'Composure missing' from recent Rams performances

Media caption,

Ed Dawes is joined by Jason Straw and Nigel Owen to look back at the defeat to Swansea.

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Derby County have missed composure in their recent performances, according to Rams Daily's Nigel Owens.

The Rams' 2-1 defeat to Swansea City on Wednesday night means they have only picked up one win in their last eight Championship matches - seeing them drop to 15th in the table.

"A little bit of mentality, a little bit of composure missing," Owens told BBC Radio Derby.

"It’s just frustration that when not under pressure putting balls out of play, tracking runners like the second goal and not being motivated to do the right things in the first 10-20 minutes of the game, feel like things professional footballers in the Championship should be able to do."

Head coach Paul Warne received some criticism over his team selection in midweek after making six changes from the side that drew 1-1 at Preston North End four days earlier.

Striker Jerry Yates missed Wednesday's defeat with winger Kayden Jackson chosen to lead the line by Warne ahead of out-and-out striker James Collins, who is yet to score this season.

"No disrespect to him but he's [Jackson] been asked to play a position he hasn't in a Derby shirt for quite sometime," Rams Daily's Jason Straw added.

"One big surprise is why James Collins didn't start for me, personally."