Gift Wrapped

Yet again Derby shoot themselves in the foot with blunders costing them points again. Mistakes by Craig Forsyth and a calamitous error by Lee Grant saw our Rams lose 2-0 in a match that they dominated statistically.

Disgraceful refereeing didn't help. I even had Forest fans saying a red card should have been issued when Bent was brought down.

The fact of the matter though is that we are struggling big time in two key areas. Scoring goals since the loss of Chris Martin and gifting them too.

It's no secret that the back four are simply not good enough at the moment and perhaps it's time to give Stephen Warnock a go at left back. At least we have the option there.

The same can't be said of the right back spot. Cyrus Christie has been very poor of late and Ryan Shotton doesn't inspire confidence either.

Richard Keogh looks a shadow of the player from two seasons ago and although Raul Albentosa will need to be given time to settle in, there are signs of weaknesses in his game. He appears to be very one footed for one!

The error of Lee Grants that gifted Wolves a second goal was equal in the blunder stakes to the one made by Jon Ruddy against us at Norwich.

Automatic promotion now looks dead and buried and the team will now have to fight their way into the play offs. Even a top six place is far from certain. On current form we could be out of the end of season lottery zone within a couple of games.

Yes we have injuries, but we also have a large squad. To rely so much on one player to create scoring opportunities shows how much we need a plan b.

There is no real plan b and we will have to hope that our main striker is back after the international break.

After that a true test of character faces the team and also a real test of Steve McClarens management expertise. The next seven games could define him as a manager.

Has the Rot Set In?

Yet another disappointing result and we are slowly slip sliding away from the promotion dream. The reality of it appears to bear that the vehicle is running out of steam.

In my opinion it started away at Rotherham. We haven't looked the same side since.

Last night we wouldn't have scored had we been given all night to score. Middlesbrough were the better side. Bamford scoring a very similar goal to the one he scored against us at The Riverside.

The visiting keeper could have had the night off. I can't remember him having to do much apart from routine catches

It's all very well us blaming the loss of form on the absence of Chris Martin and it is very true we are missing him. However, this demonstrates the limitations and the lack of alternative tactics by the manager.

Johnny Russell has worked hard in that central role, but it doesn't take a genious to work out that he isn't suited to it.

I was one of those who were initially cautious about signing Tom Ince. He has overall done well, but the last couple of games he's been well handled by defences. George Friend owned him last night.

The only positive for me is the performance of young Jamie Hanson. Two decent steady performances and some crunching tackles last night show why he's called bruiser.

On to Wolves away and a win is a must. Not only has automatic promotion moved into the distance, but play offs are now looking ambitious.

Dream Debut

So we came away from Norwich with a hard fought point.

We had to rely on luck to scramble a point, but at this stage of the season and against promotion rivals it is well received.

Jamie Hanson on his league debut scoring directly from a corner earned us a share of the spoils. I've no doubt that we came away the far happier of the two sides.

The game did though show our weaknesses. Defensive lapses are still happening and we are still struggling up front without Chris Martin and Darren Bent.

There's no shortage of work and effort from Russell, Ward, and Ince, but we do not currently have a natural goalscorer.

Johnny Russell does create problems for defences, but as a lone striker he is obviously not suited to the role.

Jamie Ward had a good game at Carrow Road and I expect he will start the Middlesbrough game.

The visit of 'Boro' tonight will no doubt provide us with a real test.

I hate being negative before such a big game, but our visitors have a great defence and are not a side that will give an inch to any forward line never mind a makeshift one.

George Thorne may be fit, but whoever plays the holding role will have their hands full with the likes of Patrick Bamford. What price he scores against us again.

Extra Time Collapse

Derby have just entered the home straight of the season coming of a disappointing run of results.

The latest two show that despite dominating games, that we are still lacking that little bit extra in turning ball retention into points.

By far the better side both at Brighton and at home to Birmingham we come out of those games with one solitary point. 

The failure to defend when needed to is perfectly demonstrated in both games. The self destruct button was pressed and we now find ourselves on 64 points and not the 72 that people could have been forgiven for expecting.

The positive amongst us will point out that we are equal on points with Bournemouth who now sit in pole position, but the other harsh reality is that seventh place is narrowing the gap too! 

Teams currently pushing to win the division could just as easily find themselves out of the top six come the final day of the season.

Birmingham we totally dominated the game. It was one of the most one sided games I have seen all season. The twist in the tale was to come in the 96th minute.

Two goals up the fourth official indicates that there will be a minimum of three minutes added on. This is about right. Six substitutions three minutes.

Third minute we concede a penalty needlessly. Sixth minute concede from a free kick headed in at the near post. Where was the defence? What were they thinking of?

The harsh reality is that unless these calamitous errors cease, we run the risk of not only blowing automatic promotion, but a fight for the play offs could also loom.

It's time to look ahead to the task and concentrate on the difficult run of fixtures coming up starting with a tricky looking trip to Norwich on Saturday.

Dave Mackay

It's with much sadness that last night I heard of the death of Dave Mackay.

It's also very sad that the media in general are ignoring the contribution that he made to football beyond Tottenham Hotspur.

He was an all time great at White Hart Lane, but before he made a name for himself in London, he was a Star at Heart of Midlothian. He was on the verge of retiring from football and taking a coaching position back in Edinburgh when a certain Brian Clough twisted his arm into extending his playing career with Derby.

Clough also persuaded Dave Mackay to play sweeper. Far from being 'Over the hill' he played some outstanding football as Derby won the old second division and became a major force amongst the games elite.

When his playing days ended at Swindon Town, he briefly managed Nottingham Forest before Derby County came knocking again. This time it was to replace Brian Clough as manager.

The reality was that only someone as popular as Mackay would be accepted by fans.

Not only was he accepted, but he also steered the Rams to a second league title in three years.

He inherited a very good side from Cloughie and added a few quality signings of his own. Francis Lee who had two storming seasons, Charlie George from Arsenal, Bruce Rioch and Leighton James were amongst the big names to be signed by Dave Mackay.

If accepting Clough and Taylor's resignations were the biggest mistakes ever made by a Derby board, sacking Mackay a few years later is almost as bad.

Dave retained a love for the club and I was fortunate enough to exchange a few words with him at the Ted McMinn benefit game.

Another club legend has departed from this life and hopefully a lasting tribute to the great man will be forthcoming. A statue maybe or even retiring the number six shirt as well.

RIP Dave Mackay the best signing Brian Clough ever made.

Points of View

In today's game fans can engage in banter, chat and exchange points of view via social media. The fact is that it's a useful tool to cast opinions and participate in debate both with fellow fans and also tv and radio phone ins.

It's healthy and the way it should be. Debate is healthy. Expressing ones opinions is healthy

The fans who pay large sums to go and support their team should be allowed to express their own points of view.

We live in a society where we have the privilege not afforded to some countries under control by extreme regimes. I for one treasure our Right to express our own opinions.

We as fans pay over the top ticket prices to watch our teams of highly paid players represent our club. Playing professional football is a privilege restricted to a gifted few.

All we ask as fans is that those wearing our shirts do their best to perform well for our team.

When fans have coughed up good money to follow their team, there is nothing more irritating than those who criticise others for having a point of view.

I myself have been on the receiving end for daring to criticise players for performing badly or indeed for daring to question a managers decision.

I like most people have got it wrong from time to time. That's normal though. If any of us were perfect, we would all be millionaires.

I judge players on the last match they have played on a game by game basis. Praise for a good performance and criticism if they have had a stinker.

When I go to work, I would expect my boss to have a good old moan at me had I not completed my work tasks to his satisfaction.

Social media sees a coming together of many different points of view. Whilst I may argue and disagree with some posts, I will defend the right of the poster to have those opinions.

Most of my followers and those I follow can have a good sensible exchange of views. Those who feel they can't bare to read them need only press the Twitter unfollow button.