3/1 To Win
Wayne Rooney says Derby County’s players are raring to go after an unexpected break in their Sky Bet Championship schedule.
Derby face Middlesbrough at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday in their first game since 3rd February after last weekend’s trip to Barnsley was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
The clash with Neil Warnock’s outfit will kick off a relentless run of matches for the Rams up to the March international break.
Rooney’s side face 11 matches between 13th February and 20th March, with no free midweeks on the horizon during that time either.
The 35-year-old feels a rare full week on the training ground, especially with five recent signings still settling into the squad, has been beneficial for the short and long-term.
“Everyone’s fit and ready to go,” Rooney told RamsTV. “It was obviously frustrating with the game getting cancelled last weekend, but it was no one’s fault. We have had a good week’s training, the lads have prepared really well and we are ready to go for a tough game on Saturday.
“We have had a full week to prepare. We have managed to give the new lads time in training, allowing them to take on board how we want to play and things like that. We can always give messages on how we want to play, press and build up, but it is always better to do it on the pitch.
“This week has allowed us that time to be able to do that and show them on the pitch what we want and what we expect of them, which is always better than showing them on a video. They have done well, took the messages on board and they have trained really well.”
He added: “I think everyone at the club knows that we are in a better place than when we played Middlesbrough in November and can feel that and, most importantly, the players know that.
“I feel the preparations we have put in place, and how we want to play, will benefit us on Saturday.”
Derby’s last outing saw them beaten 3-0 at Rotherham United to end their three-game winning run, as the hosts scored three times late on in what was an uncharacteristic defensive lapse under Rooney’s management.
Rooney was understandably disappointed with the defeat on the night but says the main priority now is getting a reaction from his players.
“Rotherham was one game and it happens in football; I know that you win games and you lose games,” Rooney said. “I expect a reaction from the players. It is a blip and something that will happen again this season. I think we have to understand that and know it is going to happen. As long as we show a good reaction to the Rotherham game then we will be alright.
“That was a tough defeat and a difficult one to take, but it wasn’t through lack of effort or lack of attitude from the players. It was maybe a lack of focus for the first goal and being switched on and ready for their set pieces and that’s a big part of their game.”
Results elsewhere in the last week, combined with Derby not playing at Barnsley, means Rooney’s side occupy 22nd place in the Championship table.
Their next opportunity to claw their way out of the bottom three comes against Middlesbrough, who sit on the cusp of the play-off spots.
Boro side are five points outside the top six and have lost three and drawn one of their last four outings.
Warnock’s side defeated Derby 3-0 in the North East earlier in the season, in what was Rooney’s last-ever career appearance, and he is anticipating a tough encounter.
On this weekend’s opponents, Rooney said: “I think everyone can see how they play; they play man-to-man, they make it difficult for you and they get in your face.
“We have had some good training sessions to work on how we want to play and to make sure we are ready for that physicality from Middlesbrough, and that man-to-man press, that we will face.”
