Derby County boss Paul Warne has admitted that he is not happy with how his team have started the new season with the Rams sitting mid-table, according to journalist Leigh Curtis of Derbyshire Live.
The 50-year-old says it has been a “stuttering” start to the season for the Rams, who currently sit 12th in the League One table, having won three, drawn one and lost three so far this season, which leaves them six points off Portsmouth at the top of the table albeit the Rams have a game-in-hand.
What’s Been Said?
Speaking to the media ahead of Derby’s clash at Carlisle later today, Warne commented on Derby’s start to the season;
“It is a stuttering start, but it’s not like we are bottom of the league though is it? I appreciate everyone has expectations and expectations at a big club are louder, not bigger. They’re not bigger because fans of every club want their team to be in the top three.
“At the moment we have just fallen short of where we expected to be. I don’t expect us to win every single game, but I do expect us to have more points than we have got. In fairness, bar a late-minute goal (v Portsmouth) and feeling a little robbed at Bolton, we might have three or four more points and we’re sitting second.
“I know if we win a game in hand we are only three points off the top and I do feel like when everybody is fit we have a really tight group that can achieve things. I think the team and the squad are beginning to mould themselves into a much better team and the way we want them to be.”
Derby have had a few key injuries so far this season, with the likes of Conor Hourihane, Max Bird, Louie Sibley and Tom Barkhuizen having missed the start of the season. However, it has been confirmed that although Hourihane is not quite ready for a return, Bird is returning to training on Monday whilst Sibley and Barkhuizen could feature at Carlisle today after recovering from their respective injuries.
Writer’s View
I think many people have been surprised at Derby’s start to the season, with many predicting the Rams to win promotion this season with some even predicting that they would finish this season as League One Champions.
Paul Warne is one of the most-experienced managers at League One level having helped Rotherham United out of this division and there are big expectations from the Derby fanbase as they try to return to the Championship having been relegated two years ago.
I do still expect them to turn it around and challenge for promotion once key players such as Max Bird are fully fit and have returned from injury.
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