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THE BIG MATCH PREVIEW – DERBY COUNTYThe Dons had an event free few days progressing in both the major cups and extending the clean sheets to four in a row, first of all giving Non-League minnows Taunton Town a thrashing on Saturday 6-0 followed by a regulation 2-0 win at home to Morecambe in the Carabao Cup and into the 4th Rd, so easy was it that Jamie Cumming could have easily nipped out to the CazBar during the game for a cheeseburger and nobody would have noticed, but from cheeseburgers we move to the bread and butter and back to League 1 action this weekend.
Many fans hope if their team drops through the trap door of the Championship that it will be a fleeting visit to League 1, but we in reality know that is easier said than done, and although Derby County are flirting with the playoff places in 7th, they are not having it all their own way.
Formed in 1884 the Rams became one of the 12 founder members of the Football League in 1888 and has spent all but 5 of those years in the top two divisions.
Fast forward to more recent times and the club achieved success under the leadership and guidance of the unique Brian Clough and his sidekick Peter Taylor by winning the Football League 1st Division, which of course is now the Premiership, and all bar the same achievement a few years later Derby have found it tough to compete in this money driven arena to the degree, they have had 19 different managers in just over 20 years searching for the perfect formulae.
The list of managers trying to return the club to the glory days reads like a “Who’s Who” of modern day football managers with such names as John Gregory, Phil Brown, George Burley, Nigel Clough, Steve McClaren, Nigel Pearson, Frank Lampard, and even Wayne Rooney in his first appointment as a Manager and although he kept them up by the skin of their teeth on the last day of the season, the following season with points deductions dished out by the FA for various financial misdemeanours and a “Transfer Embargo” on the club for being in administration for most of the season, their fate was just about sealed before a ball was kicked, and the inevitable happened and Rooney resigned 6 weeks before their League 1 2022/23 campaign kicked off, he is now managing DC United in the States where he is equally under pressure with a Win Ratio of just over 14%.
The latest incumbent is Paul Warne who we know well with his association with Rotherham United both playing and managing, he’s on a four year deal with the Rams and based on Derby’s history with managers you would be a brave punter to think he would last the course, never mind put money on it.
This season has seen mixed fortunes for Warne and the Rams with wins in the league against Oxford, Peterborough, Barnsley, Wycombe, Bristol Rovers, Accrington, and Cambridge United, but a few stumbles along the way including a home defeat by Port Vale last month, and on Saturday drawing 2-2 with National League strugglers Torquay United after being 2-0 in front, but we should mention the tide turned in that game when Rams centre back Eiran Cashin was sent off for hauling back Will Goodwin in the box.
Former Luton Town 6ft 2in Republic of Ireland striker James Collins tops the Rams scoring charts with 5 goals in 16 games in all competitions and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is the top assists man with 5 in 17 games.
Derby currently boast a record of P 16, W 7, D 4, L 5, GF 20, GA 15 with 25 points and have accumulated 8 out of the 15 points on offer from their last 5 games.
This will be a stiff test for Liam Manning and his raw recruits who have just recently started to show improvement and a better understanding of what LM is looking for in the team. Now they have gone 410 minutes without conceding, but this is a bigger ask of their resolve and discipline, Derby have the pedigree and players to give us a real test, you could say it’s a pivotal moment in our season.
On Wednesday night Derby had their crack at getting into the 4th Rd of the Carabao Cup with a trip to Anfield to face a second string Liverpool with Derby fielding a more regulation 1st X1. They took the Merseyside giants to penalties despite having on occasions as little 25% possession, but with 3 of their pens saved by spot kick specialist Kelleher they finally succumbed.
Derby will be backed on Saturday by around 6,500 fans which could well mean the embarrassment of being outnumbered in our own ground, yes, we need the money, who doesn’t, but it just doesn’t feel right, still big respect to the Rams fans making the journey, even if it is an easy journey, but that level of away support has to be admired at any level.PREDICTION – Whilst I don’t normally do predictions, I’m going for a draw in this game, probably 1-1, but I won’t turn down a win for the Dons.BETTING – Dons 14/5, Draw 44/17, Rams 11/10Enjoy the Game.  WD
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Read the MELTDOWN after every game, no bullshit, just giving it straight
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