Derby County

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

Image source, Rex Features

For 40 minutes at Elland Road, Derby County stuck to a game plan that was defensive and designed to nullify and frustrate Leeds United.

The hosts went to the top of the table with their 2-0 win, but it will be the manner of the Rams' submission to defeat that will annoy supporters.

Derby were set up not to get beaten five or six nil, even by boss Paul Warne's own admission.

After the Rams went 2-0 down at half-time you might have expected a rethink or change in tactic in the second half. This was not to be and was done purposely - 2-0 down, best not to make it six.

Nearly 3,000 fans made the trip in Storm Darragh for an early kick-off. At around £30 a ticket and the added travel costs, it is hard to believe that those who were there would just turn up and be happy with a backs-to-the-wall display just in case.

Paul Warne's post-match comments to BBC Radio Derby were alarming and some say defeatist. "We're a League One team with a sprinkling of sugar," he said.

Derby won the right to be a Championship club by finishing second in League One.

The playing squad maybe be weaker than some of the best, but the Rams are in the division and should be competing in every game.

If you set up a side not to get thrashed and then back it up by telling them they're League One players, they will be League One players.

By Warne suggesting there was nothing else anyone could think of that would have got Derby a point or even a win, you wonder if that is to be the mantra going forward.

Burnley will look to continue their push for promotion when they welcome Derby County to Turf Moor on Tuesday night.

The Clarets are unbeaten in their past six games (W4 D2) and also undefeated in nine home matches so far this season (W5 D4) following a 1-1 draw at home to Middlesbrough last time out.

The Rams have lost three on the bounce, with the most recent a 2-0 defeat at Leeds, and have won just once in their previous 10 matches (D5 L4).

• Burnley are unbeaten across their past 12 league games against Derby County (W9 D3) since a 1-0 loss in January 2007.

• Derby County have failed to win any of their past eight away league games against Burnley (D3 L5), conceding 2+ goals in six of those matches. The Rams have also failed to score on five of their past seven visits to Turf Moor.

• Burnley are unbeaten in their last 13 league meetings with newly promoted opponents (W9 D4) since a 2-0 defeat to Norwich in the Premier League in April 2022. At home, the Clarets last lost in the league to a promoted side in May 2021 against Leeds (0-4).

• Derby County have only won one of their past seven midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) games in the Championship (D1 L5), although that was their last such game away from home, beating Coventry in November.

• Burnley boss Scott Parker has only lost one of his four previous Championship games against Derby County as a manager (W2 D1), winning both such home games – 3-0 with Fulham in 2019-20 and 2-0 with Bournemouth in 2021-22.

Image source, Rex Features

Derby County boss Paul Warne defended his damage limitation strategy at Elland Road insisting Leeds United were a "Premier League team up against League One with sugar".

With his Rams 2-0 down at the break, Warne conceded some fans would have been wanting his side to "go for it".

He told BBC Radio Derby: "I understand why people would want you to go for it but the honest truth is that this is a very good team that made it very difficult for us when we had the ball.

"Every single one of their players was quicker than ours and apart from being tidy on the ball, I didn't see how we were going to create a chance.

"I know that sounds negative but that's the truth. We are playing a Premier League team with a League One team with a bit of sugar on top.

"The lads competed really well which I'm proud of. You just don't want to be open and that brave that you get ripped apart.

"I could have gone guns out, but if I stood here after a five or six nil defeat the damage in the dressing room could have been colossal."

Image source, PressBox Graphics

Leeds haven't lost back-to-back games yet this season and they'll be determined to continue that record after last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Blackburn shunted them out of the top two.

Victory would lift Daniel Farke's side back above current leaders Sheffield United, who are not in action until Sunday, when they travel to West Brom.

Derby, who are 15th in the table but have a five-point cushion above the bottom three, have only won one of their last nine games - although that came on the road, when the Rams triumphed 2-1 at Coventry earlier this month.

● Leeds United are unbeaten across their last five league games against Derby County (W3 D2), with the Yorkshire outfit netting 12 goals in total across that time.

● Derby County have won just one of their last seven away league games against Leeds United (D3 L3), failing to keep a single clean sheet at Elland Road during that time.

● Leeds have won each of their last six league games at Elland Road, conceding just one goal in the process. They're looking to record four consecutive home clean sheets for the first time since June 2020.

● Derby have both scored and conceded in each of their last nine league games, last having a longer such run between August and November 2005 (15).

● Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has only won one of his six games against Derby in the EFL (D2 L3), although that lone victory did come in his most recent meeting with them (1-0 in April 2021).

Image source, BBC Sport

Dominic Dietrich
BBC Radio Derby journalist

Derby County make the trip to Leeds United in the Championship on Saturday (kick-off 12:30 GMT).

Here's a recap on the main lines from Rams boss Paul Warne's pre-match news conference:

• Midfielder David Ozoh will not travel to Elland Road on Saturday despite Ebou Adams suspension (fifth yellow) - his return is taking longer than expected.

• He urged realism regarding their position in the Championship hierarchy.

• "I don't think we're a bottom four team but our recent run of form suggests we could be."

• He gave players Monday off for a psychological rest.

• He "hopes" that they can strengthen in January and says they need a goal threat "and I've said that virtually since I've been here. I don't want new faces that don't improve us. I'm hopeful we can get a couple of targets that will strengthen us."

Image source, BBC Sport

On the Rams Daily podcast, BBC Radio Derby's Ed Dawes and guests analyse Derby County's upcoming opponents in their matches in the run up to Christmas.

The Rams will face Leeds United, Burnley, Portsmouth and Luton Town before hosting West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day.

Both Leeds and Burnley are currently in the top three on the Championship table while Portsmouth and Luton are below Derby with Pompey sitting at rock bottom.

"Leeds are expected to be top two all time and there's very little wiggle room for Daniel Farke when it comes to results and performances," BBC Radio Leeds correspondent Adam Pope said on the Rams next opponents Leeds, who they face on Saturday in the early afternoon match.

"There is some discontentment in the season and, particularly, the performances."

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Former Derby goalkeeper Eric Steele believes that it's "way too early" for the Rams to consider sacking boss Paul Warne after their 2-1 defeat by Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday gave them their fourth consecutive league match without a win.

"I keep saying this to the fans: you've got to have a reality check. We were nearly out of business two years ago," Steele told the Rams Daily podcast.

"We are going to have days like we had Sunday, we are going to have days like Bristol City [where the Rams won 3-0 in August] - there's more of them to come."

Derby owner David Clowes took the Rams out of administration in 2022 and has since seen the club return to the Championship after two seasons in the third division.

Upon their promotion last season, Clowes told BBC Radio Derby that the club has "a good Championship budget" though he has also admitted he is a "reluctant" owner and entertained the idea of possible external investment in September.

But Steele believes spending money in the January transfer window will be vital to the rest of Derby's Championship campaign - especially in reinforcing the struggling midfield.

However, the 70-year-old is firmly against the idea that a change in management is needed to see the Rams climb further up the table.

"There's a lot of decisions that are going to have to made in the next month - none of which is to move Paul Warne out the job."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

Image source, Rex Features

Anger, sickness and disillusionment. Just a few of the words I have heard and read since the final whistle at Pride Park on Sunday.

Derby County had their second-best first half of the season, the tempo was high, they controlled the game and were creative. The balance in midfield gave the Rams a presence with Liam Thompson and Ben Osborn working in tandem to move them up the pitch.

Sheffield Wednesday had no answer and Derby went ahead with a goal crafted by a move between Eiran Cashin, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Jerry Yates and Marcus Harness before the cross was swept into the net by Ebou Adams. A brilliant move from back to front and a glimpse of what they can do.

The Rams should have added to that tally with the Owls under pressure for most of the first half but Danny Rohl’s half-time team talk for Wednesday hit home and they came out firing in the second half with a higher tempo.

Barry Bannan scored a brilliant equaliser from distance after the Rams switched off in defence and, after Yates failed with two chances to put the Rams ahead, it was Nathaniel Chalobah’s introduction for the Owls that changed the game, sitting in front of the Owls defence, allowing Barry Bannan to concentrate on attacking.

Rams head coach Paul Warne tried to counter the changes by taking off Thompson and Osborn. The latter did not play on Wednesday and was fresh for this game, while Thompson played 28 minutes against Swansea but was taken off after 79 minutes.

Derby did not have another chance on goal. Kenzo Goudmijn was ineffective in midfield and the game was won down the right when a cross was converted by Owls substitute Jamal Lowe.

Self-destruction? Perhaps, but with trips to Leeds United and Burnley to come next week it could get a lot worse before it gets better.

Rams right-back Kane Wilson said Sunday's defeat to Sheffield Wednesday was one of the most horrible feelings he's had in the game.

The Owls snatched a 2-1 win deep into stoppage-time, having trailed for well over half the game at Pride Park.

Wilson told BBC Radio Derby: "I feel physically sick. It’s horrible - one of the most horrible things I have been a part of in football.

"I felt like we were really good for large parts of the game, they are a good team with good players but to lose it like that hurts."

Wilson revealed veteran centre-back Curtis Nelson had addressed the players after the game, adding: "He said as defenders we have got to do better but goals change games and if we go 2-0 up we take the wind out of their sails.

"That’s not an individual thing, that’s a team thing, we have got to be better in training and it translate into the game.

"It’s tough. First half was one of the best we played in a long time. Second half we lost a bit of control. When it’s only 1-0 the anxiety starts to build."

Derby County boss Paul Warne couldn't fault his players despite going down to a last-gasp defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

The Rams led for well over half the match but were ultimately stung by Jamal Lowe's stoppage-time winner for the visitors at Pride Park.

Warne told BBC Radio Derby: "Obviously it’s always about results and not the level of performance, I am disappointed on the result, I’m not on the performance in any way.

"I thought we were excellent, we created enough chances to win handsomely. However, that’s three home games on the spin now we’ve been excellent and got one point."

Derby's encouraging start to the season had been built on their home form with five victories from their opening six games at Pride Park but they're winless in their last four inside their own ground.

Some sections of the Rams support vented their frustration at the final whistle and Warne acknowledged them, adding: "I feel for the dressing room, the staff, the fans. I appreciate some people were frustrated with me at the final whistle but I don’t know what more we could do to win a football match.

"We have had plenty of chances, I’ve had members of (Sheffield Wednesday) staff , not apologising exactly, but respecting that we didn’t deserve that – I don’t think we did. We just needed that second goal."

Image source, Getty Images

It is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates in the football calendar as Premier League and Championship clubs join the FA Cup action from round three.

The draw will take place on Monday, 2 December from 19:00 GMT and can be watched live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.

Dominic Dietrich
BBC Radio Derby Sport

The mood was good at Moor Farm as head coach Paul Warne joined us in the media room immediately following his team meeting.

Normally after a defeat, the training ground can be a downbeat place at any football club, but there was an optimism in Derby's Warne that suggested he was pleased with what he saw for the 76 minutes after they were 2-0 down at home to Swansea City just 14 minutes into the game on Wednesday night.

That’s where the questions began. How does this Derby team start at 0-0 with the same tempo and standards going into Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday?

A player that could be key to an improved Derby side is the well-documented David Ozoh.

After months of awaiting news, the injured midfielder is back fit. Last week's introduction to training was welcomed with excitement by the supporters, but this morning Warne said there is "no chance" he will feature against Sheffield Wednesday and suggested he could be a further couple of weeks away after some discomfort running.

The Rams are yet to win when they have conceded the first goal and have won five of the eight in which they have opened the scoring. Warne admitted they have to start faster with what he perceives to be a low-scoring game in the Championship this season.

In Derby’s case, that is certainly true, having only been involved in two games that have had more than three goals this season.

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."

Ed Dawes
BBC Radio Derby commentator

Image source, Rex Features

What a strange night at Pride Park.

The expectation of a first Championship night under the lights quickly evaporated as Derby County were swept aside by a rampant Swansea City.

Two goals, masterfully executed by Vipotnik and Ronald, brought boos from the home crowd who sang about their displeasure in no uncertain terms.

Six changes by head coach Paul Warne was very bold.

It was all out attack with the midfield dynamo that is Liam Thompson left to watch on from the bench as Derby were caught short.

The visitors bypassed the Rams midfield, pressed high in attack and crowded the final third.

After some treatment for goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom the Rams changed their approach and went on to control the match.

They changed their press and managed to gather as a team, but without in-form striker Jerry Yates, who was unable to play against his parent club, they were lacking that decisive finish in front of goal.

Derby seem to be lacking a controller in midfield.

Swansea’s Matt Grimes held that responsibility. He picked the ball up from the defenders and moved it forward through the middle of the field and out wide.

But when the Rams made the changes on 62 minutes, he had Liam Thompson to contend with.

He is like that annoying fly that keeps landing on your food. He will run around in front of you and pick your pocket.

Derby had seven shots on target to Swansea’s two and on the balance of play deserved something from the game.

But if you start slow you are always susceptible to being picked off.

Derby County boss Paul Warne believes his squad is overachieving based on the resources available to them.

The Rams are currently 14th in the Championship as they prepare to host Swansea on Wednesday, representing a solid start to life back in the second tier after two seasons in League One.

Derby recruited 17 new players in the summer, including five loans, and having previously admitting there were a number of individuals they were unable to secure, referenced Bolton forward Aaron Collins as one who eluded them due to price.

"I saw Collins scored in the 94th minute for Bolton at the weekend - he's a player we would have liked to sign but couldn't afford him," Warne told BBC Radio Derby.

"But I think the business we have done, supported by the board has been as good as we could get. I get sensitive when people criticise my players because I see how hard they are working and at times possibly how we're overachieving."

Derby have lost just one of their past eight Championship matches and been beaten only once at Pride Park this season.

"The lads are performing at a level that makes me really proud - would I like a team in the top two? Yes, and we're trying to make steps towards that and feel everything in the club is going really well," Warne added.