Expert view: 'Fans have a right to be frustrated'

For 40 minutes at Elland Road, Derby County stuck to a game plan that was defensive and designed to nullify and frustrate Leeds United.

The hosts went to the top of the table with their 2-0 win, but it will be the manner of the Rams' submission to defeat that will annoy supporters.

Derby were set up not to get beaten five or six nil, even by boss Paul Warne's own admission.

After the Rams went 2-0 down at half-time you might have expected a rethink or change in tactic in the second half. This was not to be and was done purposely - 2-0 down, best not to make it six.

Nearly 3,000 fans made the trip in Storm Darragh for an early kick-off. At around £40 a ticket and the added travel costs, it is hard to believe that those who were there would just turn up and be happy with a backs-to-the-wall display just in case.

Paul Warne's post-match comments to BBC Radio Derby were alarming and some say defeatist. "We're a League One team with a sprinkling of sugar," he said.

Derby won the right to be a Championship club by finishing second in League One.

The playing squad maybe be weaker than some of the best, but the Rams are in the division and should be competing in every game.

If you set up a side not to get thrashed and then back it up by telling them they're League One players, they will be League One players.

By Warne suggesting there was nothing else anyone could think of that would have got Derby a point or even a win, you wonder if that is to be the mantra going forward.