With the Rams sitting but an inch from an automatic promotion place, each and every game now fits that tried and true cliché of “treating every match like a cup final”, and for each final, more than ever, fans can act as the all important 12th man.
The news yesterday that Derby has sold its initial allocation of 2000 tickets for the trip to Burnley, is testament to the travelling Rams who have always been loyal and travelled to see the team in great numbers. Fact is though, with the season going from good to crazy good, more and more supporters are finding their way to away matches to help the Rams fight for the highest possible finish on the Championship table.
With another 1600 tickets released to DCFC yesterday for sale, the opportunity for 3000 + Rams fans to be in attendance, rabidly cheering on their team, is one that cannot be underestimated in terms of importance for what is a vital clash in the 13/14 campaign.
So many matches are billed as blockbusters but this Saturday, there is no other way to describe how important a win or draw could prove to be for either of the two combatants.
If the Rams can get over Burnley and take hold of second place, on paper and on recent form, the fixtures that follow will give Derby every chance of keeping that spot until they cross the finish line in May.
In the past Derby has got close but fallen away just as they near the Promised Land. This time around the club seems to have the talent, desire and hunger to not just fight their way into an automatic promotion spot, but then hang onto it by fighting, scrapping and dragging in every point they can to secure their position.
There will be challenges and maybe there will be times that it seems like a bridge too far after the play-offs at one stage, seemed like a far fetched goal to set. But despite the home team being favourites this weekend, if the Rams can pinch a win or even steal a valuable draw, the race to the line will be on.
McClaren has been careful not to hype things up during the Rams rise to the higher reaches of the table, but you can be sure, behind closed doors he is revving the team up and making sure they know that sometimes if you don’t take your opportunities when they present themselves, they can slip away and never return.
I doubt we will have that worry with this current crop of Rams as McClaren and Simpson will know better than most, that with the good comes the bad and sometimes the very bad. Plus older heads like Eustace will be ensuring that the players around him understand the opportunity they have as he will want to make every moment of what is left of his career count.
How many youngsters must lose a cup or play-off final, get relegated or are dropped from their squad only to think that there will be another opportunity in years to come? Football is littered with those stories of the good times never returning and players regretting they didn’t give the extra yard when they had the chance.
Despite the high stakes, if the Rams lose it wont be the end of the world but it could be the end of their charge on the top 2, as 5 points may be too much to make up on Burnley, who are unlikely to self destruct enough in the run home to make it easy but in saying that stranger things have happened!
We are all excited and the build up is still to reach fever pitch, but as the days, hours and minutes count down to 3pm on Saturday, the waiting may become near unbearable.
Taking something from this match is vital and if you are thinking about going to the match — then do it now! I am not one to advertise ticket sales normally but if you have ever wanted to make a difference for the Rams, then this could be your moment in the sun or perhaps I should say your moment in the rain, with a wet 7 degree day forecast in Burnley.
Nearly every player will tell you that when the crowd is cheering, singing and getting behind their team, especially during away matches, that it makes a difference to the mood and can spur you on when you have blood in your nostrils or need a lift when things aren’t going as planned.
If the team has over 3000 bleating Rams behind them, Burnley may find them a far different prospect to overturn than the team they have walked over the top off far too regularly in recent seasons.
Unfortunately for me, as I live in Australia, the best I will be able to do is watch it live on TV now it has been announced as match of the round for Setanta sports. If good vibes count for anything, I will be sending them in waves through my television after 1am local time. If you see one of the TV camera’s pitch side explode — then that will be me!
Wherever you are during this match, at the ground, listening on the internet, the radio or even live text commentary on your phone - it is likely your stomach will be in knots from just before kick off and have you on the edge of your seat for 90 minutes (plus at least 7 minutes stoppage time if we are winning 0 — 1).
But if you can make it to the match, cheer that bit louder to make up for each and every one of us that are cheering just as loud somewhere else.
The feeling I have had all week would be worth millions if I could find a way to bottle it. I know it can be dangerous to build up one match too much, but frankly this time around I don’t care, these are the fixtures football fans live for!
It’s all or nothing, do or die, kill or be killed!!
And best of all, no matter what the result, we get to go through this gamut of emotions all over again in the build up to March 22nd!
COYR!!
And if you need encouragement to head to Burnley for the match - the video below should help you make up your mind!
Great stuff from our travelling Rams!!