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Swansea logo
Championship | Gameweek 45
May 1, 2021 at 3pm UK
Liberty Stadium
Derby logo

Swansea
2 - 1
Derby

Whittaker (63'), Roberts (66')
Whittaker (62'), Lowe (67')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Lawrence (48')
Byrne (26')

Wayne Rooney ready to find out "who the men are" at Derby

Wayne Rooney ready to find out
© Reuters
The Rams have lost six matches in a row.

Derby boss Wayne Rooney has called on his players to rise to the task of avoiding relegation on the final day after their 2-1 defeat at Swansea.

England's record goalscorer watched his side fall to their sixth straight loss, meaning their fight to stay in the Sky Bet Championship is now out of their hands.

The Rams must beat Sheffield Wednesday next weekend and hope Rotherham lose one of their two remaining matches if they are to avoid slipping into the third tier of English football for the first time in 35 years.

Derby were on course to beat the drop when Tom Lawrence headed home two minutes into the second half, but two goals in two minutes from Morgan Whittaker and Connor Roberts condemned them to another defeat.

"We leave ourselves with one game left of the season and we have to win," Rooney said. "We'll certainly see who the men are and see which players can stand up and be counted for the game on Saturday.

"I've never been in a last day battle to stay in the league, I know it's my job to make sure the players are ready and that's all I can focus on.

"The players will be ready, it's a shoot-out between the three of us and we know if we win the game Sheffield Wednesday can't go above us, then we have to hope Rotherham lose one of their games.

"We work hard to stop those goals, so it's disappointing. Every time we seem to switch off, we seem to concede.

"The players are fighting for each other. There is no lack of fight or character. The players will be ready for next week. We know what we have to do to stay in this league."

Swansea are now playing for position in the play-off places, and head coach Steve Cooper is determined to continue the momentum heading into the post-season fixtures.

"What we wanted to do before the game was get as many points as we can," he said. "If we finish third, fourth, fifth or sixth, we take that as it comes.

"We are not sitting here saying we want to play this team or that team, because when you qualify for the play-offs, you are a good team. Whoever we play, they are going to be difficult ties.

"We have got 80 points in a really tough season, with the circumstances that we have to work and play on.

"The lads deserve so much credit for it and I am really proud of them that they have done that. If we can get to 83 points, that's impressive.

"I don't think it was a great game, probably until they went 1-0 up, full respect for the position they're in and I understand their approach to the game, but when that happens, a game can lack a bit of intensity and rhythm.

"Recently we've dropped too many points here. We've conceded some late goals of late, and it was good to see out the win."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd39267656292783
2Leeds UnitedLeeds392312478275181
3Burnley392215253114281
4Sunderland392012756371972
5Coventry CityCoventry39178145651559
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom391318848351357
7Middlesbrough391691459491057
8Bristol City391415104942757
9Watford39158164751-453
10Norwich CityNorwich391313136154752
11Blackburn RoversBlackburn39157174241152
12Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds391410155460-652
13Millwall391312143740-351
14Preston North EndPreston381017113944-547
15Queens Park RangersQPR391112164553-845
16Swansea CitySwansea39129184051-1145
17Portsmouth39129184761-1445
18Stoke CityStoke391012174052-1242
19Oxford UnitedOxford Utd391012174057-1742
20Hull City391011183948-941
21Cardiff CityCardiff39913174363-2040
22Derby CountyDerby38108204051-1138
23Luton TownLuton39108213560-2538
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth39713194077-3734


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