Pride at stake as Derby bid to step up a gear

NIGEL CLOUGH admits he was surprised how poor Derby were in his first game in charge on Saturday — and claims Burton might have done better.

Clough left Blue Square Premier leaders Burton to take charge at Pride Park earlier this month but was given a rude awakening as a Coca-Cola Championship boss as his side crashed 2-0 to QPR.

The defeat was Derby’s third in succession in the league and a sixth in eight games and left them just two points above the relegation zone.

The mood at Pride Park is therefore markedly different from at Burton, who look destined to win a place in the Football League after being put on course by Clough.

The gulf in standard between Derby and Burton remains considerable, of course, but Clough believes his new players could learn something from his former non-League charges.

Clough said: “They know they didn’t perform on Saturday but we hope we bottomed out in that department and everything goes up from here.

“We certainly hoped it would be better than that – but it wasn’t, and we can only get better. If it gets any worse we are all in trouble.”

Spirits would lift swiftly if Derby manage to win either of their two huge cup ties this week.

Remarkably, the Rams travel to Premier League leaders Manchester United tonight for the second leg of their Carling Cup semi-final looking to protect a 1-0 lead. A draw would be good enough to secure a trip to Wembley and then they face an arguably even bigger clash on Friday as they host rivals Nottingham Forest – and former boss Billy Davies – in the FA Cup fourth round. Clough said: “It will be nice to get a break from the league after Saturday, it does seem like the cup competitions have provided some relief. But we can’t run away from the league form. We’re going to be back at that in just over a week’s time and that is still the priority for us.”

United are now firmly installed as Premier League favourites and are expected to put Clough’s men back in their place tonight, even if Alex Ferguson fields a weakened side.

Clough remains optimistic, however, and said: “We are not sure what side they will put out but we are certainly capable of getting a result there, whether it be a draw to hang onto the lead or whatever. It is a long, long time since Derby have been to Wembley. That is the incentive and it should spur everyone on in training.”

Ferguson has pledged to field a youthful line-up, so Darron Gibson, Rodrigo Possebon, Rafael, Danny Welbeck and, possibly, new signing Zoran Tosic can all expect to play a prominent part.

However, the Scot did introduce Carrick, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo during the second half at Pride Park, so a strong bench can be anticipated as well should United find trouble overcoming the Coca-Cola Championship side.

Edwin van der Sar and Dimitar Berbatov are among those who will be given the night off completely.