What Derby County boss Wayne Rooney said about Sheffield United's play-off chances after Pride Park defeat

Wayne Rooney, the Derby County manager, says that Sheffield United have a very good chance of making the Championship play-off this season despite their 2-0 defeat at Pride Park this afternoon.
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United, playing only their second game since early December after a spate of postponed games, certainly looked rusty as Derby moved off the bottom of the division despite their 21-point deductions earlier this season thanks to Tom Lawrence’s brace of impressive individual solo goals.

United dropped to 14th at full-time, and are now 10 points off the play-offs – with three games on hand on sixth-placed Boro, who are still to come to Bramall Lane.

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And Rooney, who admitted he “feared” for his side today after they lost Graeme Shinnie and Phil Jagielka on the eve of the game, said: “Since the change of manager they’ve been In good form and we knew it was going to be difficult.

“The manager and coaches are doing a fantastic job there but we took away their qualities today, made them go a bit more direct and battled against them.

“We felt that was the best way to win the game. I think they have a chance of making the play-offs. They have some very good players and if they keep showing the form they have done they’ve got a very good chance.”

United’s best chance of the game fell to skipper Billy Sharp, who headed straight at Derby goalkeeper Ryan Allsop after a long throw was flicked into his path at the back post.

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