Owen Coyle support for Nigel Pearson as Derby slip into bottom three

24 September 2016 06:05

Blackburn manager Owen Coyle threw his support behind under-pressure Derby counterpart Nigel Pearson after watching his side condemn the struggling Rams to a fifth defeat in six games in all competitions.

Former Derby loanee Danny Graham, who failed to score in 14 games for the club in the 2005-06 season, netted the winner to send Pearson's team into the bottom three and leave the County boss admitting they are already in a relegation fight.

Derby are already 14 points off top spot in the Sky Bet Championship but Coyle fully expects last season's play-off semi-finalists to be challenging at the other end of the table come the end of this campaign.

He said: "Nigel Pearson is an outstanding manager, that's not for debate, that's a given. We all know how the nature of football has changed but Nigel is a winner and a top-class manager.

"I still believe Derby will be at the business end when the season finishes after 46 games because of the quality they have and the quality of staff they have and that's a given.

"It's like the old phrase, form is temporary, class is permanent and I think Nigel has that in abundance so I've no doubts in that respect."

Derby should have been behind before half-time at the iPro Stadium but Rovers midfielder Ben Marshall drove his penalty against the inside of a post after Richard Keogh had tripped Marvin Emnes.

That looked as if it would be a turning point when Derby went in front in the 69th minute with their first home league goal of the season, Matej Vydra netting with a low drive.

But Blackburn turned the match around in the space of three minutes as Emnes was allowed to run at the defence before unleashing a 20-yard shot that was deflected past Scott Carson, before Graham finished off a slick passing move to seal a 2-1 win for the visitors.

It was Blackburn's second league victory on the trot after failing to win for their first seven matches, lifting them above Derby and out of the relegation zone.

Asked if Rovers would be at the business end themselves, Coyle said: "We have to continue the momentum we are building. What we need to have is what we've seen today, a very tight-knit group that is prepared to run until they drop for each other, which they did.

"Within that I'm trying to bring some football quality and I thought we did that today. We want to get a platform to kick on from and days like today certainly help you achieve that."

Pearson pulled no punches after seeing his side crash to a fourth successive home loss in league and cup.

He said: "That performance today doesn't really buy us any time for people to keep in a positive frame of mind with us.

"I say us because ultimately any team that's selected and goes on the field is my team. There was a level of anxiety in the stadium today which is something we've magnified ourselves through not performing in the way we should do.

"It's my team and I am responsible for it so I will shoulder the blame. I will be targeted I'm sure by people's unhappy feelings to why we are in the bottom three and not scoring goals and not winning at home. But the bottom line is we are where we are because of how we've performed so far."

When asked if Derby are already in a relegation fight, Pearson said: "It is at the moment, of course it is because that's where we are."

Source: PA-WIRE