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1995/6 -
The story so far |
2004/5 -
the story so far |
2006/7 -
the story so far |
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March / Easter
A period when the title began
to slip away. Despite putting 6 past
Tranmere, defeats to Ipswich, Norwich and
more significantly Sunderland, meant
promotion, not the championship was the now
the focus.
Whilst the signings meant
to boost the charge (Powell, Ward, Carbon,
Hodges) took time to settle, ground was lost
never to be regained.
71 points - 5 to play.
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February 1996
An unbeaten month for Jim Smiths men.
A disappointing home draw against against eventual
bottom club Luton but an epic away win at Southend
clinched by Ron Willems late winner. The editor
chipped a tooth in the celebration
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The Rams decide the books must be balanced
after several attempts to buy promotion failed. Jim Smith's
wheeler dealing leads to a sluggish start but a steady run
turns into a full-on charge up the table after the signing
of Igor Stimac in November. Interestingly we had only
played 27 games at the end of January 2006 compared to 31 in
2005 and 29 this year.
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March / Easter
A steady month with points
dropped at home (Wolves and QPR) partly
compensated for with away victories at
Plymouth and Crewe. Burley had to "make do
and mend" with only the short term signing
of Chris Makin strengthening the squad.
67 points - 4 to play.
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February 2005
Burley's men also enjoyed an unbeaten
month. Away wins at Brighton and Rotherham but the
form couldn't stretch to a holy grail victory at
the City Ground. The home draw against Burnley was
characteristic of the times
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Burley turned a relegation threatened side
into a decent one by the end of 2003/4. His summer signing's
were good but it wasn't until Rasiak's signing in October
that things really took off. An impact comparable with
Stimac's arrival, the Pole added the cutting edge the Rams
were missing. A series of consecutive wins, including a
memorable champagne supernova 3-0 caning of the Red Dogs,
firmly placed the Rams in play off contention. |
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March / Easter
Back to back victories against
Colchester and Norwich put the Rams firmly back on
the top. Only one defeat in the month but home draws
against QPR and Coventry were definitely chances
missed to all but seal promotion.
78 points - 4 to play.
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February 2006
The month couldn't have started
better with an away victory in the 6 pointer at
Southampton. However, just as we looked like
Champions elect, the Rams collect just 1 point from
6 at home and lose to rivals Sunderland leaving
everything in the balance.
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Like Smith and Burley before him, Davies
inherited a squad in need of a drastic overhaul. A similar
hit and miss start but with a hefty war chest the post
October rise has been even more dramatic. 6 straight league
wins in November pushed the Rams into the top 6, with a good
xmas and new year putting them astonishingly top of the
league. Those with the
Rams at 66/1 are already upgrading their summer holidays. |
