Derby County get 'full marks' from pundit who explains cycle Paul Warne wants to break

-Credit: (Image: PA)
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Sky Sports pundit David Prutton says Derby County deserve "full marks" for their start to the season as he singled out the four "solid operators" that can help them achieve Championship stability.

The Rams are back in action this weekend when they face Cardiff City at Pride Park and will look to carry on where they left off after they trounced Bristol City 3-0 in the best display of Paul Warne's reign.

Derby have picked up two wins out of four games since their promotion from League One with both of those victories coming at Pride Park where home form will be important to their ambitions.

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And Prutton, speaking on the Essential EFL podcast, says that the likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Jerry Yates, Ebou Adams and Kayden Jackson will be key to their aspirations.

"He (Warne) is amazing, but he knew the expectation and you saw the scenes when they went up and and it was almost - knowing Paul like we do - loved it, but then instantly he was thinking about this season and knowing that he's under scrutiny once again because Derby, with that first step back into where they believe they belong, should be competitive at this particular level.

"And again, when you look at the names that stand out on their team sheet with regards to the likes of a Mendez-Laing, Jerry Yates, Kayden Jackson and Ebou Adams, they are very solid operators that should make this team competitive again.

"There was a wonderful interview that Curtis Davies did with Paul Warne who said that, basically, Ipswich have ruined it for everyone so everyone that comes up if you're not, at least in the top six, you're terrible because of that outlier that Kieran McKenna's side were to go up into the Premier League.

"You still sit there now and you go bloody hell, that actually happened, didn't it? They came up, played really well all season and got promoted past some very big football clubs with the greatest respect to Ipswich.

"Warney looked at that he's got his tongue firmly in cheek but understands that Derby County fans are going well why can't Derby County do that because of, historically, where they've been in recent seasons compared to where Ipswich Town have been.

"It's a tough one for him. He's as motivated as anyone else. He wants to manage as high up as he possibly can and, of course, his managerial career with Rotherham was seen as the man that can get them up but also the man that that was part of the team that went back down again.

"He wants to break that cycle completely doesn't he? He wants to come away from what he's seen as that particular manager because he is a very competent Championship manager in the very least.

"So again, those wins are great, clean sheets are always wonderful and full marks so far to the Rams."

What have you made of Derby's start to the season? Have your say HERE.