3/1 To Win
Wayne Rooney felt his Derby County players got exactly what they deserved despite leaving it late to claim a dramatic 1-0 home win over Peterborough United on Saturday.
Substitute Louie Sibley scored a stoppage time winner to hand the Rams all three points to see them move above Peterborough and into 22nd place in the Sky Bet Championship table.
Despite a 21 point deduction
this season, for entering administration and a historical breach of profitability
and sustainability rules, the Rams remain in with a chance of avoiding the
drop.
Derby enjoyed most of the ball in the opening half hour and, after a couple of near chances with skipper Tom Lawrence going closest, Peterborough’s Hayden Coulson was shown a red card with 35 minutes played after collecting two cautions.
Max Bird drew a good stop from Steven Benda in the visiting goal moments later as the Rams applied plenty of pressure as they sought to make the breakthrough.
Before the second half could even get going, however, the Rams were down to ten men themselves as Lawrence saw red for a high and late challenge on Nathan Thompson.
Luke Plange hit the post from a Jason Knight cross with 15 minutes remaining, but the rebound trickled into the grateful arms of the alert Benda instead of over the line.
The game looked to be heading to a goalless draw until, in the second minute of added time, Sibley drove a low effort past Benda and into the bottom corner.
The goal sparked wild scenes and Rooney was thrilled with the mentality of his players to once again battle until the final whistle.
Talking to RamsTV after the final whistle, he said: “I thought we were dominant all game and we deserved the win.
“In the first half we were the much better team for the first half an hour and after they went to ten men as well.
“We just had to just keep moving the ball, keep making them work and move side to side and be patient with that.
“We came out in the second half and lost Tom very quickly, which was a blow. It’s a silly red card for him to pick up, he knows that, and from there we stayed in complete control.
“We were making it difficult for them, pushing them back and creating opportunities to score but we just couldn’t do it with that last pass or cross.
“Louie Sibley came on and scored a great goal, which got us a deserved three points in the end.
“I felt with the way he carries the ball and beats player, it was a good opportunity for him to come on and show me what he can do and I’m delighted for Louie. I know it’s been a frustrating season for him.”
He added: “It’s tight down at the bottom of the table but we will keep pushing and fighting to try and stay in the division. We’ve overtaken Peterborough today but we need to stay on our toes and keep doing what we’re doing.
“It’s another step for us but the next step is to hunt Reading down and that’s what our focus will be on.”
Derby welcomed another big crowd to Pride Park for the clash with just over 30,000 supporters in attendance.
The home support provided their backing for Rooney’s side throughout the 90 minutes and the Rams’ boss was quick to praise their contribution.
He said: “It was so important we get the three points today and the lads again turned up with the right attitude and the desire to play for the club, put the effort in for the team.
"The fans were great and they deserve that win.”
Rooney handed defender Eiran Cashin his first-ever senior start after a handful of appearances off the bench this term.
The Academy graduate impressed with a solid display and the Derby boss hailed his performance as ‘magnificent’.
“I thought he was magnificent,” he said.
“Tackling, heading, calmness on the ball, moving the ball forward and stepping in with the ball; it was everything I wanted and I’m delighted for him.
“He’s a top player, I believe. He can improve but he’s got the potential to be a very good player and he’s a great lad.”
Derby will return to Championship action under the Pride Park floodlights on Wednesday evening against Millwall (7:45pm kick-off).
