DavesaRam

Apart from their keeper making 3 outstanding saves and two superb interceptions of crosses. Wildsmith had one shot on target and one penalty to save. It was Wednesday who were poor in front of goal.

What a shame! In the end we weren't quite good enough to  get in the play-offs, and deep down many of us have thought that all season long. But that doesn't stop us having hope, and the players have done stupendously well to get this far. It is the old adage (well, a season long adage) that we only had 5 players on the books last August. But in reality we have cost ourselves the chance for promotion this season because we haven't been clinical enough in front of goal. But in part that is because it is night on impossible to attract strikers when all you can offer is a packet of crisps and two slices of lightly buttered bread. Although losing Odura was a blow - he might have been the difference, but I don't think he was handled properly, and instead of being given a run in the side in his best position, h was used as a bit part player. And he wasn't the only one - another one was subbed at the earlest opportunity again, today, when he was doing all right. Why is it always him who has to leave the pitch early?
There have been some baffling selection and tactical decisions which have cost us as well, but in some ways all this is understandable, especially with a manager brought in part way into the season with someone else's team and no room to change that. WArney had a tough job, and the lad done ok, I reckon.
It actually is feasible to have been in the play-off positions securely a coupe of weeks ago if only we hadn't thrown matches away one way or another. But then we get to my pet subject, the match officials. Soooooo many matches have been decided by crass decision making and/or incompetence, and we ought to have put ourselves into a position where those c***-ups don't cost us the points. But we shouldn't have to try and overcome them before they have happened, either. If only half the penalty decisions against us. at both ends of the pitch, had gone the right way, we wouldn't have ended up in this position. And while we are on about it, how come the ref gave a penalty against us for virtually no physical contact at all, but did absolutely nothing when Forsyth was physically man-handled to the ground in their penalty area later on in the game? On the odd occasion I could accept that it was just the rb of the green, but when it has happened match after match after match, and only a tiny number of dubious decision have been in our favour, maybe I sould be forgiven for thinking that there are other factors being brought to bear.
So on to next season - will we get any flexibility from the EFL regarding the business plan we have had to operate under, given that we are considerably further forwards in our finances than we were planned to be? LET's hope this is the case so we have a bit more room to bring the players in that we need. I'm not holding my breath though!
Finally - thanks to the players for giving of their best, even though it wasn't quite enough. And thanks especially to the fans - you/we have been fantastic yet again, all season long. Long may it continue!
I'll be there next season, and much to your chagrin I'm not going away from this wonderful bunch of contributors on dcfcfans!

What a shame! In the end we weren't quite good enough to  get in the play-offs, and deep down many of us have thought that all season long. But that doesn't stop us having hope, and the players have done stupendously well to get this far. It is the old adage (well, a season long adage) that we only had 5 players on the books last August. But in reality we have cost ourselves the chance for promotion this season because we haven't been clinical enough in front of goal. But in part that is because it is night on impossible to attract strikers when all you can offer is a packet of crisps and two slices of lightly buttered bread. Although losing Odura was a blow - he might have been the difference, but I don't think he was handled properly, and instead of being given a run in the side in his best position, h was used as a bit part player. And he wasn't the only one - another one was subbed at the earlest opportunity again, today, when he was doing all right. Why is it always him who has to leave the pitch early?
There have been some baffling selection and tactical decisions which have cost us as well, but in some ways all this is understandable, especially with a manager brought in part way into the season with someone else's team and no room to change that. WArney had a tough job, and the lad done ok, I reckon.
It actually is feasible to have been in the play-off positions securely a coupe of weeks ago if only we hadn't thrown matches away one way or another. But then we get to my pet subject, the match officials. Soooooo many matches have been decided by crass decision making and/or incompetence, and we ought to have put ourselves into a position where those c***-ups don't cost us the points. But we shouldn't have to try and overcome them before they have happened, either. If only half the penalty decisions against us. at both ends of the pitch, had gone the right way, we wouldn't have ended up in this position. And while we are on about it, how come the ref gave a penalty against us for virtually no physical contact at all, but did absolutely nothing when Forsyth was physically man-handled to the ground in their penalty area later on in the game? On the odd occasion I could accept that it was just the rb of the green, but when it has happened match after match after match, and only a tiny number of dubious decision have been in our favour, maybe I sould be forgiven for thinking that there are other factors being brought to bear.
So on to next season - will we get any flexibility from the EFL regarding the business plan we have had to operate under, given that we are considerably further forwards in our finances than we were planned to be? LET's hope this is the case so we have a bit more room to bring the players in that we need. I'm not holding my breath though!
Finally - thanks to the players for giving of their best, even though it wasn't quite enough. And thanks especially to the fans - you/we have been fantastic yet again, all season long. Long may it continue!
I'll be there next season, and much to your chagrin I'm not going away from this wonderful bunch of contributors on dcfcfans!

On the up side my husband has just chosen a sheep duvet cover. My work is done

Quite appropriate really that at the death our season has been decided by poor officiating (and that’s not to mention Barnsley should’ve had 2 penalties against Peterborough). We can go back to many big moments, Barnsley, Plymouth (twice), Ipswich, Peterborough, Ipswich, Port Vale (H), today, poor decisions at critical points in games, there have been lots of others, it doesn’t even itself out. But hey it’s a game of stats to some people!!! 
 
I know we’ve heard it all before but we didn’t start recruiting until 1 week after preseason started, we only had 5 players, we have the smallest squad in the league, a mix of predominantly kids starting their careers and over 30s. No different options to change things when it’s not happening for us, can’t really rotate, January window made impossible with restrictions we’re under. This is why we didn’t quite have enough against better teams in the league away from home, this is why we didn’t win games we should have done against MK and Portsmouth, this is why ultimately we’ve fallen short. Had we got in the playoffs we have match winners, we would’ve had a chance, think Wednesday will be very glad they are not playing us next week!! 
 
Thought we were excellent today and had we kept 11 on the pitch and not gone behind to that ridiculous decision we’d have got the job done. Can’t fault any of the players or Warne for how he approached the game. Lots of positive performances, im gutted for Curtis, it’s devastating for his career at Derby to potentially end like that. Unfortunately though he’s made that exact same mistake on a few occasions now and cost us goals. 
 
It’s a real tough one to take today. But credit to the players and Warne and his staff for putting us in the situation to fight for playoffs on the last day. Derby and Warne HAVE NOT FAILED this season, I’d say this season is about par, next season is a different ball game. Despite our restrictions a whole preseason and recruitment prior to preseason with a settled management, promotion is the minimum requirement next season.

It'll be fine in the end.
Overall over the season we've not been good enough so as crap a way as that was to sign off, it's not the end of the world, just the end of the season and the start of another season in league 1. 
I'm still sulking though.
 

I accepted there was a high possibility of league 1 after Feb 1st and I don’t really mind it’ll be the case next year. Also if we had deserved that play off spot we had more than ample opportunities to secure it before today. It’s where our squad was at the end of the day, too many players over 30 and under 23 and Warne remarked about it on the first day he stepped in to Pride Park.
What stings is the nature of the loss today. An attacking player takes an easy way out with minimal. contact, through on goal and should never ever be rewarded for it. It was a gift, not just to Wednesday who could game manage and far less than 100% and a gift to Peterborough
Not complaining about where we are. It’s just the nature of how it happened.

I agree. We have paid the price for not putting the ball away often enough. But when you've only got half a squad of players, and you can't attract strikers of any substance because they come at a price, we were always going to struggle like this. 
But although if we don't take our chances, and we keep making silly mistakes, neither should we pay the price because the match officials consistently get things wrong, especially when those decisions in the great majority go against Derby County - although they are supposed to even themselves out over a season, they haven't yet after 4 long years. If evening out did happen, then next season we will get between 2 and 4 penalties per match, and the opposition will have two player sent off every match. Like leniency form the EFL, it ain't going to happen.

I agree. We have paid the price for not putting the ball away often enough. But when you've only got half a squad of players, and you can't attract strikers of any substance because they come at a price, we were always going to struggle like this. 
But although if we don't take our chances, and we keep making silly mistakes, neither should we pay the price because the match officials consistently get things wrong, especially when those decisions in the great majority go against Derby County - although they are supposed to even themselves out over a season, they haven't yet after 4 long years. If evening out did happen, then next season we will get between 2 and 4 penalties per match, and the opposition will have two player sent off every match. Like leniency form the EFL, it ain't going to happen.

They'll find a way, you can be sure. If you remember we have ended up where we are because we broke a rule which  didn't actually exist until 3 or 4 years after we broke it.

They'll find a way, you can be sure. If you remember we have ended up where we are because we broke a rule which  didn't actually exist until 3 or 4 years after we broke it.

Bold to assume anyone other than Cashin (out of the young lads) has played well enough to earn a big move away… why would we let the others leave for a pittance? We might not be able to spend but we don’t need to sell either. 

I'm on about the entire season. We have been one of the most wasteful teams in the league. Today would have been a dead rubber if we were more clinical as a team over the season. 
That is our biggest problem. Not refs.

just spotted the ref and efl at hq

My thoughts entirely. We haven't looked quite good enough over the course of the season, particularly in converting chances. A stab at the play-offs is always worthwhile, but the upside of this is we know what division we'll be in now and I hope our recruitment guy is getting things moving already.
The ref? Well it's par for the course in this league if you're DCFC. Next season we'll just have to make sure they can't rob us of so many points with clearly incompetent officiating.

I see you’ve missed all the other 27 crap decisions out!

To be fair, their position was confirmed regardless of the result today. I imagine they've not played with the usual intensity to avoid injuries for the playoffs. We all know how a playoff campaign can be screwed by a reckless idiot snapping players in the final game (Jonathan Douglas).

Go on Warne, cop an FA charge for saying what we all think about the standard of officiating this season across the league. 
With what happened at Bristol Rovers the other week, now today, it's beyond shambolic.

I find it very odd how people almost go above and beyond to say a decision against us was so correct and we're just moaners. I happen, because of where I lived most of my adult life, to be a regular on a PL team's board - To a person, every single one of them that have commented has derided that decision.

And still the happy clappers say no EFL conspiracy against Derby ! How thick can people be ??? 🐑🤣

f*** THE EFL! 
 
I’m a Christian. i don’t swear. f*** THEM!

f*** THE EFL! 
 
I’m a Christian. i don’t swear. f*** THEM!

f*** THE EFL! 
 
I’m a Christian. i don’t swear. f*** THEM!

I suspect that some of the conspirational claims on here are from “home fan” bias, some will be frustration at poor refereeing standards, but some will undoubtably be as a result of the EFL’s “interactions with Derby re the amortisation processes, when there was a noticeable loading of decisions against us. It might also be fuelled by some refs making bad decisions and then apologising for it, as if that makes everything all right.