5 things we learned from Derby County win vs Burton Albion

1 – David McGoldrick is crucial to Derby’s playoff hopes

If you were near Pride Park on Saturday, you would have very likely heard the chants of Derby’s talisman David McGoldrick’s name.

The 35 year-old striker has been paramount to the Rams success this season scoring 22 goals in 37 appearances in League One this year making him currently the third top scorer in the division.

He bagged another goal against the Brewers; a very calmly taken penalty under the nervous gaze of 29,000 at Pride Park. Not only did McGoldrick score on Saturday, but he ran the show, his movement on and off the ball caused the Burton defenders trouble all afternoon long. The Rams best chances all seemed to run through him, the mark of a top quality attacker.

If Derby are to make the playoffs, McGoldrick might be the man they need to push them over the line and back into the Championship.

2 – Still no goals coming from elsewhere

There’s no denying David McGoldrick’s scoring record this season for the Rams, however the rest of the team seem to struggle to follow suit.

McGoldrick has scored six of Derby’s last seven goals (the other being a James Collins penalty).

The Rams had 23 shots against Burton yet only scored one which was the McGoldrick penalty.

This is something that separates the Rams from the very top teams in the league. For example at the weekend, promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town beat Derby’s playoff rivals Peterborough United 3-0 with three different goal scorers.

That clinical instinct is something that the Rams could do with more of in the run in to the end of the season. David McGoldrick can only do so much.

3 – The Rams earlier season form could be coming back at the perfect time

It’s been clear to see that the Rams had a drop in form. At one point earlier in the year, Derby went 15 unbeaten in League One which ended in January.

Since then the Rams fell down the table, at one point dropping out of the top six right at the business end of the year. However, thanks to two wins in a row against Exeter and Burton, Derby are back in the playoff places and that buzz may be coming back to Pride Park.

Creating more chances but also being patient and not forcing opportunities, Paul Warne’s side seem to have recaptured their previous form at the perfect time, they just need to back it up in two tough games against Portsmouth and Sheffield Wednesday to grab a playoff spot.

4 – Mendez-Laing works much better in a more attacking role

Nathaniel Mendez-Laing has been a class act for the Rams this season, his mix of blistering pace and strength on the ball has been a nightmare for opposing full backs all year long.

However, for a period of the season, Paul Warne tried to implement his system of a 3-5-2 into this Derby team, meaning Mendez-Laing had to play as a wing-back which is not his natural position.

But, on Saturday, Warne reverted to playing him as an attacking winger again and it worked a treat.

The Rams’ winger caused Burton problems all game long, bombing down the wing and playing a huge part in creating countless goalscoring opportunities for Derby.

Some would argue that he should have scored in the first half after he failed to get on the end of a lovely ball into the middle by Louis Sibley, but regardless of this he contributed well to the Rams’ victory and hopefully this form is something that can continue as the season comes to end.

5 – Patience is a virtue

Derby showed incredible patience against Burton on Saturday. As previously mentioned, the Rams had 23 shots in the game but had to wait until the 63rd minute to eventually break the deadlock with David McGoldrick’s penalty.

In his post-match press conference speaking to Rams TV, Derby manager Paul Warne said: “I said to the lads at half time I was really pleased with the first half, but just don’t panic, just keep playing and the chances will come.”

Warne was proven to be right on this occasion as the Rams showed great patience and maturity in not rushing to force chances to take the lead, something that could prove critical in their two remaining games and hopefully beyond.