MX23RW : Sunday, November 24 08:30:41| >> :120:42774:42774:
[monks data]
Attendance: 26,590
Derby logo
Championship | Gameweek 37
Mar 8, 2020 at 3pm UK
 
Blackburn logo

3-0

Sibley (26'), Martin (41', 85' pen.)
FT(HT: 2-0)

Derby manager Phillip Cocu hoping for positive news on Wayne Rooney

Derby manager Phillip Cocu hoping for positive news on Wayne Rooney
© Reuters
The forward watched from the stands as the Rams beat Blackburn 3-0.

Derby manager Phillip Cocu is hoping for positive news on Wayne Rooney after the former England star missed the 3-0 victory over Blackburn in the Sky Bet Championship.

Rooney watched the game from the stands with a muscle injury and is set to have a scan on Monday.

Derby responded to the bad news on Rooney with a vibrant display that was too much for Blackburn as Louie Sibley marked his full league debut with a brilliant 27th-minute strike.

The 18-year-old unleashed a 25-yard shot into the top right corner and Derby dominated the rest of the first half with Chris Martin doubling their advantage in the 41st minute after Christian Walton could only parry a Graeme Shinnie shot.

Martyn Waghorn hit the inside of a post three minutes later and although Rovers improved they lacked a cutting edge.

Ben Hamer saved a deflected shot from Amari'i Bell but Martin sealed the victory with an 85th-minute penalty after Jason Knight was bundled over and Rovers had John Buckley red-carded for a late lunge on Curtis Davies.

The win takes Derby to within five points of the top six and Cocu is optimistic Rooney will soon be back.

"He has a small muscle problem which will be assessed tomorrow to find out exactly what it is but we don't expect it to be a big issue and maybe he is available for the next game," said Cocu.

"He couldn't train on Saturday, he tried but it was not good enough and we didn't want to take the risk of him pulling a muscle and is out for the season. Tomorrow he will have a scan and then we will know a little bit more.

"Wayne was part of the team before in the preparation for the match, and at half-time and after the game he joined in with everybody. He observed from on high so he could see some tactical details so he was involved with the team."

Sibley followed his eye-catching performance against Manchester United last week with another impressive display and Cocu said: "It's not bad if you start your career with such a goal!"

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray bemoaned his side's missed opportunities.

He said: "We missed some good opportunities, goals change games and we didn't take the chances when they came and paid.

"We are disappointed, we came here with an ambition to get in the top six and believed that we could but Derby played well.

"We've got nine games to go, we've got a lot of teams to play that are around us so let's see where we go. We believe we can beat anybody at home and in spells today we showed we can be a threat away as well."

ID:392285: cacheID:392285:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3995:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa pops a squat on February 15, 2020
Read Next:
Championship week 37 predictions including Leeds vs. Huddersfield
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
6pm
Vikings
@
Bears
6pm
Lions
@
Colts
6pm
Patriots
@
Dolphins
6pm
Buccaneers
@
Giants
6pm
Chiefs
@
Panthers
6pm
Titans
@
Texans
6pm
Cowboys
@
Washington
9.05pm
Broncos
@
Raiders
9.25pm
49ers
@
Packers
9.25pm
Cardinals
@
Seahawks
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1695226121432
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
3Burnley168621961330
4Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!