Derby County Coach Paul Warne Emphasizes Importance of Scoring First

Derby County head coach Paul Warne spoke with Dominic Dietrich in advance of their Championship fixture against Sheffield Wednesday. An optimistic atmosphere prevailed at Moor Farm as head coach Paul Warne met with media representatives immediately following his team meeting. While training grounds often feel subdued after a defeat, Warne’s positive demeanor suggested satisfaction with his team’s performance for 76 minutes after they had fallen 2-0 behind to Swansea City just 14 minutes into their home game on Wednesday night. This led to questions about how the Derby team intends to begin their match against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday with the same tempo and standards from the outset. David Ozoh, a player whose situation has been widely reported, is seen as a potentially crucial asset for an improved Derby squad. After months of anticipation, the injured midfielder has regained fitness. His return to training last week generated excitement among supporters. Nevertheless, Warne confirmed this morning that there is “no chance” Ozoh will feature against Sheffield Wednesday, suggesting he could be “a further couple of weeks” away from playing due to “some discomfort running.” The Rams have not secured a win in any game where they conceded the first goal, but they have emerged victorious in five of the eight matches in which they opened the scoring. Warne conceded that the team must start faster, given what he perceives as a low-scoring trend in the Championship this season. This observation holds true for Derby, who have only been involved in two games this season that featured more than three goals.