Derby County player sends warning to Reading FC and Hull City despite Millwall defeat

These comments came despite the Rams’ 2-1 home loss to Millwall last night, with Jed Wallace’s second-minute strike proving to be a real sucker punch for the hosts at Pride Park who had been in good spirits following their last-minute victory against Peterborough United last weekend.

That result on Saturday afternoon allowed them to leapfrog their opponents in the table as they continued to march their way up the table and towards safety, though they still remain in the relegation zone as things stand.

Coming into yesterday’s tie though, they were placed under real pressure with 21st-placed outfit Reading securing a vital 2-1 victory over Birmingham City on Tuesday evening and increasing the deficit to safety for Wayne Rooney’s men who have fought bravely so far this season after receiving a 21-point deduction.

This sanction from the EFL came following their entrance into administration and previous financial misdemeanours, though their off-field turmoil hasn’t adversely affected their performances on the pitch even with experienced duo Phil Jagielka and Graeme Shinnie departing the East Midlands last month.

And they may have suffered a setback yesterday evening as they failed to come away from their meeting with Gary Rowett’s men with a point or three – but right-back Byrne is more determined than ever to achieve a real miracle in remaining afloat in the second tier.

Speaking after the match, he said: “Until it’s (survival) impossible, we’re not going to give up.

“The manager has just reiterated what we’ve been saying that there is so many games to go, anything can happen and we still believe we can get out of this.”

They currently sit eight and 13 points adrift of Reading and Hull City – and the latter could