3/1 To Win
Interim Manager Liam Rosenior described himself as pleased with several aspects of Derby County’s game following their 2-0 pre-season friendly win at Bradford City on Saturday.
Derby’s first workout of the summer saw them field a different starting XI in each half to allow as many players as possible to get minutes under their belt as preparations for the 2022/23 Sky Bet League One season intensity.
Mark Hughes’ League Two outfit offered the Rams a good workout in the searing West Yorkshire heat with a more experienced line-up taking to the field in the first half, followed by a youthful looking XI in the second period.
Derby took the lead in the early exchanges as Craig Forsyth, who continues to train with the Rams despite seeing his contract expire at the end of June, thundered home a superb effort form Louie Sibley’s pass.
A second goal, from summer recruit Tom Barkhuizen, followed just before the break after good work by fellow new boy Nathaniel Mendez-Laing down the right-hand side.
Here’s a look at what Rosenior, who was celebrating his 38th birthday today, told RamsTV after the final whistle at Valley Parade.
On The Win Against Bradford…
I’m really pleased with every single player that set foot on the pitch today. For a first pre-season game, it’s a hot day and we needed water breaks, but it was a really good exercise. I’m delighted that it was Fozzy that scored the first goal in pre-season in the new era because he’s someone who has been here for a long time and hopefully we can get his contract sorted out sooner rather than later. I thought we played some excellent football in the first half. That’s the first time a lot of these players have been asked to play in this way which is different. There were mistakes with sloppiness but at the same time there was good, exciting attacking football which is what I want. We scored two in the first half but we could have scored more.
On The First Half Performance…
I was encouraged in that Mendez-Laing comes in, and we know his quality, Tom Barkhuizen gets off the mark which is great for him and he could have had a couple more. He made some great runs but it was just pleasing to see the players understanding and remembering what we did last season and it feels like now they are taking it on to a different level in terms of rotations and movements that we are working on so I’m delighted with them.
On The Second Half Performance…
For the young players that came on in the second half, I’m just as encouraged by their resilience. Bradford are a tough side and are favourites for promotion from their league so for our young players to come in and keep a clean sheet, I was just as delighted with them. I was delighted with Jake Rooney at the back and I felt Carlos Richards and Darren Robinson will learn from this and they did really well. We’re going to need both sides of that throughout the season. We’re not going to be able to blow every team away, there are going to be times where we need to dig in and keep a clean sheet so I was delighted with that today and I hope it continues.
On Continuing The Feel-Good Factor…
The first thing was to make sure that every single player is okay coming through. Our biggest importance is the season, but to see the amount of supporters that turned up today and every single member of staff and player that stepped foot on the pitch, every person who is part of this went over to appreciate them because I know what they’ve gone through. To see them here in their numbers gives me goosebumps and makes me excited. The players, especially the new ones, knows what it takes to represent this club and how important it is to everyone involved, not just in the club but in the community as well.
The bond was incredible last year and it’s my aim to keep that bond going. The only way to do that is to work as hard as I can, for the staff to work as hard as they can and for the players when they go on the pitch win, lose or draw to give everything for the shirt. I can’t ask for anymore than that and at the moment I can’t ask for anymore from the supporters. To turn up in their numbers today and the amount of season tickets they have bought, they are so important to this and so important for us being successful and we are all going to be in it together.
On Conor Hourihane, James Chester And David McGoldrick…
They are going to be absolutely fine. They have had two days training which I don’t feel is enough to risk them in a game like this. They are going to be fit and looking really good in training, and I’m excited to work with them, and they will be ready to be involved against Hertha Berlin next week.
On Another Positive Week Ahead…
It’s been a real pleasure in the first two weeks to see the young players. I’ve managed to see every Under-18, every Under-21 and every first team player. We still need additions. I was delighted that Haydon Roberts had half an hour today and he is going to be a real asset to us. I just need to keep working. I’ve been on the phone so we will keep working and see how we can shape the squad moving forward.
