Derby County are braced for a nerve-shredding afternoon at Pride Park as they aim to wrap up promotion and Paul Warne has revealed one big edge they have on their rivals.
A party atmosphere is expected at Pride Park on Saturday lunchtime. With a packed-out crowd roaring Derby on, Paul Warne‘s men can seal promotion with just a point against Carlisle United.
In the build-up to this match, Warne is telling his players that there is still a job to be done, as while Derby hold a three-point lead on Bolton Wanderers, Shaun Barker says stranger things have happened in football.
Regardless of the prominent position the Rams are in, nerves are natural for the players in the magnitude of this match, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing claiming he’ll have sleepless nights before he takes to the pitch.
After all, Derby haven’t won a promotion since 2007 and Warne is leaning on one big factor to get his side over the line.
Paul Warne shares the edge Derby have over promotion rivals
Derby boast the oldest squad in League One with an average age of 28.
12 of their players are aged 30 and over, which does have its drawbacks, but in their current position, it is a benefit.
Warne has a few players who have achieved promotion previously – including Conor Hourihane during his time at Aston Villa and Mendez-Laing with Cardiff City – and this is a massive bonus.
They can use their experience of pressured situations to keep their players calm and relaxed on the pitch, something which has helped the squad overcome Leyton Orient and Cambridge United following their goalless draw against Wycombe.
Warne believes such experience has played a huge part in getting Derby to this point, giving them an edge over their promotion rivals.
“It has its advantages and disadvantages, but we’ve got the oldest team in this league,” Warne told BBC Sport.
“With that you get crooked old bones, but you also get leadership and a bit of levelheadedness in the dressing room.
“I don’t go into this one thinking the lads are fearful or overthinking it, or think it’s done.”
Experience can get Derby County over the line
From the outset, many are writing off Bolton Wanderers, including the supercomputer. They have given Ian Evatt’s side a 0.8% chance of finishing second on the final day.
Derby have to lose the match and Bolton need to pull off a four-goal swing in their favour to seal a top-two finish, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done.
As Warne said, experience has helped get them into this position and they’ll need their experienced heads one more time to seal the deal.
There are several players in Derby’s squad – including academy graduates Eiran Cashin and Louie Sibley – who have never experienced promotion before.
That’s where they can lean on the experienced players to alleviate any nerves on what promises to be a special day for the club.
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