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Mac & Co. Took On Relative Mediocrity To Revitalise Rams
Friday, 28th Feb 2014 12:01 by Nathan Morley

Derby County take on Burnley tomorrow afternoon in a vital top of the Championship clash, which would send The Rams into second place if they can claim victory.

Cast your mind back to late August last year when the Clarets visited Derby. The away side demolished the hosts 3-0, making the Rams look a far cry from promotion contenders. But of course there was a long way to go at that point and now, after a huge change at the club, there’s every reason to believe in Derby as they push for a place in the top flight.

So, what’s happened, on the pitch, to revitalise a relatively mediocre side and transform them into a major force in their division?

In the four home league matches prior to Steve McClaren’s performance there were no victories for the Rams, quite a surprise when you consider that the form on familiar soil carried the team into the top half last season. In the 12 home league matches since, the club have lost just one — an extraordinary record. It is clear that the team now is at their best where they should be.

Behind that record is the management. Nigel Clough did an excellent job here, I can’t stress that enough, however the new regime evidently has a little extra something to help push on that bit further, the perfect antidote to a couple of years of promise from the likes of Will Hughes and Jeff Hendrick, yet a seeming lack of shrewdness to compete with the top dogs of our division.

Under McClaren and co, the approach on the field has had a huge effect. Substitutions actually make a difference; you only have to look as near back as Saturday for that — the introduction of Simon Dawkins and Conor Sammon at the interval revised the team’s play for the better. The Mac isn’t afraid to make a bold change or two and keep his team pressing to score until the very end.

Recruitment-wise the Rams have flowered with a glitter of premium loan signings. Andre Wisdom, Patrick Bamford, Simon Dawkins (now permanent) and Michael Keane have all arrived from the nation’s elite clubs, who obviously trust Derby to bring on their talents. Although loan scoops were made previously, none were of this quality. Quite a subtle reform, yet important.

John Eustace has had a prominent role in this season’s success to date. At the beginning of the season, the ex-Watford captain didn’t feature as often, now he is intrinsic to the side.

Noticeably Derby can now win ugly, especially in the past few weeks. Chasing the game or not in thrall of the game, Derby rarely won, yet now, there’s always a belief and genuine chance of a result being pulled out of the bag.

To reiterate an earlier point, Clough did wonderful with limited resources at the club and proved perfect to steer through quite a mess that was left for him. Since his, at the time, bitter sacking, I have been woken and enlightened by different concepts that have been pretty refreshing.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves though, there are still 14 matches to go — a long way and plenty time of time in the ever-changing world of football.

Saturday’s match will provide a benchmark of how far things have come over the season, since it was rejuvenated almost five months ago.


To whet your appetite - here are some key Rams vs. Clarets statistics and facts :

Burnley are clearly a bogey side for the Rams, who haven’t won in this fixture over the past 9 meetings.

Turf Moor has been quite a miserable place to visit if you are a Ram, Derby has just 1 win to their name in the last 11 visits.

Derby stands as the division’s second best away side with 31 points from 16 outings on the road.

The Clarets are undefeated on home soil this season and are second in the home table with 36 points from 16 games.

The form table has the Rams in second and the Clarets in fourth.

A win in the fixture would see Derby go second, a draw would see Derby remain 2 points behind Burnley and a defeat for the Rams would raise the gap to 5 points.

Between them Burnley strike partnership Danny Ings and Sam Vokes have scored 34 goals.

Derby’s last victory over the Lancashire side was at Pride Park in January 2007. Steve Howard scored to extend the club’s lead to 6 points at the top of the Championship on a night when Billy Davies was sent to the stands.

Sean Dyche’s side have an impressive record against top 6 sides at Turf Moor; Forest, QPR and Reading have all lost there, while leaders Leicester are yet to visit.

The second-placed side have played 6 matches against fellow top 6 sides; they are undefeated in all of those matches with 3 wins and 3 draws. Meanwhile the third-placed side have also played 6 matches against their top 6 counterparts, but have won just 1 and lost a disappointing 5.

Lee Grant is a notable player to have played for both sides due to his switch in the summer. He made over 100 appearances for the Clarets, including every single league match last season, and since joining DCFC he has 8 clean sheets to his name having played every single league game so far this campaign.


For more of Nathan's articles you can read his blog at www.derbycountyfan.com and follow him @NathansRamsBlog on Twitter.




Photo: Action Images



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