The week commenced dramatically with Robbie Savage’s outburst on local radio. Meanwhile, the team had the tasks of knocking League One Millwall out of the FA Cup and beating bottom club Peterborough United in the Championship.

Rams fans remain divided over Savage and the media controversy won’t have endeared him to his detractors. It all deflected attention from more discussion of that appalling Scunthorpe defeat.

Savage - just get your teammates to concentrate better on their consistency and end product.

Savage had confronted Radio Derby’s Colin Gibson, who aired a rumour that some players were not behind the Derby manager or backroom staff and he ‘went off on one’.

The controversy divided fans as to the merits of Robbie’s rant. The manager himself opined that some of the players lacked the heart or desire to play for Derby County, naming ‘three or four’ positive examples, saying of the rest: “It is black and white now - if you are not doing your job now, off you go."

Clough said he was sick of player’s excuses and that maybe it shouldn’t have taken him 12 months to reach the conclusion that enough was enough. I have to agree (and have said so before) that several players flatter to deceive, perform inconsistently, they just frustrate the life out of the fans and manager.

The evidence shows that some just aren’t worthy of pulling on the shirt. After the severe squad cull that Clough has already conducted, his words were pretty damning.

Savage blurted that those players with ‘a trick or two’ get better thought of than unsung grafters (my words). That was unremarkable but there seemed implicit criticism of some fellow players.

Sav himself was splitting the dressing room into his own stereotypes, seemingly adjudging players in different positions with different talents, purely by their workrate or miles covered - as opposed to acknowledging the need for those with match-winning skills like Kris Commons.

Alan Hinton couldn’t tackle for toffee but was essential to Derby’s League title sides; John McGovern wasn’t a towering presence in the air but his subtle skills and vision made the team tick; Alan Durban’s cunning late runs (after others had done the donkey work) claimed dozens of crucial goals for Derby. Pick examples from any era; teams always have heroes and grafters.

Fans can actually tell which players have ability, desire, consistency and heart (few and far between at Derby) - some are also blessed with immense skill: Mackay, Stimac, Hector, and McFarland...examples abound!

At Derby now, players who flatter to deceive without showing the full complement of what’s required outnumber either the grafters or the ones with a ‘trick or two’. That’s why our current squad is attracting derision from supporters. As Clough says, some still want the rewards and trappings of being a footballer without doing what it takes to be a footballer!

There was no reaction regarding Savage’s outburst from the manager or DCFC board so presumably they condone such public rantings. I was reassured that internal relations are tickety-boo though, because instead I received e-letters from the club telling me all about offers at the Breadsall Priory and exhorting me to make holiday bookings through Thomas Cook.

Tom Glick later suggested that Clough’s hands may be less tied in the transfer market, in that if no-one is sold this month, money for a wanted player would still be available from the board. Clough said that Derby had received no offers for any of their players - and he suggested that told its own story.

That’s a little selective however - Nigel disregarded the cat-and-mouse chase that ensues at the end of a transfer window, when a buying club puts down a ‘take it or leave it’ offer for a player on (say) the 31st of the month.

If the club want to sell and the player wants to move, that’s that - so Clough and Glick should be making sure they can also buy a suitable replacement before the window closes. A post-window emergency loan to replace a star player hasn’t been shown to be adequate or improved team quality in the past.

Mr Glick said that the club were aiming to cut the player wage bill yet further, which makes the recruitment of fit, competent and consistent players even more crucial.

The games this week would tell us if all the hot air and controversy had sparked the players. League One Millwall stood in the way of Derby and a passage to the FA Cup 4th Round. Savage had ridiculously said that if the manager could change 16 players for the Millwall game, he would do so; I thought several changes might result from Saturday’s debacle but only two occurred.

One change was enforced due to Nicky Hunt’s ineligibility, Paul Green played right back (!) and winger Lee Croft was recalled. Rob Hulse was a substitute, as Kris Commons and Chris Porter formed the attack.

After all the media talk since Saturday’s poor showing against Scunthorpe, it was the fans who had the last word; they stayed away in their thousands as the attendance of 7,183 was the lowest yet recorded for a competitive game at Pride Park Stadium. Message received, DCFC?

Derby started positively and although there was no early breakthrough, there was some conviction and purpose in their play with more accurate passing and some movement. Pearson went closest, with a poor shot that goalkeeper Forde clutched gratefully and then a header that he put wide. The chances fell to the wrong player, as the Scot is seldom ruthless enough in front of goal.

Millwall, playing on the break, looked to exploit the spaces when the Rams were committed upfield. Grabban and Morrison proved to be the same nuisances that they were in the tie at the New Den and there were a few anxious moments at the heart of Derby’s defence.

If anything, Millwall’s less frequent raids were more dangerous than Derby’s greater possession. Miles Addison, struggling throughout the first half with a foot injury, had to retire and was replaced by Shaun Barker before half time. A snap shot from Kris Commons on the turn whistled close to the Lions’ goal but the Rams could not take a lead into the break.

On the restart, Commons ran at Millwall but his lofted shot was off target. Steve Davies replaced Croft and then Teale replaced Commons as Derby sought a goal. There were a few near things, Porter crashed a shot against the bar and Derby gained the upper hand for periods but they could not beat Forde. Millwall remained dangerous as both sides fought hard for a 4th Round place. 

Despite better effort and energy than the Scunthorpe defeat, the Rams couldn’t convert their improvement into goals. It was Millwall that got the upper hand in extra time and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 108 minutes of play. Morison was allowed to get on the end of a Millwall corner; he headed against the crossbar but was quickest to his own rebound to put the ball into the net and give the Lions a lead.

The Rams weren’t finished though and a neat exchange between Steve Davies and Paul Green left Davies to skip past defenders and finish coolly from 15 yards for the equaliser! Derby redoubled their attacks but could not force a winner and it ended 1-1 after extra time.

Davies gave thrust up front and Green did well at right back; Clough’s decision to move him had paid off.

So it went down to a penalty shoot-out. Derby buried all five of their spot-kicks; Davies, Savage, Porter, Teale and Moxey seeing the Rams through, after Bywater had brilliantly saved Millwall’s second penalty, taken by Danny Schofield. The Rams triumphed 5-3, and now have to wait until Tuesday (at the earliest) when the twice-postponed tie between Brentford vs. Doncaster is played.

Manager Nigel Clough said that the team showed some of the character that had been lacking from recent home displays. It was very important to carry the improvement through to the Peterborough league game. Hard work, consistency and teamwork are essential to progress.

The fitness of Miles Addison remains a worry; he still feels pain from his injured foot and may suffer yet another setback. Shaun Barker came through his injury problems to play his part against Millwall but Derby still have not established a central defensive partnership.

Dean Leacock will be absent for another month after a knee operation, so the manager prioritised a centre half among the ‘three or four loans’ that he was hoping to conclude. 

Russell Anderson, a 31-year old out-of-contract ex-Sunderland defender was soon on the Rams’ radar and was signed up by Derby for the rest of the season. He cost the Black Cats £1m in June 2007 from Aberdeen and is a Scottish international, but made only 2 appearances for them in a spell dogged by injuries incurred when the Mackems loaned him out to Burnley and Plymouth.

If fit, Russell may prove his worth over the next 4 months. He is yet another rehab/refugee to reinforce the squad (we’ve now used in excess of 30 players so far) and his recent record won’t suggest that he is likely to improve the selection consistency from Derby’s injury-plagued squad. We were treated to the mandatory enthusiastic: “I just want to play and show what I can do” interview tit-bits from Russell.

Talking of refugees from former clubs, Ex-Ram Giles Barnes has left Birmingham City, where he’d been ‘trialling’ for several weeks, and is now training with West Bromwich Albion. So, two Premiership clubs - Fulham and now Brum have chosen to survive without his services.

The Rams’ reserves beat Walsall 3-0 to go top of the Central Division table. That’s right, a Derby team topping a table! DJ Campbell looked sharp and scored twice, Jay McEveley also scoring. Luke Varney played, though he’s expected to return to Sheffield Wednesday on loan shortly.

Consistent performances and results are needed from Clough’s players, the manager declaring that nothing less was now acceptable. He certainly gave everyone a chance over the past year. Derby were only halfway to a Championship survival target of 50+ points. Wake up, players!

The manager said that last week was a watershed for the players. No more excuses are tolerable; there’s certainly been a showdown. Would the improvement shown in the FA Cup replay be carried over to the league?

Nigel Clough made team changes for the game at London Road, Peterborough; Nicky Hunt returned, Shaun Barker started in defence, and DJ Campbell partnered Steve Davies in attack. So Hulse, Porter and Commons warmed the bench alongside new loanee Russell Anderson. Croft and Teale were both omitted from the matchday selection.

Peterborough United, under new management since the Rams beat them 2-1 on opening day, have taken Jake Livermore on loan, the Tottenham’s ex-Rams’ loanee who had hardly set Pride Park Stadium alight. Another loanee arrival is Arsenal’s Kerrea Gilbert; 4 loanees made their Posh debuts in the game. They also have ex-Derby striker Izale McLeod on loan from Charlton. Peterborough tried to sign Izale from MK several years ago for £1m. Unable to train in the UK due to the big freeze, Posh had spent the week in Tenerife.

Posh started briskly and tried to exploit Derby’s slow backline, with McLeod and George Boyd troubling the Rams’ defence. DJ was looking busy for the Rams and Davies was dangerous in the air. True to form, the final ball and finishing were found wanting but the Derby players were (at last) responding to Clough’s challenge.

The game turned Derby’s way with two sendings off for Posh; Craig Morgan was dismissed when he clogged DJ Campbell - and then, on the stroke of half-time, Ryan Bennett was given his marching orders for hauling down Campbell when the striker was through on goal.

Steve Davies slotted home the penalty and Peterborough faced the entire 2nd half with only 9 men. If Derby couldn’t win now, they never would. The game had attracted 10,300, including over 2,500 Rams fans.

Almost immediately on the restart, Derby got the security goal they needed; Campbell rapped in a shot that Lewis couldn’t hold and DJ smartly put in the rebound for 2-0. Posh were on the ropes but Derby needed to sustain their workrate and be ruthless. They should have scored more.

Peterborough plugged away but Rams’ substitute Kris Commons crossed for Campbell to head Derby’s 3rd goal with 15 minutes to go. Loan defender Russell Anderson came on for Shaun Barker but Posh perked up, with a couple of efforts on goal. The Rams managed to see the game out comfortably - as they should - to claim an important win and a double over Posh.

After the game, Clough was unhappy that Derby relaxed when Posh were down to 9 men; it had allowed the home side too much possession with them creating late chances. Robbie Savage was interviewed too and was relieved with the victory, saying that the players had earned their money. Sav did not take the opportunity to apologise to Radio Derby’s Colin Bloomfield for insulting him last week, though Bloomfield diplomatically drew a line under Savage’s indiscretions.

Derby are 7 points clear of the bottom places in the Championship, but players must stay mindful that the teams below have games in hand; Derby must avoid getting dragged into the relegation mire.

Next is an FA Cup 4th Round date with either Brentford or Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, unless that Tuesday cup-tie goes to a replay. The Rams then have another Championship away game at Plymouth Argyle before the home clash with the Trees at the end of the month!

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RamsWeek 3 last year was conducted under the gaze of a Derby County legend, as ‘Steve Bloomer’s Watching’ came true when the new bust of the Rams’ all-time top scorer was unveiled next to the home dugout at Pride Park Stadium, before the game with QPR.

It was new manager Nigel Clough’s first match in charge of Derby and Giles Barnes started his first game in 11 months. It was not a happy day and the boss saw the size of his task as QPR won comfortably 2-0. Rangers scored a goal in each half as Clough bemoaned players seemingly unable to carry out the basics.

Half-hearted play, bad passing, loose defensive work (especially the tormented, hapless Camara at full-back), the forwards snatching at chances: all the usual Derby hallmarks were on display.

Clough certainly had plenty to think about in advance of the 4th Round FA Cup tie with Nothingham F*rest and the Carling Cup semi-final away leg at Old Trafford.

Photo: Action Images

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