Wednesday players will have a couple of days off before preparing for what has become another huge relegation clash on Saturday … at home to a Blackburn side who are without a win in nine league games.
Dave Jones made five changes for the game at Bristol City and, the suspended Lewis Buxton aside, he explained that loanees Stuart Holden and Seyi Olofinjana had pulled out on matchday because they were still recovering from Saturday’s clash with Barnsley after lack of recent competitive games. Similarly, Gary Madine was rested to the bench as he was stiff and sore after playing his first full 90 minutes for some time against the Reds. and Jermaine Johnson went off after 52 minutes because Jones said he was “knackered”.
Defeat for Blackburn at Cardiff on Monday, sees them now level on 47 points with ourselves, Barnsley and Huddersfield. Third from bottom Huddersfield go to Bolton on Tuesday evening, while Peterborough – on 45 points – are at Middlesbrough, meaning victory for the pair would drop us to one place off the foot of the table.
There are now just seven points separating Huddersfield in 22nd place from Derby in eighth spot and, despite ourselves taking four points over Easter, the fight for survival goes on … along with more than 10 other clubs in the division!