Paul Warne’s costly Derby County v Sheffield United decision still baffles | OneFootball

The Rams headed into the break on Saturday level with the Blades, but a decision made at half-time proved consequential to the result.

Derby County are currently the most out-of-form team in the EFL – having not picked up a point in the Championship since Boxing Day.

A run of seven successive defeats in the league, mixed in with an FA Cup third round exit to League One Leyton Orient on penalties, has seen pressure mount on Paul Warne viciously in the last couple of months.

The Rams have won just four of their last 26 games in the second tier meaning what had once looked to be an incredibly exciting and promising first season back in the division, has quickly become a torrid struggle.

However, Derby managed to hold high-flying Sheffield United at bay during the first half of their clash on Saturday afternoon and they knew that a repeat of that first 45 would see the East Midlands outfit hold on for a point but a decision made by Warne at the break proved to be a crucial mistake.

Paul Warne's decision to put Ebou Adams in defence is still baffling

Ryan Nyambe started for just the second time since October against the Blades at the weekend after suffering a knee injury, but he was brought off at halftime to the surprise of many inside Pride Park.

With Jake Rooney on the bench, the natural next step for Warne was to bring the young defender on in the Namibia international's place. However, Marcus Harness came on instead, and Ebou Adams dropped into the back line.

It's a position that the holding midfielder has already played this season, with Derby having a gaggle of injury problems in defence, yet Saturday seemed to be the wrong time to make this tactical decision.

Alongside Matt Clarke and Craig Forsyth, Adams formed a makeshift back three, but just a few minutes into the second half he was caught out as the ball was played towards his side, and Tom Cannon was able to turn past him as though he was not there.

While it was an excellent piece of dribbling by the former Stoke City loanee, a more natural defender like Rooney may have been able to read it, and therefore, the ball that was played across the box towards Ben Brereton Diaz would not have happened.

Sheffield United took the lead and held on for a dogged 1-0 victory but several days later, there are still questions as to why Warne did not give Rooney a chance on the pitch.

Paul Warne now has some of the cover he needs defensively

The sale of Eiran Cashin to Brighton & Hove Albion for £9m, a season-ending injury to Curtis Nelson and Sonny Bradley joining Wycombe Wanderers left Derby light at the back but two arrivals have helped add some cover.

Sondre Langas' move to the Rams was confirmed after the final whistle on Saturday, switching Norway for England in a £4m deal, while Clarke joined from Middlesbrough over a week ago.

The imminent return of Nat Phillips from an injury of his own will only help add more to the defensive line, and problems like they had against Sheffield United will be eradicated.

However, Warne must be more savvy and trust the likes of Rooney to feature in games of high importance. The 21-year-old made his way onto the bench for a reason and he should be given an opportunity to impress.

Derby make the trip to Norfolk to face Norwich City this weekend, and a point is needed at the very least to halt this run that they find themselves, otherwise the threat of relegation will start to feel like more of a reality than just a nightmare.