems to have stalled.
And yet, despite all this distraction, their rookie manager Wayne Rooney is still getting results.
This hard-fought win over Queens Park Rangers was the perfect follow- up to their midweek win over Bournemouth, putting breathing space between themselves and the Championship relegation zone.
Colin Kazim-Richards earned them another 1-0 win and a fourth clean sheet away from home in the league in five games under Rooney’s sole charge. The Rams are now five points clear of danger in 21st and though Rotherham, in 22nd, have three games in hand, Rooney confirmed he is happy to have the points on the board.
If they can ride through their off-field troubles, with Sheikh Khaled’s takeover of the club no closer to fruition than it was a month ago, they should rise up the table.
‘I’m delighted for the players, it’s been a difficult couple of weeks,’ Rooney said. ‘I put high demands on them and the minimum I expect is them to work hard. The determination and desire not to concede was great.’
QPR were incensed they did not get a second- half penalty when Kazim-Richards clearly handballed in the box from Rob Dickie’s corner delivery. It was another instance of the haves of the Premier League with their VAR and the have-nots of t he Championship without t he technology. VAR would have given a penalty. ‘It’s the most blatant handball decision you’re going to see,’ s ai d t he QPR manager Mark Warburton. ‘The players’ reaction tells you everything.’
The decisive moment came from a Derby counter-attack 11 minutes after half-time. Graeme Shinnie — singled out for praise by Rooney — drove forward and found Kamil Jozwiak in a shooting position.
His low shot was pushed aside by the QPR keeper Seny Dieng but straight into the path of KazimRichards, who tapped home his fourth of the season.