3/1 To Win
Midfielder Liam Thompson has praised the belief and togetherness in the Derby County squad which has been instilled by manager Wayne Rooney as the Rams prepare for the trip to Reading on Monday 3rd January (3pm kick off).
The Academy graduate has been a standout performer for the Rams since making his professional debut against AFC Bournemouth in November.
The central midfielder, who has had to remain patient for his chance this season, put in a man-of-the-match display that afternoon as Derby earned all three points at Pride Park Stadium in a 3-2 win and he has taken to the Sky Bet Championship like a duck to water.
Thompson has consistently been on top of his game and has been a livewire in the heart of midfield as the Rams have recorded three consecutive wins, against Blackpool, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City, to end 2021 on a high.
They now sit on double figures in the table and are only four points behind Barnsley who occupy 23rd position in the table.
And Thompson, who has risen through the youth ranks at Pride Park, has been full of praise for the manager, who has made the squad believe that they fight against the 21-point deduction this season and do the impossible.
“The character in the squad is massive,” he told RamsTV. “I think we’ve got bundles of it throughout the squad and the gaffer always says that we’re a team.
“It’s not just the starting line-up, it’s about everyone involved. Even the lads that came on against Stoke, Colin Kazim-Richards, Festy Ebosele and Ravel Morrison, ultimately changed the game and that’s what the gaffer said beforehand; we needed to all be together.
“The character is massive and we showed that on Thursday night at Stoke. The gaffer always reminds us that there are going to be players that are disappointed not to be starting or not in the squad but it’s not about them, it’s about the team.
“He’s driven that throughout the season and the win against Stoke shows that specifically.”
That character was ultimately showed in the Rams’ final game of 2021 as they rallied to beat Stoke City 2-1 at the bet365 Stadium.
Luke Plange had given Derby the lead as the Rams bossed the majority of the game on Thursday night. Stoke did find an equaliser with just over 10 minutes of the game remaining as former Ram Tom Ince fired home from a corner, but Rooney’s side dug in deep and secured the winner in the final five minutes of the game.
Colin Kazim-Richards came off the bench to net his second goal in as many games to secure the three points against the Potters and move Derby on to ten points for the season, while it also extended the Rams’ winning run to three games.
“Going a goal up and then going to 1-1, we showed great character and it epitomises everything that we are trying to do and I thought we were brilliant,” Thompson said.
“Stoke are a good team and when we believe in the way we play, we can beat anyone in the league. It’s been three tough games for us and we’ve got maximum points from them.
“Blackpool are tough, they play a way that suits them and it’s difficult at times. It was the same with West Brom too, it was a scrappy game and we fell into the way they like to play but I feel we dealt with that and showed a different side to us. Against Stoke, we showed spells of quality and that’s what got us the win.”
The Rams were backed by an incredibly vocal away section at the bet365 Stadium as almost 3,000 supporters who made the short journey across the A50 were rewarded with all three points.
“The fans have been amazing,” he admitted. “The gaffer said when we got in the dressing room: ‘Look at the fans. They believe, so why shouldn’t you believe?’ They have been magnificent all season and when that second goal went in, it was amazing.
“We are never going to lie down and feel sorry for ourselves. Football is a funny game and we know what we’ve got against us but all we can control is what we do on the pitch.
“We are doing it for the fans, they want to see Derby County winning and that’s what we want to give our fans.”
And the Rams will look to make it four wins from four and close the gap on those above them further as they face Reading, who sit just above the relegation spots in the Sky Bet Championship, on Bank Holiday Monday in their first game of 2022.
“You have got to believe,” explained Thompson. “We know we can do it, but it will be a tough game.
“Every game in this league is tough but we have to focus on ourselves and how we play and not worry about anyone else.”
On his own personal development, Thompson could not have wished for a better start on the big stage.
The 19-year-old has only made seven appearances so far for Rooney’s side, but his impressive displays have seen supporters and opposition players stand up and take note of his undoubted qualities.
However, the diminutive midfielder is keen to keep his feet on the ground and continue to work hard in order to improve and progress.
“I have loved every minute of it,” he said. “It’s been a big step up, I won’t lie about that, but I think it has helped with the lads, the gaffer and everyone involved that have helped me so much.
“It’s helped training with them day in and day out before making my debut but I have loved every minute and I wouldn’t change any of it.
“You can never get ahead of yourself. I need to keep my head down, keep working hard and keep my feet on the floor because anything can happen in football. I have got to keep working hard, keep doing my best and that’s what I’ll do.”
