Derby County set points total as Paul Warne looks to prove point
Don Goodman has praised Derby County’s summer recruitment and their start to the season – but insists they must not get distracted from the main priority of retaining their Championship status.
The former West Brom and Wolves striker, turned pundit, points to the fact more than half of Saturday’s starting XI moved to Pride Park in the last transfer window.
While the likes of Jacob Widell Zetterstrom, Nat Phillips, Kenzo Goudmijn, Kayden Jackson and Jerry Yates were new faces, Ebou Adams turned his loan into a permanent deal – and all played their part in the 1-1 draw.
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That left the Rams in the top half of the table, six points off the play-offs but only four away from the bottom three in a congested division. Goodman believes they are moving in the right direction.
“I covered their opening game of the season and they were well-beaten by Blackburn Rovers,” Goodman told Gambling Zone. “Paul Warne had said afterwards that his side wasn't 'Championship-ready' before completing their business.
“If you look at their transfer activity, it's been really good. Six new players started against Plymouth at the weekend which is half a team.
“Having been relegated on a couple of occasions at Rotherham, Paul Warne would acknowledge that this opportunity with Derby County is his best chance to establish himself as a Championship manager. After 15 games this season, I think he's done a brilliant job to make them competitive.
“Although they're in 12th, Derby are only four points above the relegation zone, however. He'll know that they cannot afford to lose focus and rest on their laurels. The next three games against Preston, Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday are massive. If they can pick six points up from those matches, then they'll be sitting reasonably pretty.
“I think Paul Warne has done an excellent job as it's never easy after being promoted to the Championship, unless you are Ipswich.
“It's tight down there, there's only one point between third-bottom Cardiff and Coventry in 17th. There are only four points between the relegation zone and 11th place. I've never seen it like that before at this stage of the season!
“There is, at this stage, no way I can rule Derby out of being relegated, though. They struggle away from home having only won one from eight but they've made a really solid start to the season as a newly-promoted club.”