Nishfan

I had a season ticket for 30 years until I moved to the US. I followed Derby home and away and have stood on terraces with a handful of other Rams fans in the days in the old second division when we had nothing like the away support we have now. And home games dipped under 10k. I put on bus trips many times from Matlock and I was as loyal as pretty much anybody on this board.

I now live in western Cornwall, and getting back for games is very difficult. Not least because the number of painkillers I have to take because I get sciatica when driving for more than an hour, is verging on suicidal.

I freely admit I'd not want to put myself through the pain and discomfort of driving 6 or 7 hours each way for a meaningless game, so if that means 'sunshine supporter' to you, so be it. But I'm relaxed in the knowledge that I've put in my time and spent tens of thousands of pounds watching Derby on 70 different league grounds. 

As for why I didn't buy one 4 weeks ago. That was because I had to make a choice of coming up for the Orient game or the last game, and as it was a mate's birthday this last weekend and my wedding anniversary on Saturday, we rolled the dice.

He keeps confusing him with Kane Ward.

It helps to talk and share- especially at tense and stressful times 👍😎
To be honest i am so bloody nervous i almost can’t bear to watch the Cambridge game 😳🐏🐏🐏🐏

Nerve jangling time still, as there are still 3 teams who could get the 2nd auto promotion spot. I think we really need a win at Cambridge on Saturday which would then give us an excellent chance.
Bolton play Port Vale on Saturday and you would expect them to win (as we expected them to win big last night!) although Port Vale will be fighting hard to avoid relegation. If Bolton score first it could become an easy win (to reduce the goal difference). It seems they struggle a bit when the other side score first.
Peterborough travel to Bristol Rovers and must win really. Bristol are a strange animal who can be awkward. I do expect Peterborough to win though. They then play Cheltenham away on Wednesday which again could be difficult with Cheltenham desperately clinging on (could Curtis do us another favour?).
I would expect Bolton and Peterborough to win both their games. If Peterborough do not win their games then we face the possibility that they may rest players for the match against Bolton on the final day, making it easier for Bolton. If Bolton win against Port Vale, they have to keep going, play their strongest team and overtake our current 5 goal advantage in their last two games.
I know I have stated what everyone knows but needed to get it off my chest.
Oh, for a win on Saturday! But we all know we don’t do anything easily. I also expect a really difficult game against Carlisle, who have a free hit while our players will be on edge (silly mistakes, sendings off spring to mind).
I am sure it will all be fine! (Fingers, legs and everything else crossed)
 
 

Being old and tired is exactly why you should keep going. You pack this up, pack something else up, pretty soon you're left with hoping to be put in the sunny window and snoozing to pass the time.
Rage, rage, against the dying of the light, Eddie!
 

“Angie, Angie, give us a wave,
Angie, give us a wave”!

Is that similar to a transit van ?

Every year we thin k about replacing fozzy and every year he shows us how good he is. A proper modern day derby hero. Despite all the injuries and left backs coming through each season, he's still gotten into the team. 

I have a friend who was there last night, said he spoke to Fozzy who said "Don't worry, you've got me for another year yet". So, sounds like he's had an extension.

Nice to see young Kaitlyn Roocroft get the International Supporter's award, one I was fortunate enough to get in the 15/16 season.

I had a chat with Sibs. He hasn't given up hope of playing further forward but says he's enjoying wingback and wants to play in the Championship for us. 
I'd say of all the players I spoke to, he's the one who wants to win promotion because he's a Ram through and through. 🐏 
David Clowes possibly an even bigger Ram, though. Spoke with real passion about competing at the top of the Championship. He has real ambition for the Club (as you've heard from elsewhere.)

How absolutely lovely.
I was fortunate enough to be named 'Supporter of the Year' back in 1978 when David Langan won 'Player of the Year'. It's still a great memory.

I asked him that and he said he's fit now if selected.

I really need people to stop saying so many nice things about Ebou. It's going to break my heart if he doesn't end up signing for us 🤣

Straight from the horses/footballers mouths:
Wildsmith was asked about rumours of him leaving Derby. He has not yet been offered a new contract. 
Ebou and his missus are absolutely loving everything about Derby. He said there are several things that need to fall into place about signing but seemed positive. He is the loveliest down to earth person. Didn’t stop smiling all night. If we need to forcefully restrain him to keep him here count me in! He doesn’t mind the Ebou chant sounding like booing. 
Dwight Gayle is recovering well and hoping to be back next week.
Max Bird still very much focused on the next too games, despite moving on. 
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing smells very nice
 
 
 
 

Me giving Ryan Nyambe a bit of advice on how to handle those tricky wingers next season. 😂

Just posted in another thread, but Eíran Cashin won the Supporters' Clubs Player of the Season award. 
Lovely to chat with you and your dad, @B4’s Sister.

What a brilliant night! Dan (B4) and Angie Vallance received the Alfreton supporters award.  I almost missed it as I was in the loo 😂 the glass award is lovely and will have pride of place in my parents house. The players looked visibly touched when it was announced Dan and Angie were being awarded posthumously. It was lovely to see so over 200 people there to celebrate DCFC and those who love the club. I had no idea what to expect but it was amazing. Lovely food and company. I had no idea the players and David Clowes would be there, so that was a lovely surprise. 

We look back a CBT's miss and think that we're the only team that miss sitters. Looking at this and watching Liverpool v Palace on Sunday makes you realise that other players, including 'world class' players also miss sitters.

Do it for Bloomers

Massive chance now of gaining promotion thanks to Shrewsbury last night
A win at Cambridge should about do it but we do need 4 points to be sure
If we do put in another poor away performance and lose we could see all three teams on 86 points come the final weekend,would still fancy our chances given who we play last game but like last nights result football is a funny old game

Great work yet again with the match threads, these have been a different class over the last couple of months.
I for one will miss these after next week.
COYR - Hold your nerve and leave everything on the pitch for two more matches, we’ve got this.

Cledara Abbey Stadium: KO- 15.00
We’re on a mini-run, aren’t we, but despite having our fate firmly back in our hands, the pressure to perform remains; two wins from our last two and we’re back in the sunlit uplands of the Championship; a loss, or even a draw and potentially the pendulum swings again.
It’ll be interesting to see whether we might see one or two back in full training this week, but it’s hard to view the win against Orient as anything other than one of our most complete performances this season and this despite being far from clinical in front of goal. Will the confidence garnered see us approach the game with the same positive approach? One hopes so! Another slip up when seemingly set to turn the screw and inevitably, PW’s management will be under fire. A win and we head back to Pride Park with only Carlisle standing between us and our first promotion since 2007.
Our Opponents:
The club was founded in 1912 as Abbey United, and took the name Cambridge United in 1951. They played in local amateur leagues before joining the Southern League after finishing as runners-up of the Eastern Counties League in 1957–58. Under Bill Leivers's stewardship they were crowned Southern League Premier Division champions in 1968–69 and 1969–70, which helped to secure their election into the Football League in 1970. 

Recent Form & Key Players:
Off the back off two absolute kickings from Reading, 4-0, then a 6-0 hammering from Lincoln, Cambridge were held 1-1 by Northampton before closing out March with a 2-0 loss away to Bolton. April has seen them draw at home to Charlton and lose by the odd goal to Blackpool, before showing better form in defeating Wigan 3-1 at home.
Top of the scoring charts sits Gassan Ahadme with 11, with Fejiri Okenabirhie next best with 9. Ellis Kachunga is next best having netted 6 times in 34 starts. Sully Kalkai tops the assists list with from Jack Lankester and George Thomas with 4 and 3 assists respectively.
Rams Match Squad:
Hard to get away from the 11 that started against Orient, given the resounding nature of the win and the style in which it was achieved. A buoyant Paul Warne confirmed in the post-match presser that everyone came through unscathed and it was interesting to hear him saying that we had more energy coming off a shorter break than was the case at Wycombe, where he felt we lacked energy, despite the 8 day break.
The injury picture remains murky and it’ll be interesting to see whether Gayle and Bird might be fit enough to make the matchday squad. I’ll not bother with my selected 11, as I always get it horribly wrong and the gaffer seems to be doing a decent job matching squads to opponents without our guidance. Instead, here’s the top of the table as it stands:

Don't forget to keep an eye on @Caerphilly Ram's injury updates thread across the week, for any snippets on player's likely return dates. I'll append anything I see to this htread as best I can in any case.
The Promotion Picture:
Some key fixtures tomorrow night, none more so than Bolton’s home game against Shrewsbury, whom we know to be a strong and obdurate side, though one lacking the Trotter’s class edge. I’d expect Bolton to take the points, but should Shrews grab an early lead, it could make for rather tougher game.
Oxford, fresh off the back of their 5 goal hammering of Posh play hosts to Lincoln City, whose charge towards the play-offs has faltered a little in most recently. It ought to be a tightly contested affair and to be honest, I’d not be surprised by any result.
The aforementioned Posh have what appears to be a routine task against lowly Fleetwood, but what will be the aftermath of their humbling at the hands of Oxford on Saturday. Might they have a hangover?
Perhaps the best tie of the round features champions-elect Portsmouth hosting Barnsley. A point will surely suffice for Pompey, but I expect them to win and win well en route to a thoroughly well-deserved title win. They’ve been excellent this season and this despite being one of the few clubs with comparable injury concerns to our beloved Rams. It'll be good to see them back where they belong after some very difficult years of their own.
Of the weekend ties, the most interesting involve Peterborough, who have a tricky away game at Bristol and Bolton host Port Vale. It seems odds on we will be going into the final week needing to beat Carlisle to be absolutely certain of promotion and I doubt too many Rams fans will be counting their chickens early! 
Final Thoughts:
A brief digression is in order to congratulate Eiran Cashin and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, both of whom made the EFL League 1 Team of the Year. Bit miffed that Curtis Nelson was overlooked to partner Cash at CB, as for me, he’s been top of the pops for us, but I doubt he’ll mind too much if we win come Saturday.
A last word as always to all Derby fans travelling to the game, safe journey to and fro, Rams and Ramettes and hopefully plenty of good stuff to chatter about on your way home. Honestly, I think our away support has been as good as any in the entire EFL this season and they’ll hopefully be rewarded with another complete and controlled performance as we ourselves edge closer to that vital 2nd place finish.
COYR
BE MORE B4