WELCOME to the Championship, Wayne.
This was nothing spectacular. No outrageous overhead kicks, like the famous one he scored against Manchester City.
Rooney celebrated assisting Derby’s first goalCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Martyn Waghorn regained Derby’s lead in the second halfCredit: Getty – Contributor
No 30-yard curlers like the one he thumped in for Everton against David Seaman to announce himself on the top stage when he was still 16.
This was a typical Championship game — blood and thunder stuff with a clear lack of quality, especially in the final third.
But when the quality did arrive, it came from . . . you guessed it, Wayne Rooney.
Just seconds before the break, Derby won a free-kick 40-odd yards out.
Rooney, captaining the Rams on his debut, swung the ball over superbly and it was bundled in by Jack Marriott. Roo, all alone, did a fist-pump before joining his jubilant team-mates near the corner flag.
Wife Coleen and their ten-year-old son Kai celebrated in the Pride Park executive boxes.
And despite being pegged back by sub Elliot Simoes’ 50th- minute leveller, it was Rooney who once again influenced the game.
His brilliant 57th- minute long ball — spreading play from left to right — set Andre Wisdom on his way.
And the defender’s low cross was swept in by Martyn Waghorn.
Wazza clearly hasn’t lost his passionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
It was hard for Rooney to pose much of a scoring threat himself, considering manager Phillip Cocu played him so deep last night.
The ex-Manchester United and Everton star started behind the front two of Waghorn and Marriott but played much deeper than most people anticipated
At times, when Derby won corners, Rooney was standing 30 yards away from goal.
It is not like he is England and Manchester United’s record goalscorer or anything like that!
Sure, he is 34 and does not have the pace to scare the living daylights out of defenders any more. But he can still finish.
Even Rooney conceded: “I knew I couldn’t dictate as much as I would have liked but I just had to be patient and help create.”
Rooney wore the captain’s armbandCredit: Getty – Contributor
However, Cocu will point to the two pieces of top quality from Rooney that brought about the goals.
And he said: “People talk about Wayne as a striker but tonight in a midfield role his vision was outstanding.”
His passing was immaculate, link-up play top notch and tackling was up to his typically tenacious standards.
However, when a rare chance did present itself, Rooney messed it up.
Just after sub Simoes turned the ball home after keeper Ben Hamer saved Conor Chaplin’s initial shot for the Barnsley leveller, Rooney completely miscued a header that went wide from just a few yards out.
Typically for the Championship, he was not getting the sort of time on the ball afforded to him in the Premier League. Earlier in the evening, Rooney came out for his warm-up to cheers and chants of “Rooney! Rooney!”
from the Rams faithful — many who have already snapped up his replica No 32 shirt.
And his name got the loudest cheer when the PA announced him in the starting line-up.
Rooney has dropped down to the Championship for the first timeCredit: Reuters
But it was frustrating as the man in the advanced position, Marriott, spurned chance after chance.
First he missed a sitter after ten minutes when he shot wide from a Waghorn pass.
Then he really should have fired Derby ahead when he got one on one with Samuel Radlinger but the Barnsley keeper got a slight touch to deflect his shot wide.
And then, after racing on to a Duane Holmes pass, the Rams striker went face to face with the keeper again only to lob the ball wide.
His misfiring for the last one even earned a critical – but constructive – word from Rooney himself.
The former Three Lions star said: “Players miss chances but the way he was casual and lazy about the shot is why I said to him you have got to put it in no matter if you’re offside or not. Hopefully he won’t do that
again.”
Jack Marriott gave the Rams the leadCredit: PA:Press Association
Bird also saw a shot deflected wide, while Curtis Davies missed with a header.
But Marriott came good with the opener to lift the Pride Park mood for the half-time interval.
And the Rams almost doubled their lead after the break but Matt Clarke’s header from a corner was tipped on to a post by the Barnsley keeper.
But then came the winner, although the Rams somewhat limped over the line as Cocu decided to shut up shop.
Anyway, eight points off the play-offs with 20 games left.
No pressure, Wayne.
Mel Morris discusses Wayne Rooney’s impact since he joined Derby
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
