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It will take the greatest of escapes for Derby to avoid relegation to League One but that seemingly impossible task is a step closer after a 1-0 victory over promotion hopefuls West Brom.
The Rams started the day 17 points adrift at the bottom but they have closed that gap to 14 and, with 23 games still to play, Wayne Rooney’s side are very much still in the fight.
It will be a tough ask to avoid the drop, of course. Only three teams have stayed up after being bottom at Christmas and no club who have been more than four points from safety has survived.
Derby beat West Brom 1-0 on Monday night at Pride Park thanks to Colin Kazim-Richards’ goal
It was Kazim-Richards (left) who scored the only goal of the game on Monday to win it 1-0
Kazim-Richards found the back of the net in the 58th minute of the game against West Brom
‘It’s a massive win for us,’ said Rooney. ‘We’ve out-fought a very physical team today.’
Derby needed a late Christmas present from their opponents, with a disastrous mix-up from Sam Johnstone and Cedric Kipre gifting Colin Kazim-Richards the only goal.
West Brom have now won just two of their last eight games. That is not the sort of form that wins you an automatic promotion place and a furious Valerien Ismael slammed his players’ lack of desire at full-time.
Wayne Rooney’s side started the day 17 points adrift at the bottom of the Championship
The Rams’ victory has narrowed that gap to 14, with 23 games still left to play this season
‘It’s more than frustration tonight, tonight I’m really upset. There was a lack of quality and mentality from the first minute.
‘It’s all about the desire to show to win games when you get the chance to be [in the] top two spots, what we want to reach, you need to show it from the first minute.
‘The goal we conceded was ridiculous. It was not enough, the mentality is not right for that game. You need to show that winning desire, you need to have that…
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Source : dailymail
