{"id":556261,"date":"2020-07-01T18:26:34","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T22:26:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=556261"},"modified":"2020-12-28T11:27:29","modified_gmt":"2020-12-28T16:27:29","slug":"wayne-rooney-derby-county-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/07\/01\/wayne-rooney-derby-county-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Wayne Rooney Gives Derby County the Edge in Gutsy Win"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Wayne Rooney<\/a> free-kick was enough to give Derby County all three points against Preston North End. The 1-0 win for the visitors sees the Lancashire side’s dismal form continue.<\/p>\n

Both sides came into the match at Deepdale just a few points off the top six but in completely different veins of form.<\/p>\n

Derby continued their purple patch to take them a point away from sixth-placed Cardiff City<\/a> and submit their hosts to a fifth loss in six.<\/p>\n

Wayne Rooney Proves to Be the Difference for Derby County<\/h2>\n

Captain Rooney Guides Rams to Victory<\/h3>\n

Derby produced a dominant display in the first half, making it hard to believe that they were the visitors.<\/p>\n

The quick recycling of possession and slick passing between the attacking quartet, guided by Rooney in his quarterback-like midfield role, was a joy to watch.<\/p>\n

On 18 minutes, Louie Sibley was brought down by Paul Huntington<\/a> on the edge of the Preston box. Huntington was lucky to escape extra punishment when a stamp on the youngster following the foul went unseen by referee Jarred Gillett.<\/p>\n

However, his side soon paid the price from the subsequent set-piece.<\/p>\n

England’s all-time leading goalscorer wrong-footed Declan Rudd<\/a> in the Lilywhites’ goal and curled the ball into the far corner.<\/p>\n

Derby nearly doubled their lead after the half-hour mark when Duane Holmes<\/a> raced into the box only to scuff his effort.<\/p>\n

Derby Show Their Resilient Side<\/h3>\n

In the second half, Preston were a much-improved team and played much higher up the pitch. However, they struggled to break down a Derby side with good shape and structure.<\/p>\n

Both Matt Clarke<\/a> and George Evans<\/a>, who has started only once since December due to injury, remained solid at the back.<\/p>\n

Similarly, the midfield partnership of Rooney and Max Bird<\/a> helped to ensure Derby managed their lead until the final whistle.<\/p>\n

The win at Deepdale makes it three wins on the bounce with a one-goal margin for the Rams.<\/p>\n

This ability to hold their nerve may prove vital for Phillip Cocu’s side ahead of their tough run-in.<\/p>\n

Cocu Dedicates Win to Andre Wisdom<\/h3>\n

Derby boss Phillip Cocu praised his side’s character to earn only their first away clean sheet this season.<\/p>\n

The Dutchman told reporters: “We all knew it would be a difficult game. We had the same amount of points and they really pushed us to our maximum.<\/p>\n

“It was a great goal by Wayne but it’s a shame we couldn’t score a second goal. It stayed an open game but in the end, I think we played really good football and showed character to get the win.”<\/p>\n

Andre Wisdom<\/a> was absent from the squad after he was stabbed whilst visiting a relative on early Sunday morning<\/a>; the defender is out of the hospital and Cocu spoke about the boost it gave the team.<\/p>\n

“I spoke with him today in the hotel before the game. He came to see us and it was a big boost for the team. It was a very serious [incident] and we were all very shocked about it but extremely pleased to talk to him. We give the win to him”, Cocu added.<\/p>\n

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Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a>