Derby County were forced to settle for a replay with Northampton Town after their FA Cup fourth-round tie ended goalless on Friday night.
Derby County Draw in FA Cup Shows Need for Signings as Rams Fail to Score
Struggling Performance
Phillip Cocu named a strong side including Wayne Rooney, Jack Marriott and Chris Martin but the Rams couldn’t produce a single shot on target.
Youngster Jason Knight played out of position on the right-wing as Derby County were frustrated by the League Two side.
Knight was one of the Rams’ brighter sparks at the PTS Academy Stadium but he highlights the lack of a proper winger available to Cocu.
Florian Jozefzoon is the only recognised wide-man at the club but has made just one substitute appearance since October.
With the window closing on Friday, this should be something on the top of the Dutchman’s to-do list.
Derby were forced into fielding Craig Forsyth alongside Curtis Davies in central defence; something the full-back has been asked to do numerous times this season.
However, the Scotsman struggled with the Cobblers’ direct approach and looked vulnerable to mistakes.
With less than a week to go, Cocu is still yet to bring a central defender through the door.
The likes of Cameron Carter-Vickers of Tottenham and Leicester City‘s Filip Benkovic were linked at the start of the month, both potential loan-signings.
Benkovic is highly-rated but the Croatian will only move once the Foxes bring in a replacement.
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