Derby County ended up being booed off again this time after losing 2-1 to Oxford United with out of work manager Darren Moore watching on.
The Rams were much fancied and tipped for promotion in pre-season, but now they have lost for the second time in three games in League One.
It came as Mark Harris netted twice to earn Oxford United a deserved win at Pride Park, scoreing in each half to bag a second win of the campaign, before Martyn Waghorn got a consolation goal.
Darren Moore spotted at Derby’s game against Oxford tonight.
They’re currently losing 2-0.
Too early for a change? #dcfc 🐏 pic.twitter.com/gjJ5lfNNdc
— The #EFL Zone (@TheFLZone) August 15, 2023
Derby boss Paul Warne admitte post-match that his side had too many players “off it” as they slipped to a third successive home defeat against Oxford United.
He said: “I was disappointed obviously. I think I speak for 25,000 people in here in that it wasn’t us at our best.
“I thought we looked nervy first half which surprised me because three-quarters of the team were here last year.
“But respect to Oxford, I know they are a strong team and I think they will be right up there come the end of the season.
“The goal is avoidable and we just keep giving teams a little lift. We just keep giving goals away through our own errors really.
“I thought the ball was going through and obviously Sonny decided to head it and then Nels plays in the middle of the pitch where there is an overload.
“That was disappointing and then he finished. But then I thought it took the pressure off the lads and I thought we were better for the rest of the first half.
“I asked for a response at half-time and I kept the 11 the same. I was tempted to go to a back four and kept the team the same for 10 minutes.
“Then, when you’re 1-0 down, you might as well go for it and give the fans something to cheer and sing about.
“In the second half, parts of our play were excellent, but parts of it we looked open obviously.
“Their good players picked us off. They had power and pace up top and out wide and many times we were at their end, they were countering us at the other.
“We got a goal back deservedly. If Wash would have swivelled his hips a bit quicker we might have come away with a point.
“On actual goalscoring opportunities, there couldn’t have been a lot in the game, but box-to-box was nowhere near the level we want as a group.
“I am the leader of that group. We will pick them up and pick a team that we think will go toe to toe and give a better performance.
“But it was a disappointing evening. I am not trying to pretend it’s early in the season and will take a long time to get going.
“We were just poor and we had too many players off it and we need to get back to it very quickly.”
Questioned if the performance was the best of his reign, Oxford boss Liam Manning said, as per Oxford Mail: “It’ll definitely be up there I think. It’s mad what can change around in not even a week.
“The atmosphere and energy five days ago was completely different to what it is now.
“When you listen to some of the things I said at the back end of last week around staying calm, not getting too high or too low, focusing on what we do every single day, and it will come.
“There’s no secret to it – it’s turning up every single day and accepting we’re going to lose some games, and it’s how you respond and bounce back.
“I have to take my hat off to the staff and players, they’re such an honest group of people that turn up and do it every single day.”
“I’m quite clear it’s a squad game. We make changes and pick teams that we think can step onto the pitch and deliver.
“I didn’t look into it too much, who was here last year and who wasn’t because everybody plays their part.
“Yet again, I think the subs came on and had a terrific impact.
“What you see is a group of players working hard for each other and fighting for the club, and I think some of the most impressive stuff tonight was how we defended set pieces.
“They load it up and make it so difficult for you, but we stood up to it and showed bravery, discipline and a real spirit.
“They press and get after you, and we showed some good composure and bravery in our play, and real good variation.
“Naturally, you score and you get the emotional high, energy and excitement.
“We lost our way a little bit with people pressing on their own.
“It was quite an important message for the lads at half-time, to try not to hold onto the 1-0.
“You come to a place like this with the atmosphere and the strength they have in their squad, if you try and see out a 1-0 for 45 or 50 minutes, you’re going to be in trouble.
“I thought the lads did a terrific job in defending like we had to and showing quality in transition and to keep the ball.”
This is what fans had to say as Derby were booed off again after losing to Oxford with Darren Moore watching on…
@jammsterz: Starting to not believe in him anymore, if we lose Saturday then Clowes must get rid
@AlexJames016: Taxi is running Paul, hurry I’ve got places to be.
@MrRobbieJones: “Unless I am told otherwise…” He knows the pressure has cranked up massively last night. No “nearly” about the performance either. Excuses are starting to grate – even after the Burton game. #dcfc #dcfcfans
@Cameron45484821: Have we actually seen anything good under Warne yet?! Starting to wonder if he is the right man for #dcfc #dcfcfans
@Butlins59: The side is piss weak, the in’s & outs of the transfer window was horrendous, the owner builds houses and the manager is Mr Waffle. But we didn’t nearly have a club….. old news. Time for the owner to get the owners manual out and make his first sacking. #dcfc
@BaleMolly: can’t keep making excuses. not good enough when really we should be walking the league. sort it out or go
@Dale_tomo90: Same old excuses! Last season he had an excuse of not his players.. what’s it to be this season now you have “your” players
@LewisJubb: GET HIM GONE
@TheDerbyBoy1: WARNE OUT
@Scottroyb1: I stopped watching at the point where he said if we won today we could have gone joint top. Grow up.
@RyanDcfc85: Paul, I want it to work out for you, but you’ve got to go 4 at the back against Fleetwood
@NoisyRic: Just looked up our odds for relegation. 100/1, seriously considering investing a tenner
@CallumWest98: Change the system on Saturday or he’s got to go end of.
@RustedRazor: Get him gone
@Tomk_1992: I’ve seen a couple of his interviews since he left us and he doesn’t seem as interested and motivated as he was when he was at Rotherham
@DarranA1979: The club is too big for him, the football is awful, signed too many older players, zero tactics, it was like a playground kick about everyone chasing the ball. Substitutions clearly show he doesn’t know what he’s doing. David, act now and get rid!
@AlexJames016: ‘We are a nearly team’ Yes Paul we are nearly utterly shit, just shit at the moment. The guy hasn’t got a clue #dcfc #dcfcfans #derbycounty
@paulbully:
An effective manager:
– Changes tactics when the original setup clearly isn’t working.
– Picks his own captain.
– Drops players who aren’t performing.
– Doesn’t waffle on with the same drivel and excuses after every game.
Meanwhile, Paul Warne… 🤔
#DCFC #DCFCfans #Derby 🐏🐏
@Rfinch_1: Pack your bags and coffee machine and fuck off back to Rotherham along with your shit staff
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