Chris Iwelumo says Derby are going “under the radar” – could they be the Championship’s dark horses?
Richard Keogh (L) and Sam Winnall (R) of Derby County celebrates with Johnny Russell after he scores the winning goal during the Sky Bet Championship match against Burton Albion.
Former striker turned pundit Chris Iwelumo says that Derby County are going “under the radar” in the Championship despite their 3-0 victory at Barnsley over the weekend moving them up to fourth in the table.
That is now four wins in their last five matches in the second tier of English football for the Rams, who are also only five points off the automatic promotion spots.
Gary Rowett, manager of Derby County, during the Sky Bet Championship match against Burton Albion.
“No one’s really speaking about them and I think Gary Rowett will be happy about that. They’re going under the radar,” Iwelumo said on Channel 5’s Championship highlights programme.
“They’ve got one of the strongest squads in the Championship. There are expectations there and they are ticking along nicely.”
There has certainly been a lot of attention on Wolverhampton Wanderers’ bumper summer of spending and subsequent march to the top of the table.
Bobby Reid of Bristol City and John Lundstram of Sheffield United in action during the Sky Bet Championship match at Bramall Lane.
There has also been some surprise and good will from the apparent overachievement of Bristol City and newly promoted Sheffield United, who sit third and sixth respectively, after their own impressive starts.
However, Iwelumo may have a point that Derby have perhaps not received as much of the limelight and the 39-year-old is of the opinion that their manager Rowett will be pleased about that.
The former Birmingham City boss took over at Pride Park in March and his team finished ninth that season. Now are they the dark horses for going up?
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