Wayne Rooney's Derby go down fighting 1-0 against Sheffield United
Derby galvanise themselves despite hellish week of entering administration and their nine-point deduction as Wayne Rooney’s Rams go down fighting 1-0 against Sheffield United
- Derby were more than contenders against Sheffield United despite losing 1-0
- Wayne Rooney’s men used their hellish week as a galvanising force in the game
- But two bad errors allowed United to come away winners with a telling penalty
If Derby weren’t facing the prospect of a further nine-point deduction, they might have half a chance of pulling off a miracle escape from relegation.
The events of a hellish week that saw them enter administration and plunge to the foot of the Championship table served to galvanise Wayne Rooney’s team.
They were more than a match for a Sheffield United side expected to be among the promotion contenders, and only lost through two costly moments of madness.
Derby were contenders against Sheffield United but lost due to two moments of madness
Goalkeeper Kelle Roos was sent off on 57 minutes for bringing down Billy Sharp. Then, just when it looked as if they would scrap their way to a point, Curtis Davies inexplicably handballed.
Sharp blasted home the penalty to leave Derby’s points tally in negative territory and it could be like that for a while if they are punished further for breaching EFL financial fair play rules.
Amid the swirling uncertainty off the pitch at Pride Park, Rooney has a free swing in many ways at the rest of the season on it.
Derby goalkeeper Kelle Roos was sent off in the 57th minute after bringing down Billy Sharp
Everybody is expecting his relatively thin squad to be in League One next season and no doubt administrators Quantuma are marketing the club as such to the seven or eight parties reportedly interested in buying them.
But all that won’t stop Derby pursuing points and they have two winnable home games against Reading — themselves facing a points deduction — and Swansea this week.
‘I feel that the whole club and city is coming together in a bad situation,’ said Derby defender Graeme Shinnie.
Rams defender Curtis Davies handballed to allow Billy Sharp (left) to score from his spot-kick
‘As players, we can only fight for this club on the pitch and everything else that happens is out of our hands. If the fans are fighting, we are fighting with them. This club will keep going.’
Rooney echoed the call from Derby’s administrators to pack the stadium and raise much-needed revenue.
‘What the fans are seeing is a real togetherness from this group,’ he said. ‘I can’t promise three points but one thing I can promise is the players will be ready to handle everything.’
Share this article
Source: Read Full Article