AbuDerbyDave

I was reflecting on the squad the other day and concluded that the overwhelming majority of the squad has positively contributed to our successes this season.
The notable exceptions were Embleton (who looked decent then picked up a season-ending injury), and Blackett-Taylor, who has suffered from some niggly injuries and hasn't had any significant game time.
Even John-Jules scored a couple of important goals, not least the only goal for three points away at Port Vale.
Credit surely goes to PW for this. 

Erin cashins massive , he s hung like steptoe s horse 
he flashes it at training and never feels remorse
he goes up for our corners and never fails to score
And when’s he runs the channels it’s dragging on the floor
ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh 
erin cash,,,,,,,,,,..,.

Ohhhhh..
Eiran Cashin's magic, he wears a magic hat
And when he came to Pride park, he said I fancy that.
He didn't sign for Forest, or Leicester 'cause they're 5hite
He signed for Derby County 'cause they're f'ing dynamite

My daughter has put her foot down and made an impassioned case for us to make the 200 mile round trip on a school night. We'll be there, COYR!

Derby County vs Reading
Tuesday 12th March
Pride Park   KO 1945
 
Opposition Bio: Reading have made more headlines off the field than on it in recent times as they find themselves in financial strife as a result of incompetency by their owner. Sound familiar? 
The EFL have seemingly cut them more slack than they did with ourselves but their patience must be wearing thin as deadlines to deposit sufficient funds regularly pass. The latest failure to pony up saw them docked further points and their season deduction now stands at six points in total. 
There was a further deduction of three points doled out, albeit suspended, after their understandably fed up supporters invaded the pitch and caused the early abandonment of their home match with Port Vale, the latters best result in recent months.
Where we had Mel Morris, Reading have Dai Yongge. This proves the old adage of being wary of baldies or fake Welshmen baring gifts.
Any sympathy we have for them should be tempered though by the thought that they are probably still laughing at us paying £3m for Nick Blackman.
Reading FC are known as the Royals, a distinctly naff nickname acquired after a young Prince Albert played a dozen games for the club before marrying Queen Victoria. Plus they hail from the royal county of Berkshire. They are also known as the Biscuitmen due to the town's association with the biscuit makers Huntley & Palmers. 
They are managed by Spaniard Ruben Selles and, having been relegated last season, will be looking to secure League 1 survival this season and kick on in 2024/25 under different ownership and without points deductions.
Reading are the proud holders of two notable records. In the 1985/86 season they recorded 13 straight victories at the start of the season in what is now this division and they also hold the record for the highest points total for their whopping 106 points in their 2005/06 Championship campaign. 
Opposition Form: Not too shabby in fairness. In the ten matches played since they beat us 1-0 at their place they have won a further four games with three draws and three defeats.
They arrive at Pride Park on the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Wycombe and in 18th place with a record of W12-D9-L16. It should be noted, however, that without their points deduction they would be in 14th position. 
Their away record is perhaps misleading as the bare stats of W3-D5-L10 needs to be looked at in the knowledge that they contrived to lose their first eight matches on the road. They all count obviously but their more recent form away since then reads W3-D5-L2. 
Their away wins have been at Wycombe (2-1), Stevenage (1-0) and Carlisle (3-1). They have also managed decent draws at Oxford and Peterborough.
In those 18 away games they have only failed to score on four occasions. Promisingly from a Rams perspective, they have only kept the one clean sheet on their travels.
Opposition Players: Going purely off the stats it would appear their chief dangermen are top marksman Harvey Knibbs (10 goals, 6 assists), Sam Smith (9 goals, 10 assists) and possibly Femi Azeez and Lewis Wing. They also have Robbie's son Charlie Savage, the experienced Harlee Dean and the wonderfully named youngster Jacob Hammond-Chambers-Borgnis who I hope gets a runout as I'd love to see if they put his triple-barrelled name on his shirt.
Rams vs Reading History: This will be the 48th league clash between Derby and Reading and the 54th in all competitions. The clubs' first meeting was a League Cup clash in October 1965 (1-1) but it wasn't until 22nd September 1984 that the Rams and the Royals met in a league fixture for the first time and the long wait proved barely worthwhile as we played out a goalless draw at their previous home, Elm Park. The return fixture would prove to be more memorable, for us at least, as Reading's first ever league visit to Derby in April 1985 saw the Rams win 4-1 with goals from Bobby Davison, Steve Buckley, Trevor Christie and Gary Micklewhite in front of a bumper crowd of 7,945 (really?).
That was not a taste of things to come in this fixture though as Reading have had by far the better of it. Our record on their turf is especially poor with just four wins in 24 visits. On Derby soil, though better as you'd expect, it is still deeply unimpressive. Our last victory at home to them was a 1-0 success in September 2021 but our overall home league record against Reading is W10-D3-L10. 
Expected Team: Same again one might think. Possibly a change in the middle to give more legs with Smith or Thompson in for Hourihane. 
Other Fixtures of Note: Something similar to Saturday would be nice. A Derby win and at least one of our rivals for automatic dropping points please. Their games midweek are:
Portsmouth vs Burton
Bolton vs Oxford
Carlisle vs Barnsley
Peterborough vs Stevenage (Weds)
COYR
 

I've said all along we should fear nobody and I sense the players are now starting to feel that way themselves which is critical in a game where confidence and form are almost as important as ability. Portsmouth are sitting pretty up top right now, but in no way are they home and hosed yet, not by a long chalk. 
As for the game, well I didn't see it being an easy match at all, but in hindsight, I think this was likely our most complete performance of the season. Our back three, led by the much maligned Sonny Bradley, looked really solid again and whilst not quite hitting the high notes of last week's game, in Sibs and Ward we seem to have a pair of wing backs who can trouble any side in this division. Ebou is the enforcer in midfield so many told me was not required and 'not a Warne player', while Gayle's intelligence and endeavour is surely now clear for all to see. There was some really silly stuff posted about him joining the club and it's pleasing to see him make a mockery of those rather one-eyed assessments. He has a a huge class edge over the vast majority of this league and as predicted, is scoring for fun. He's also improving the players around him and this only a few games into his time here too. 
Cash and Nelson scarcely need mentioning; two more consistent defenders, you'll absolutely not find in this league and they will more than hold their own at a higher level. Barks, whose form has been in and out this season to the point I was ready to give up on him, is now flying. I'd actually had him as MOTM yesterday and that's not something I would have seen before the game. Nate is building rapport with Gayle and finding more space with Gayle dragging defenders left and right and we have all manner of options in midfield. How things have changed in that regard.
Last, but not least, there's Warne. I've never seen a manager at this club take so much flak. He made a comment about the fans chants (during the Stevenage game) in a recent interview and how he was glad his family were not at the game as it would have, 'broken my heart'. I f****** hate to hear that to be honest and I think his treatment on balance, and not just by a small minority either, has been a disgrace. For that reason, it was lovely to see our seemingly always staunch away fans giving him a good cheer post-match yesterday. He's earned it and whilst I never wanted him here, he's very much earned my respect. 
Looking forwards, we have 3 tough home games to navigate (Reading, Bolton & Blackpool) prior to month-end and if we play well enough to sit 2nd when they're done and dusted, the title is there for the taking. It'll take a herculean effort from the chaps, but I think they can do and I shan't be giving up on us until topping the table becomes a mathematical impossibility.
COYR

Top performance from the boys today under big pressure. Business end of the season, lots riding on every game. We followed up two back to back defeats with back to back 3-0 wins including dismantling a side in really good form and to be honest a place I thought we’d slip up at. Barnsley were certainties for autos according to some on here after beating us (you get promoted by beating your rivals after all!!), well not if you throw in a 5-1 home defeat to midtable Lincoln. Can you imagine what the meltdown would be on here if we did that. FWIW Barnsley are still well in it if they can bounce back. 
 
Think Warne has stumbled across the winning formula with this line up. Ward and Sibley have been outstanding so dangerous from Wing back, and the front three are a real threat. Then we actually look like we have a decent bench now.
Feel this could be a real defining moment today, this week can definitely be defining. Not if we don’t have a great week, we’ll still be in the mix if that happens but if we have a great week and win both matches, I’d be extremely confident in us getting over the line. 
But this is Derby, we’ll find a way to make things difficult and there will be plenty of twists and turns. But if we’ve found this level of performance at this stage of the season, and we can sustain it, then it’s extremely encouraging. 

Excellent performance, excellent result & with results elsewhere, a brillant day.
Whilst its fair to say we didn't trouble the keeper too much first 45 mins, I was really pleased with the display. Got the ball down & played some smart stuff, Bristol were very much second best even though the ref was allowing them snidey little trips & then responding to any home crowd noise with decisions their way. The offside goal was a fantastic move, such a shame Gayle (?) strayed slightly. Sibley & Ward again made the 3-4-3 very potent...I enjoyed the football.
Second half we reverted to our typical away style as they picked up the tempo & we just picked them off. 0-3 probably flattered them given the chances we missed. That front 3 of Barkhuizen, Mendez-Laing & Gayle looks so dangerous on the counter and some great decision making/finishing from all 3. Good subs as well, Korey Smith added a measure of control as they were building up a head of steam & Waghorn kept up the forward press intensity. Well done all.
Massive 2 games coming up but keep that line up & level of intensity and we won't go far wrong. COYR 💪

Hit them on the break.
 

What a contrast in emotions compared to 11 days ago, two big wins later and for the first time this season we are truly in an automatic promotion slot.  Cannot wait until Tuesday and hopefully the crowd will play their part in ending the Reading hoodoo, before the big match on Saturday.  COYR.

Something something hoofball, something something crosses, something something back 3, something something tiny xG….
Come on folks the Rams are flocking winning! 

(please note the above stuff is meant in jest 😉) 

Well they did say he had an illness. 

I’ll throw it in the air when we score our third.
Simkins will catch it.

Not much preparation time with 3 games every week. It’s ok I’ve got the Italian international, Latte ready to come on.

Poor formation for an away day breakfast plate imho; sausage should be between the defensive beans and rotated to prevent the midfield scrambled egg being encumbered with defensive duties. Egg should be deployed further forward and ahead of the hash-browns, with the mushrooms out wide but given license to cut in and play as a number 10. Really don’t believe the combination of fried & scrambled eggs ever works; they’re just too similar. At least one of the slices of toast should’ve been given a starting position to give added structure to the team, supporting the bacon which appears somewhat isolated and awkwardly placed in the way of the hashbrowns. Bizarrely part of the beans seem to currently be deployed as a wing-back…I can’t see that working at all. I’m liking the look of the fresh orange on the bench but not sure it’s got enough in the tank to last the whole 90 minutes. Just don’t think that line-up is going to cut the mustard today. Really need the lad Brown on there too, just to spice it up a bit. 

Alright B4 lad. Firstly, apologies for all these clowns who don't realise that pinks trips are an abomination. They'll be dealt with later 😋
More to the point, can you ask the big fella for a helping hand again? I think we can and will beat Brizzle and I don't doubt you do too, but a little divine intervention wouldn't hurt.
Thx, 86