MILLWALL return to The Den this weekend for the first time since February, as the Championship makes its long awaited return.
The Lions are looking for a first home win in five league games, since the 2-0 victory over Reading on January 18.
Alex Grace caught up with Derby fan Simon Long ahead of this weekend’s match.
Twitter: @ramswriter
Why do you support Derby?
I am Derby born and bred, my dad is a lifelong fan and he took me to my first game at Wembley on the 27th of March, 1993. We lost 3-1 against Cremonese in the Anglo-Italian Cup final. I was only five at the time but I became hooked.
What’s been your favourite season following the Rams?
My favourite season is the 1998-99 one. We finished eighth in the Premier League and I got to witness some special players such as Paulo Wanchope, Stefano Eranio, Mart Poom, Francesco Baiano and the legend that is Igor Stimac.
And the worst?
By far has to be the 2007-08 season. It was awful witnessing one win all campaign and then having to live with the embarrassment of being relegated with the worst Premier League points tally ever (11). The squad was awful and the manager Paul Jewell even worse.
Before the season’s suspension Derby’s form had improved – what was behind that?
I think a couple of things have contributed to it.
Number 1 would be Wayne Rooney. His experience, his leadership and his quality has certainly had a huge effect on the players around him.
Number 2 is the players have adapted to Phillip Cocu’s methods. They are believing in what he and his coaching staff are trying to achieve. We have seen big improvements in the attitudes of the players and our young academy products that have come through to the first team are showing how good they really are.
Did the break come at a good time?
No, the break came a very bad time. We were hitting form. We’d just had back-to-back league wins and felt unbeatable.
Wayne Rooney arrived in January – what have you made of his impact so far?
His impact has been monumental. He may not have the legs like he used to but his quality on the ball is still there for all to see. He is a phenomenal leader on the pitch, he doesn’t stop talking and instructing the rest of the team.
It is no coincidence that our performances and results have all got better since he arrived.
Phillip Cocu has had a mixed first season in charge – is he the right man to continue into next season?
Without doubt he is. I have never doubted his managing capabilities, you only have to look at his CV.
Despite starting the season poorly and some of the fanbase wanting him out, he has been given time to turn things around and in doing so has now got the doubters on his side.
He had a remit of promoting youth and he’s done that despite all the off-field incidents that have happened this season.
Before the country went into lockdown the play-off race had tightened up massively – what is your assessment of it?
This is the Championship, and anything can happen. We find ourselves only five points outside the top six with nine games to go. Last season we were five points outside the top six with only five games to go.
If a team can go on a consistent run of about seven or eight games, then they will be the side who gets that top-six spot.
I feel the top five has already been decided, the only place up for grabs is that final spot.
Sadly, due to the pandemic games will have to take place without fans – how much of an impact do you think that will have?
I think it will have a massive impact, especially at a place like The Den which make for a hostile atmosphere and the fans really get behind their team and help push for a result.
Also, some players thrive on the atmosphere and the buzz of the crowd – will they be able to do it without them?
How have you rated Millwall’s season to date?
They have had a pretty decent season so far. They would be in the top six if it hadn’t been for a tough February.
They don’t concede many but finding the net can also be a struggle. Having said that, it was great to see them pump three past Nottingham Forest before the lockdown.
What are your thoughts on Gary Rowett?
Snake! No not really, he is a good manager.
He gets his teams defending well and has them well organised. I’ve got over him leaving us for Stoke but I understand the reason why he did it. He spoke about it on an EFL podcast and said that he didn’t feel he could fulfil the remit that our owner Mel Morris wanted.
That was to promote our youngsters from the academy to the first team, whilst trying to get promotion. He clearly felt he wasn’t up for the job and if hadn’t left us we would have never had Frank Lampard and now Phillip Cocu as our manager, and I doubt we would have Wayne Rooney or Ashley Cole playing for us.
If you could sign two Millwall players, who would they be and why?
I would sign Mahlon Romeo, I love how quick and strong he is, he looks a really threatening player.
And Bartosz Bialkowski – he’s a very good commanding goalkeeper, something that we ideally could do with at Derby.
What is your predicted starting XI and formation?
Roos; Bogle, Clarke, Wisdom, Forsyth; Bird, Rooney; Waghorn, Sibley, Lawrence; Martin.
Finally, a score prediction?
Millwall 0-1 Derby
Graphic: @ShedCreative