DERBY ASSISTANT manager Liam Rosenior admitted that he was getting “quite emotional” during bottom-of-the-table County’s dramatic 2-2 draw at Reading.
Rosenior stood in for absent manager Wayne Rooney, who was unwell and at home – though a Covid test had proved negative.
Reading led at half-time through a fine effort from Junior Hoilett, and the winger struck again early in the second half from close range.
But Derby staged a fierce rally to draw level near the end, with late goals from Colin Kazim-Richards and Curtis Davies.
Rooney was in contact with the Derby dugout via WhatsApp, and Rosenior said: “The gaffer was sending messages throughout the game. It was important we had that input because I was getting quite emotional on the sidelines.
“I thought that a point was the least we deserved. We dominated the game in terms of possession and we just needed that break.
“It just confirms the character that we have in the group. We tired Reading out. I’m not concerned about the table, I’m just concerned about our performances.
“We have a young group, we can’t put too much pressure on them. We can look at the table in March. It would be very easy to give up but, knowing Wayne, he has never given up at anything.
”No matter how many times the players get knocked down – or decisions go against them – they keep believing.
“You’ve got a group of players that are fighting for the football club and I couldn’t be prouder of them. And the same goes for Wayne.”
Reading still lie perilously close to the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone after a six-point deduction for breaching EFL financial rules and just two wins in 11 games.
“We had a fantastic first 60 minutes and we executed our game plan very well,” Veljko Paunovic, the Reading manager, said.
“It was probably the best start that we’ve had for a while and early in the second half, our second goal was well executed as well.
“But then we started to see the lack of our game fitness because of obvious circumstances [Reading had not played since 11 December due to Covid issues].
“We also had certain players just back from injury and others still dealing with symptoms and consequences of Covid. It was just too much for us to cope with.
“Until our first goal, we did struggle fitness-wise — but we managed it well.
“But the first goal from Derby hit us hard and we couldn’t recompose. It’s not good to see that from your team but it is also comprehensible after what has gone on here.
“I [attribute] it to our fitness levels. We just couldn’t cope with the last minutes of the game.”
Hope so tipp are the only county that have no fear off kk.
If Tipp had no fear of Kilkenny I honestly think that they would have beating them more over the last few years,in 09 they panicked and got a red card,10 everything went right for them,11 they just didn’t turn up,12 they catastrophic collapse in the 2nd half,13 they somehow lost against a badly patched up KK team that was missing half and the other half were playing with injuries and then in 2014 they just couldn’t win even though it was probably the best 1-15 team performance of modern times.They all played UNREAL that day! And then this year it was like a false dawn for them.I’m a Kilkenny fan and Im not being biast but I really question that attitude.I have seen all their shortcomings in the last few years,I think that when push comes to shove that they lack something…….. I don’t know what,but Iv seen enough to have a hunch that I would question them rather than saying Kilkenny are just a great team.And this is coming from a Kilkenny man!
Absolute spot on analysis from you Ionatan with a fada ,Tipp do have the leaders in the team when it counts.
Do not not not not
I realise his commitments mean he is a busy but personally I’d love to Eamon O Shea appointed to a Director of Hurling type roll within the game, whatever your view on his successes or failure’s with, any true hurling person will have to agree that his brand of hurling and philosophy on the game is exactly where the sport should be moving. How many of the genuine hurling classics over last 6 years are down to his attacking free flowing style of hurling. Would love to see it implemented across the hurling landscape…
Hurling has always been attacking and free flowing! there was very few classics last year but overall its always been a fast paced game you cant attribute that to oshea
If they have as much success in the next 10 years as they did with O’Shea as manager it won’t be a good legacy will it!!!
@ OneDay
Does your anus ever get jealous of the sh!+ that flows from your mouth
Another article another negative comment
Negative but true. One Munster title in 3 years for a top team like Tipp is pathetic.
Brian Cody has left a legacy, forget the rest. Winning All Ireland’s is the only stat that counts. Fanning and Tipp may forget the talk of legacys and past managers as currently Tipp’s time is passing them by.
Spot on! One All Ireland from the team that was going to do a 5 in a row! Truly dreadful.
But it’s 5 titles in 8 yrs, it depends what slant you put on it OneDay, it’s your negative comments towards any other county bar Kilkenny that is pathetic
It’s one Munster title in 3 years with O’Shea as manager. There is no other slant to put on it.
All other hurling teams are rubbish. Kilkenny are the only team who are enjoyable to watch.
So OneDay I’ll ask you once again, are you a liar or just someone who jumps on the bandwagon, as you have already said you neither come from or live in kilkenny. Simple question asked, simple answer required.
No
Hon the mines, we have a shit record , 5 al Ireland’s in the last 45 years , jasus even Clare have won 3 and lads are talking about legacies , tipp hurling is a joke , all the talk after 2010 senior and 21 wins , ya tipp will be around for a long time , take a look at what has happened since = jack shit
Let’s be honest at the start of summer it’s an all ireland the big teams want not a provincial championship
“One day Frank from killkenny” is still telling porkies, poor chap has such bitterness and is so far up his own hole he is lost in in his own shite.
Some legacy lost lost lost !!
Where did ya get that from gary?
10 years of failure
Scholars full a scutter like the auld lad.
I see you don’t have the balls to show your face either , great lad hiding behind this site , a coward
Mike Meara from Toom won a lot for tipp didn’t he declan.
A lot more that you did you piece of shit
Hon the mines , I wonder who is in there let have a guess, Sean Q is that you?