Derby County

Luke Pingu
Fan writer and YouTuber

Image source, PA Media

Derby County are still without a point in 2025 after four games. But after Tuesday's game versus Sunderland, I hope fans can see Paul Warne is the right man for the job.

Derby showed great character and work-rate against the Black Cats and deserved at least a point. But it ended as a 1-0 defeat.

With Ebou Adams playing at centre-back in a back three and Kane Wilson playing on the left, Derby showed they could put in a good performance against one of the best teams in the league.

New signing Lars-Jorgen Salvesen made an immediate impact when he was subbed onto the pitch with two great headers on target after connecting with Corey Blackett-Taylor's crosses into the box.

I truly hope both these players are given the opportunity to start the next handful of games because even from 30 minutes on the pitch against Sunderland, you could clearly see they will create goals for Derby - one thing we have lacked so far this season.

Right now, Derby are only one point above the relegation zone and need a win soon to lift the club into safety. And I hope that comes in the next three or four games, or Derby will fall into the bottom three.

Every Derby fan going into the season knew safety was the primary target, and with the opportunity to strengthen with a week left of the window, I hope the Rams find the signings required to ensure their Championship status.

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Andrew Aloia
BBC Sport

Image source, Rex Features

Derby County's Pride Park witnessed a curious case of a 'ghost goal' on Tuesday that had many in the ground and watching from afar wondering what was going on.

Sunderland's Jobe Bellingham lifted a sumptuous ball over the top of the Rams defence for Enzo Le Fee to run onto.

Was there a hint of an offside at this point? Sure. Any flag raised? No.

Le Fee then managed to work the ball to Wilson Isidor, who was picking himself up off the ground after colliding with a defender.

The forward kept his cool, and slammed his effort home off the underside of the crossbar. A great finish that had appeared to put the promotion-chasing visitors' win beyond doubt.

Initially, it appeared as if referee Sam Allison was thinking the same thing.

This is where things got fuzzy. And even when players and managers were talking to media afterwards, no-one seemed completely sure of what to say.

While the Championship doesn't make use of a video assistant referee (VAR), it doesn't mean the officials aren't connected to one another and constantly talking over the radio.

It is understood that the two assistant referees were talking Allison through what unfolded and why the goal shouldn't count.

It wasn't a VAR-length review or debate - the sort that leaves some people cursing technology's encroachment on the game - but it went on long enough for almost everyone to think Sunderland were 2-0 ahead.

Isidor, it was decided, had been offside when the initial ball was played over the top and while he wasn't the first to the ball, he impacted how Derby dealt with the danger, with his run tripping up Ebou Adams as he tried to reach Le Fee.

There are still images taken from television cameras showing where players were stood, but anything anyone says at this point will be debated as right or wrong.

In the end, it was a 'ghost goal' of no consequence as Sunderland hung on for a 1-0 victory to move up to third in the table.

Still, a goal that seems to be a goal, then is not given as a goal and has people scratching their heads, gives us all something to talk about.

Image source, PA Media

Derby County head coach Paul Warne spoke to BBC Radio Derby after the Rams were beaten 1-0 at home by Sunderland.

"I thought second half we played with more intent. No fan wants to hear this off of their manager, no doubt, but if you are going to lose then that is the way to lose.

"You've got to try and put your personality on the game, you have to put crosses in the box, make the keeper make saves and give the fans something to cheer.

"I didn't think we did that in the first half and I was expecting bigger boos at half-time, truth be told. I appreciate everyone that got behind the team and the team needed it.

"All in all I'm proud, but hugely disappointed that we didn't get anything."

Image source, Getty Images

Derby County defender Eiran Cashin is "categorically" not up for sale in January, a source from high up within the club has told BBC Radio Derby.

Premier League side Brighton have made a bid for the 23-year-old, however, it has been rejected, with the defender not set to leave the club.

The source also told BBC Radio Derby that the initial reported fee was inaccurate and is a lower figure.

Cashin has made 20 Championship appearances for the Rams, who are 19th in the table, this season.

Derby County centre-back Eiran Cashin is the subject of renewed interest from Brighton & Hove Albion, who tried to sign the 23-year-old last year and have now made a new bid for him. (Football Insider), external

The Rams have also joined the race with Swansea City to take Aston Villa's Lamare Bogarde on loan until the end of the season. (London World), external

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.

Derby County welcome Sunderland on Tuesday as pressure mounts on Rams manager Paul Warne (19:45 GMT).

Derby have not won a league match in their past four league games to leave them only one point clear of the bottom three, while Sunderland's Friday fixture against fellow promotion contenders Burnley ended goalless.

Derby had success at Pride Park at the start of the season but the Rams have only won two of their past eight home games, whereas the Black Cats have only lost two of their past 10 away games.

• Derby are winless across their past 13 league games against Sunderland (D5 L8) since a 1-0 win at Pride Park in February 2001 in the Premier League.

• Sunderland are unbeaten across their past six away league games against Derby (W4 D2); the Black Cats' longest ever such run in this fixture.

• Derby have won two of their seven Championship games this season that have taken place in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), losing three of them (D2); they did, however, win their last such game at home against West Brom 2-1 in December.

• Sunderland have won all four of their league games against newly promoted sides in the Championship this season, scoring eight goals and conceding only once.

• Derby boss Warne has won one of his previous five Football League encounters with Sunderland (D2 L2), losing each of the past two league meetings by an aggregate score of 0-5.

Dominic Dietrich
BBC Radio Derby

Derby County are standing by their head coach as they try and strengthen between now and the end of the transfer window.

The Rams are looking to end a run of form that sees them sitting one point above the relegation zone after picking up just four wins from their past 23 Championship matches.

The club will be looking to continue their January recruitment after the signing of striker Jars Jorgen Salvesen to give Paul Warne the tools needed for the club to survive this season.

David Clowes showed a similar sentiment last campaign, standing by Warne following a defeat at Stevenage, amid calls for his job, and it paid off as they were promoted.

The question will be this time if that loyalty produces the same result and, should their losing run of four in a row continue, will they be able to shoulder the mounting pressure?

Lincoln City are in advanced talks to sign experienced Derby County striker James Collins, with the 34-year-old out of favour at Pride Park. (Pete O'Rourke, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.

Image source, Rex Features

Derby County head coach Paul Warne spoke to BBC Radio Derby after the Rams were beaten 2-0 at home by Watford.

"I could hear the frustration at the final whistle [with fans booing]. I understand that. I'm a big boy.

"I didn't think we played that bad, to be fair. It's always about chances. You have to take your opportunities and I thought we had a really good opportunity in the first couple of minutes with Jerry - he hit the side netting and I'd normally expect him to score that.

"They then score up at our end and the game was then edgy for 10-15 minutes. We didn't look that good and looked a little nervous.

"I thought we had ascendancy in our play at the end of the first half. We created chances and didn't take them and hit the crossbar twice.

"At half-time we told the lads to be a little more aggressive. I just think we looked softer than normal and they had real threat.

"And the more you try push that goal, the more you are open to the counter-attack. They are a really athletic side that caused us no end of problems on the counter-attack and could have scored another couple."

Newly-signed Derby County striker Lars-Jorgen Salvesen could be handed a debut when the Rams host Watford on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

However, the 28-year-old has not played a competitive match since the conclusion of the Norwegian league Eliteserien on 1 December and boss Paul Warne has warned that the weekend may be "too soon" as the Norwegian builds up to match fitness.

"He might physically look okay. He's going to train with the squad today," Warne told BBC Radio Derby.

"If I really like what I see in the next two days and think he might be alright to put on for 10 minutes, then I'll put him in the squad. The sooner he can get involved, the better."

Defenders Eiran Cashin and Ryan Nyambe are expected to be fit after recovering from their respective injuries, while midfielder David Ozoh is set to return to training on Monday following his quad muscle injury.

However, defender Nat Phillips is undergoing treatment leaving an uncertainty as to whether the Liverpool loanee can feature against the Hornets.

You can listen to Warne's full pre-match press conference on BBC Sounds.

Watford take a trip to Derby County on Saturday in a bid to end their four-game winless run in the Championship. (15:00 GMT).

The Hornets secured a late equaliser in their midweek draw at Cardiff City to avoid a second loss of the week after falling to Premier League side Fulham in the FA Cup at the weekend.

Derby are on a losing streak of their own and suffered a dramatic upset against League One's Leyton Orient to see them knocked out of the cup after a thrilling penalty shootout.

• Derby have lost just three of their past 15 home league games against Watford (D4 L8), scoring 2.1 goals per game over that period.

• Watford have won each of their past three league games against Derby - as many victories as across their prior 12 meetings with the Rams combined between 2009 and 2015 (D1 L8).

• Derby have lost each of their past three league games, last losing more in a row back in May 2021 under Wayne Rooney (6).

• Only Leeds United's (2.9) and Middlesbrough's (2.7) weekend games (Fri/Sat/Sun) are averaging more goals in the Championship this season than Watford's (2.6 – 47 in 18).

• Derby County's Ebou Adams has conceded the most fouls in the Championship so far this season (48) as well as receiving the most yellow cards of any Rams player (7).