3/1 To Win
Phillip Cocu admitted that Derby County’s 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday evening was hard to take as his side suffered late heartbreak.
Macaulay Bonne's header three minutes from time condemned Derby to a fourth home defeat from five matches at Pride Park Stadium this season.
The game looked to be edging towards a goalless stalemate until Bonne rose highest to head home beyond David Marshall from Robert Dickie’s deep cross into the box.
In a game lacking clear-cut opportunities, Derby had their moments.
In the first half both Kamil Jozwiak and skipper Wayne Rooney had efforts saved - and Martyn Waghorn had a goal ruled out for offside - while Derby goalkeeper David Marshall was called upon at the other end to make a fine early stop from Lyndon Dykes' header.
Derby hit the post through Rooney’s long-range strike just after half-time as they started the second half brightly while defender Matt Clarke had a header saved as the clock ticked down.
Despite enjoying good spells of possession after the turnaround as they pushed to make the breakthrough, Derby were left with nothing to show for their efforts.
It was an outcome that Cocu admitted he found difficult to take and admitted he didn’t feel the Rams deserved to taste defeat.
He told RamsTV after the game: “It is very hard defeat to take after the second half because we didn’t deserve it. Football can be a really tough game sometimes and today it was again for us.
“The first-half was equal, we couldn’t really make the difference and neither did they. It was 45 minutes of football without a lot happening around both boxes.
“We spoke at half-time that we really had to give more to put our opponent under pressure when they had the ball to stop them from playing out from the back, but also when we had ball possession we had to play better to create opportunities.
“That was exactly what I saw in the second-half from the game and we felt that if we improved then maybe we could have got a win, but it didn’t happen.”
Cocu added: “With so many creative players and players who are able to score a goal on the pitch, we couldn’t score. That is something we have to look at and something which is on ourselves.”
Derby have six points to their name from the opening ten matches of the campaign in the Sky Bet Championship.
They currently occupy 23rd spot in the table after a slow start and Cocu says the only way for his side to improve their form is by making the difference on the pitch.
Rather than looking for excuses, the 50-year-old has stressed it is up to the Rams to take responsibility and improve their own fortunes.
Cocu said: “I don’t think the team deserves this run of form, but it is the way it is.
“We have discussed it quite a few times in the last couple of games. When you are in this situation, like us, it is hard to get out of it because luck is not on your side.
“The only thing that can change it, without looking at our opponents, is to win our own games and starting on Saturday against Barnsley at Pride Park.”
He concluded: “This is not the start that we wanted to the season and we need a day to get over this match and then we will go again for the match on Saturday.”
