Jourdan

Northampton 1-3 Derby Mendez-Laing FRGS

Yikes, I am starting to understand why people don’t like Coldplay. Well, where to begin? Bird is injured, Smith has only recently returned from injury, Sibley is being utilised at wing back, and Thompson and Robinson are still green. So surely Hourihane was the obvious choice given his experience and with him being part of a winning team in recent games? To me, unless Bolton wanted a draw, how can you say Bolton’s approach was clearly working? It was probably that kind of complacency that led to Bolton losing. Bolton should have been ahead? Equally it could be said Nelson had a free header and Mendez Laing had another good chance in the first half, so is that really true that Bolton deserved to be leading on the balance of chances created? Being level was fair, many would argue. I don’t know what else to say. All the evidence presented by myself and other posters is only proving that you have your fingers in your ears.

To deal with injuries to three players and to deal with Hourihane’s lack of mobility against a three man midfield, one of the best and most in-form in the division. We know that tactics are not just about the set up and the XI from kick off. It’s how you adjust and respond to what happens in the game. Something that Warne has been criticised for not doing often enough before. If it was only 0-0 but Bolton had played the better game, why didn’t Evatt bring on fresh legs to make Bolton’s advantage count?

What’s so funny? Two of Warne’s substitutes combined to win us the game. Warne got his tactics and his in-game changes spot on. After all, he went home with the three points, meanwhile Evatt went home with a service station meal deal.

The newlyweds will be there for Carlisle at home. 🐏⚫️⚪️

I think I could leave the forum for weeks, get married, go on my honeymoon, see Derby further strengthen their grip on second with two or three wins, and still come back to the same two or three posters trying to downplay the job Warne is doing. Even after a hard-fought win against a direct rival where Warne clearly had the tactical edge, they are still picking faults. How tiresome.

Such an important win but we have to keep going. If 90-92 points is the target, then we still need 4-5 wins. The work is far from over. That said I am feeling very confident that we can get over the line. The character and spirit amongst Warne and the players is shining through. Three wins in a week at the business end of the season is such a strong sign. The injuries are hitting us hard, mind you. Gayle in particular will be a big miss, but we have to hope other players will seize their chance. This could be the time for Waghorn and Blackett Taylor to step up and make their mark like Wilson did today, for instance. Here’s hoping we can keep things going and win v Northampton and Blackpool. Going into April with 80+ points on the board would put us firmly in the driving seat for second and might even have Pompey looking over their shoulder.

Derby 3-1 Bolton Gayle

Fully deserved win and pretty comfortable except for one ball into the final third we allowed to drop. No controversy in the win for me. Reading played into the ref’s hands with so many cynical and brainless fouls. On another day, they would have had a man sent off in the first half. The keeper also charged out needlessly, giving the referee a decision to make. Adams was imperious, but Gayle was the difference. His intelligent runs and movement and clever touches scared the life out of Reading’s defence. He also took his goal very nicely. If we can keep him fit for the next eight games, we have a very real chance of promotion.

There is plenty to be positive about so far. We have created some good chances, pressed well and battled hard. Everyone seems to understand their role much better compared to previous adventures with a back three. Four standouts for me. Nelson is so calm and composed. Adams is playing well and is such a tour de force in midfield. Gayle sets the tone with his running and clever movement. Cashin has also contained Azeez very well from his wide centre back position. We just need a goal to reward our efforts as the longer the game goes on, the braver Reading will get. We have contained them very well so far.

Feeling strangely positive about tonight! Something tells me Gayle will run riot and CBT will finally arrive! 🤞

For me, Warne is absolutely right in his messaging. We are in a good position but nothing is won and so much can change in 1-2 games, never mind 9. He would be foolish to over-promise at this point. It’s a tight, topsy turvy race with five teams battling for two places. We’re not 10 points clear, after all. I think Warne is right to encourage the fans to unite behind the team, fill the ground, and enjoy the ride rather than brace ourselves for potential failure and consume ourselves with the hang ups surrounding the manager.

Derby 3-2 Reading Gayle

Gayle oozes class and intelligence and you have to think if he enjoys the next few months at the club that we could potentially extend his deal into next season. If we can get him fit and in full flow, he would be an excellent building block for the squad next year no matter what league we are in.

Take a backpack like Warne.

I am doing very well thanks. Two weeks from getting married, two and a half weeks from a Caribbean honeymoon, and hopefully six to seven weeks from a Derby promotion! You, on the other hand, seem a little flustered?

What a huge result, but it’s probably wise to take it one game at a time bearing in mind how tight things are. There could be two points separating four teams all things being equal. Reading will be another tough game in midweek where we’ll have to be professional and switched on to get the job done. They’ll be looking and thinking they could do a number on us like Charlton did. It’s hard not to be positive at the moment though. We are in such a good place. Those back to back defeats could have been terminal but we have bounced back in style. Warne and the players are showing great character. Adams and Gayle have given us some post January oomph that we missed last year. The whole squad are playing their part - see Bradley, Ward, Smith, Barkhuizen and Sibley all making important contributions to the cause over recent weeks. Losing to Bird to injury will be a blow but it gives others in the squad a chance to shine. Hourihane and Thompson will be raring to go. All we need is CBT to arrive at the party and it could be a really really fun end to the season!

Warne will sign a two year extension in the summer if we get promoted. He doesn’t like the fans, but he loves having picnics at Elvaston Castle and a curry on London Road.

Bristol Rovers 1-2 Derby Gayle

I don’t recall us losing 8-0 or conceding 5 in one half. I also don’t recall mass walkouts by our fans. If we were that bad, the fans wouldn’t have stayed with the team as they did. We were just so used to losing and could always find a way. I actually think at times we were unlucky and victim to fine margins. Off the top of my head, we conceded late goals v Bolton, Sunderland, Newcastle, Wigan and Liverpool which cost us six points. We missed a penalty at 1-0 up v Blackburn which had we scored, we might have got at least a point perhaps more. We were desperately unlucky to finish on 11 points. It’s not much but we were deserving of 15-20 points.

2-0 up with a Ward assist, a Barkhuizen pre-assist and a clean sheet with Bradley at the back? I tried to be negative, guys. I really did. Warne is just too good.

I have nothing against Ward. If he comes in and shines, great decision by Warne. He was a bright spark earlier in the season and he has just struggled with injuries and finding his feet here. I just find throwing him in to start when he has played a handful of games for months and had to play with the under 21s recently quite out of the blue. Wilson is a raw talent and still developing. He’s not going to be perfect and polished every game or a goal/assist machine but at least you know what to expect.

As I said before, if you do logical things and don’t get logical outcomes, people are more forgiving. But picking Ward when he hasn’t had a look in for weeks and has been playing with the under 21s makes no sense to me. Picking Barkhuizen who has 1 good game for every 6-7 forgettable ones over your marquee January signing who will only adapt with game time makes no sense to me. Picking Bradley when it disrupts our strongest partnership of Nelson and Cashin again makes no sense to me. Let’s hope we blow Port Vale away and win 3-0 because if not the pressure will crank up on Warne over his team selections because this one looks very muddled.

Derby 2-0 Port Vale Gayle