Derby boss blames full-backs for defeat

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Derby boss Steve McClaren blamed his full-backs for the defeat at Fulham.

The Rams boss said the 2-0 loss at Craven Cottage was “a full-back’s game” – and his lacked the quality required to get a result.

McClaren replaced both right and left full-backs at half-time, with Johnny Russell and Jake Buxton coming on for Jesse Lingaard and Cyrus Christie.

“They played a diamond and it was tight in midfield so it was a full-back’s game – but ours did not do enough,” he said.

“They didn’t combine well with the forwards, they didn’t overlap, they didn’t go around, and were caught in possession. They had no quality today and that’s what we lacked.

“It’s disappointing but this is a tough league – anyone can beat anyone – and Fulham have Premier League players. They were fifth bottom with the quality they’ve got.

“It’s a long season and we’ve been playing at high level for the majority of it, and that’s why we are where we are, but we came up against a Fulham side who must have looked at the league table and thought ‘”We’re in trouble and we need a result’.”

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