3/1 To Win
Gary Rowett couldn’t hide his frustration with a momentary lapse in concentration that prevented Derby County from taking all three points against Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night.
The Rams led until the 87th minute at Loftus Road, but Massimo Luongo struck to wipe out the advantage that was secured with Andreas Weimann’s fifth goal of the season seven minutes before half-time.
The Australian was completely unmarked as he headed past Scott Carson, and Rowett was disappointed that his side didn’t keep their focus for the full 90 minutes, especially after they fought hard to get themselves into a position to win the game.
He told RamsTV: “Unfortunately, in this game, when you switch off for a second, you make a silly error and you don’t pick someone up, that’s what happens.
“It’s happened to us too often. There is no point in doing your job for 86 minutes and then switching off for one second because it can cost you the win.
“It’s a stupid foul and Bradley [Johnson] – who was excellent – was picking up Luongo but he slips and it’s a free header.
“We looked like we were going to get that scruffy win that we wanted, but it’s a disappointing end for us.
“Apart from the long shots and long throws, we defended really well and we looked like we were seeing the game out really well.
“We got to a point where we could win the game and it looked like one goal would be enough, but once again, we don’t do our jobs properly.”
Rowett was robbed of his first-choice midfield pairing early in the first half when Joe Ledley was forced off, and the boss provided an update on the condition of the Welshman, as well as his partner Tom Huddlestone.
“He’s pulled his calf. We have got a few going through it at the moment. Tom has his thigh heavily strapped but once again he managed to get through it.
“We have got one or two that are feeling the pace, and maybe the energy that we showed earlier in the season has caught up with us.”
Next up is the East Midlands derby against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Sunday, with the Rams looking to complete a league double over their fierce rivals for the first time since the 2011/12 season.
After the bitter disappointment in West London, Rowett hopes that the magnitude of the game will fire up his squad.
He said: “It’s a sickening blow, but it’s one that we have to take on the chin and we have to go again in the next game.
“The game will motivate the players. It’s a good game for us, we had a fantastic result in the first derby, and we’ll be looking to go and get another good result.”
