Pearson questions players level of commitment after Burton defeat

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Derby County lost 1-0 to East-Midland neighbours Burton Albion last night

Derby County manager Nigel Pearson

Speaking to the Derby Telegraph, Nigel Pearson has questioned the level of commitment from some of his players to work as a team following last night’s eyebrow raising defeat to Burton Albion.

The Rams were slain by a Jackson Irvine header with just 12 minutes on the clock in what was the first ever competitive meeting between the two sides, as they have previously never been in the same division together.

Whilst Derby have hit the heady heights of the Premier League, Burton reached the Football League within the last decade, and they can now hold the bragging rights over their prestigious neighbours, who sit just 12 miles away.

Burton’s Jackson Irvine scored the only goal of the game

Derby dominated much of the game in terms of ball retention, boasting a possession stat of 64%, but they were unable to use it efficiently, taking just 10 shots on goal, of which only 3 hit the target – a figure Burton surpassed.

And unsurprisingly, Derby boss Nigel Pearson was not particularly impressed with what he saw from his players, and he has since questioned their level of commitment to working as a team.

Frustrated: Derby County manager Nigel Pearson

“Players who are selected to play are selected because they are good enough to play, and so they have a responsibility like anyone else does to perform.” Pearson said.

“If they are not ready to play, I wouldn’t select them.

“I think we have to function better as a team and to do that you need a level of commitment both physically and mentally to the team, and we have not had enough of that.”

Derby County manager Nigel Pearson looks dejected at the end of the game

Derby have won just one of their opening five Championship fixtures, with that victory coming at Deepdale by a one goal margin.

The Rams have been held to two nil-nil draws this season against Aston Villa and Brighton, with goals proving hard to come by, with Pearson’s side only netting three times in seven games in all competitions.

The former Leicester boss will be hoping to use the international break to remedy their current ills, otherwise the pressure really will begin to mount on the Nottingham born boss.