Derby: Tired Rams take it easy

I always disliked Brian Laws when he was a player. To be fair there's not many ex-Forest players I do like but he was always an annoying character who was like Stuart Pearce's snide little brother.

As a manager, I've started to build a grudging respect for him. He did his time, and a good job, at Scunthorpe and is doing a good steady job at Sheffield Wednesday under very unstable circumstances. However his ill conceived comments last week that he 'really fancied' Wednesdays chances on Saturday alway looked destined for our dressing room wall. 

According to Brian, Derby looked tired in the Forest and Leeds games. With players returning from injury for Wednesday and the prospect of a big away support, he clearly felt we were there for the taking.

Unfortunately for Brian, far from being tired, two of our key players, Barazite and Addison, had just spent the whole week with their feet up due to being cup tied and suspended respectively. In addition, he'd also missed the key point that his hapless Wednesday side have a nice habit of rolling over and dying on their travels (1-4 Wolves, 0-4 Plymouth, 0-6 reading, 1-3 Birmingham).

The Rams won 3-0 and could have easily had 5 or 6. Tiredness was irrelevant as we hardly had to break sweat. This was such a walk in the park that I felt like laying out a picnic blanket half way the second half. The only way things could have got worse for Brian Laws was if John Aldridge had jumped out and ruffled his hair as our third goal flew in (ref FA Cup semi final 1989).    

Rumours that Jagger has asked Brian Laws to do our team talk for next weeks game at Ipswich are unconfirmed. Rumours that we have asked him for a scout report on Ipswich have been strenuously denied!

Good Times!

C Spaceram
www.ramspace.co.uk