Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder sent a message of support to under-pressure Derby head coach Paul Warne after his team’s 1-0 Championship win at Pride Park.
A second-half goal from Ben Brereton Diaz was enough to settle a game high on endeavour but low on quality and some sections of the home fans turned on Warne at the end.
Derby have now lost their last seven league games – the club’s worst run since 2008 – and although they did not play badly, they lacked the creativity to really trouble United.
Boos rang around the stadium but Wilder was quick to defend his opposite number, saying: “What I will say is when you’re a manager, you want to see your players play for the club, play for the manager and give it a right go and I thought all the Derby players did for Paul.
“Paul is a good guy and he deserves the support. It’s not my gig but that’s my view from externally.
“Obviously it’s a difficult period for Derby and Paul. We’ve watched the games and they could quite easily have got a result against Sunderland, could have got a result in two or three other of their games as well.
“They could have got a result today because they gave everything for their manager.
“They’ve lost their best player and are looking to bring players in and they’re incredibly stretched. If you look at their bench, it was pretty similar to ours in terms of when we were stretched.”
The Rams had moments but the visitors took the one that mattered to decide the contest four minutes into the second half.
Tom Cannon got in behind Derby and picked out Brereton Diaz at the back post, who scored the first goal of his second loan spell with the club.
The hosts had chances with Kenzo Goudmijn and Matt Clarke both heading over from decent positions but could not avoid another defeat which leaves them two points adrift of safety.
Second-placed United kept the pressure on leaders Leeds and – on the Blades’ performance – Wilder added: “From my point of view, it was a little bit disjointed in terms of the performance made by the commitment and press of the opposition.
“Our transition when we broke it up first half wasn’t good and we needed to take more care of the ball.
“But when we did we found a couple of moments which is all you need and we found that great moment.”
Warne praised his Derby players in what is a tough period for the club, saying: “I thought the lads gave everything which I’m really proud of.
“It’s tough, there’s no disputing it’s tough and it does feel like you make one step forward and two steps back a bit.
“I actually think we’re getting a lot out of this group but it does need help, it needs people to come back and it does need enhancement in this window if we are going to be competitive.”
On the fans’ reaction at the end, he added: “My honest answer is it’s pretty sad. I dedicate my life to the club but I also understand it and I think as long as its at me and not the players, that’s fine.
“I was well aware the fans sang abuse at me but cheered the team on which I thank them for. You can’t be a football manager and expect it any other way.”
