Rams to take a deserved breather after hitting form in hectic spell

Tuesday 18 November 2008

Footballers rarely receive the sympathy vote. They are, after all, paid handsomely in the higher divisions to play a game we all love.

So talk of busy fixture programmes and taxing times for players as games come thick and fast is often met with a shrug of the shoulders by supporters.

Derby County completed a spell of nine matches in 29 days by brushing aside Sheffield Wednesday in a style not seen at Pride Park Stadium since Giles Barnes inspired the crushing of Colchester United in March 2007.

This is the first midweek in four weeks that the Rams have not had a game and they have earned their breather because the players have dealt with a demanding schedule in an impressive manner.

Of the nine games in League and cup, five have been won and two drawn.

The victories came against Plymouth, Norwich and Wednesday in the Championship, Brighton and Leeds in the Carling Cup.

Derby drew at Coventry, where they conceded a last-minute equaliser, and at home to Nottingham Forest, when they were controversially denied a win by referee Stuart Attwell’s baffling decisions in stoppage time.

They let themselves down with a sloppy defensive display at Blackpool, where they were beaten 3-2, and played second fiddle to Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

The result highlighted why Reading are near the top and the Rams in mid-table with plenty of work still to do.

But apart from the two defeats, Derby deserve credit for their efforts in what has been a big ask over the past few weeks.

The matches and the travelling – the miles have been clocked up going to places like Blackpool, Brighton and Reading – have challenged the character of the squad and different qualities have emerged, qualities that were missing at the start of this season and throughout last season.

They dug in and showed resilience to beat Plymouth and Leeds without playing well, while the home victories over Norwich and Wednesday came from the best football during Paul Jewell’s time as manager.

The ability to win ugly and win well is the sign of a good side. In Derby’s case, it is the sign of an improving side.

Only two defeats have been suffered in 15 outings since the players trudged off the Oakwell pitch at the end of August. They had played well against Barnsley but left empty-handed and went into the international break bottom of the table.

But 23 points have been collected from the last 39 and the Rams are now unbeaten at home in three months, a far cry from the horror run of 18 League games at Pride Park without a win.

That painful sequence lasted a year until Rob Hulse’s winner sank Sheffield United in September.

A place in the last eight of the League Cup has also been secured for the first time since 1990 and for only the fifth time in the club’s history.

Paul Jewell and his players should feel proud of the turnaround but there can be no resting on laurels. The fixtures do not allow it.

Saturday’s game at Ipswich marks the start of six matches in 18 days. Another taxing test.

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