Davies blasts Derby ahead of Liverpool test

Aug 30 2007 by Sean Taylor, Liverpool Daily Post

BILLY DAVIES claims Derby are “cutting their own throats” with their defensive deficiencies – and the County manager insists it is a problem his side must address before their Barclays Premier League trip to Liverpool.

The Rams’ woeful start to the season continued last night as they went out of the Carling Cup to Championship newcomers Blackpool on penalties at Pride Park. Davies accused his side of “naivety” and “schoolboy errors” after they twice allowed the Seasiders’ back into the second round tie with late headed goals.

Kaspars Gorkss was County’s tormentor. First he headed home at the far post in the 86th minute to take the game to extra-time by cancelling out Mo Camara’s opener.

Then the Latvian was allowed to repeat the trick in the final minute of extra-time to force penalties after it looked like Craig Fagan’s 101st-minute header would win the game for Derby. Davies insists his side must buck the trend in time for their trip to Anfield or face the possibility of a heavy defeat.

Davies said: “The mistakes that we are making and the lack of concentration and switching off at crucial times is mind blowing. The players are cutting their own throats.

“We can’t afford to keep making the mistakes we are making and it is a situation we have got to learn from quickly. We can’t go to a place like Anfield and be so naive because if we do Liverpool are the sort of team that will punish you severely.

“The manner and timing of how we are losing goals in the last few games has been stupid and it is a concern. It has to stop for the next game.”