Wayne Rooney makes bullish Derby County remark ahead of AFC Bournemouth tie

Derby County boss Wayne Rooney has rubbished talk that they are the underdogs heading into tomorrow afternoon’s away tie at automatic promotion contenders AFC Bournemouth, speaking confidently to his side’s media team ahead of this clash.

The Rams are currently five points adrift of safety, though fellow relegation battlers Reading and Barnsley both have games in hand over Rooney’s men, something both sides will be hoping to capitalise on.

After three consecutive losses recently, Derby looked all but relegated, but a victory over the Tykes last weekend has given them a real chance of getting back into the race with ten league games still left for them to make up the deficit.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, haven’t experienced any real off-field turbulence and have richly benefitted from a formidable start to the 2021/22 campaign, faltering at times since then but are still on course to win promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking.

Nonetheless, they won’t be overly confident after winning just one point from a possible four against Preston North End and Peterborough United, with their midweek draw against the latter particularly disappointing considering Grant McCann’s side’s form and the fact they had the home advantage at their disposal.

They return to the Vitality Stadium once more – and the visitors’ boss believes his side have a great opportunity of winning all three points in this one.

He said: “It’s an opportunity to go and show what a good team we are against one of the top teams in the division so we are ready and prepared and will do everything we can to get three points.

“I don’t see us as underdogs if I’m being honest as I think the way we set up and the way we play, it’s very