ROONEY READY TO BATTLE ON AGAINST ALL THE ODDS

By John Wragg

DERBY COUNTY 1

Davies 39

HUDDERSFIELD TN 1

Sarr 45

STAR MAN

CURTIS DAVIES Derby County

TUSSLE: Huddersfield’s Oliver Turton shields the ball from Derby’s Craig Forsyth

PICTURE: Alamy

Star Game

WAYNE Rooney spelled out the difficulties of managing chaotic Derby County and the fight he faces to keep the club in the Championship.

Rooney couldn’t pick his team to play Huddersfield until just before kick-off. He had players on the subs’ bench he couldn’t even put on the field because that would have meant Ravel Morrison, who signed yesterday, would not have had a place in his limited 23-man squad.

Derby are under strict EFL rules about what they can do and how many first team players they are allowed.

Rooney is determined to keep fighting on, against all odds, and says the Rams are not a doomed club. If you’re thinking of having a flutter on the Championship relegation battle then check out this betfair freebet.

“The fans should be proud of these players today because without the character this squad is showing through all the problems we are faced with we wouldn’t have been able to get a good point today,” he says.

“There were young lads on the bench who didn’t know it, but they weren’t going to get a game because if they did that would have meant they would become a member of my 23-man squad and there’d be no room for Morrison.

“I changed the team three times from Friday morning and I didn’t finally pick the side and the way we would play until just before the game.”

Derby are battling with the EFL to be allowed more players and Rooney says they must win that argument. “I welcome the day when there isn’t the stress,” he admits.

ON THE STRETCH: Defender Curtis Davies puts the Rams ahead

“I named the team on Friday morning because I had to try and prepare for the game, but that team was changed before I got back in off the training pitch when I knew players had signed.”

Richard Stearman and Curtis Davies, who had just signed one-year contracts, stood up to the pressure Huddersfield exerted in the second half.

Sub Louie Sibley almost stole it for the Rams in added time when he forced Terriers keeper Ryan Schofield into a good save at the near post. Rooney has great hopes of Morrison, who he has known since their Manchester United days.

“I hear what’s said about Morrison for what has happened off the pitch with him and I understand that,” explains Rooney. “But I know him and I know I can manage Ravel Morrison.”

Rooney has been sleeping on the couch in his training ground office to be on hand while transfer negotiations have been going on.

“It’s not been ideal, but it’s been needed for me to be on the spot. I was talking to Morrison and his agent until late on Friday night to get that done,” he says.

It’s still going to be a long struggle this season with no money, few players and no one, after two failed attempts, ready to buy Derby and solve the problems that almost took the club into League One three months ago.

Huddersfield were only six points clear of relegation themselves last season and were weakened by four players missing due to Covid.

Manager Carlos Corberan was also missing for the same reason and first team coach Danny Schofield, who stood in, said: “The manager kept in touch by phone, but he has to isolate for 10 days.”

New goalkeeper Lee Nicholls, Harry Toffolo, Josh Ruffels and Lewis O’Brien were all missing but Schofield added: “We knew those players wouldn’t be available and we were able to change it.”

Derby took the lead in the 39th minute with the goal being credited to the impressive Davies from a Nathan Byrne corner not dealt with by Huddersfield, although the last touch seemed to come off the Terriers defender Levi Colwill.

But the Rams were opened up by a free kick just before half time. Sorba Thomas’ excellent dead ball skills brought a free kick that Naby Sarr met with a powerful, close range header.