Derby Down Under - Pot Of Gold
Friday, 14th Dec 2007 13:33 by Daniel J Sewart

If Derby can put Boro to the sword, there could be a pot of gold at the end of the bleak rainbow the Rams have been following this season.

With discussions to take place in the boardroom next week regarding possible investment coming to Pride Park, Derby need to keep up with the lower regions of the Premiership table. Results swung against the team with their fellow cellar dwellers overcoming more fancied opposition last weekend.

There is no doubt to anyone who watched the games in question that Arsenal and Liverpool totally underestimated their opposition and sat on their heels early and fell short trying to do too much, too late.

With Derby County coming off their most gutsy performance of the campaign they will want to wrestle the points from a Middlesbrough team that will be buzzing after last weeks triumph. There is no doubt from what has been seen this season from both clubs that a victory is a possibility but the Rams squad will need to show the same resolve they did at Old Trafford.

If the team can manage to capture the three points as a follow up to their fighting performance last week, it will definitely assist in guiding any money that finds its way to Pride Park being used to strengthen the current squad.

A loss could be the final sign that spending a lot of money now may be a pointless exercise, in a season doomed by early season form. The games come thick and fast this month and turning the next two very winnable fixtures into points is a must.

From what we have seen of Paul Jewell is getting a response from his players and they will be more than up to the task of taking the game right up to the opposition. It is a chance for the team to show what they are capable of to their manager and themselves but also to the Rams faithful, who in a season with little to cheer about have been exceptional in their support.

As an Australian sitting at home enjoying the Manchester United game, I could clearly hear the singing and support the traveling fans supplied. Their efforts were so good that every United supported should have gone home with disgraced, perhaps years of success and expectation of winning has dulled their voices.

One thing is certain, voices will not be dull come Saturday when everyone linked to Derby County Football Club, staff, players and fans alike realize what is at stake.
The season is on the line and I expect we will see a team playing in exactly that fashion come 3pm (or in my case 2am…yawn!!).

A pot of gold awaits the Rams… it’s a shame there aren’t more Irishmen in the team as maybe they could have had a word with the leprechaun guarding it. I wonder if some Scotsmen will do instead?

Go Ewe Rams!!