Despite their best efforts, the 21-point deduction proved too big a hill to climb for Wayne Rooney’s Derby County, whose relegation from the Championship was confirmed this past Monday. For the first time since the 1985/86 season, the Rams will play their football in the third tier of English football.
Moreover, Derby’s relegation brings a close to their thirteen-year stay in the Championship, the league they’ve resided in since their relegation from the Premier League – a year after they were last promoted – back in 2008.
Pride Park has witnessed some close calls in those thirteen years when Derby came within a game or two to earn their spot back in the top flight; their most recent run to the playoffs was under Frank Lampard in the 2018/19 season, during which, they lost in the final to Aston Villa.
Derby were handed a 21-point deduction back in November 2021, first for entering administration, and later for breaching English Football League’s financial rules. Rooney and Co managed to accumulate 31 points still – with nine left to play for – but it wasn’t enough to stave off relegation.
While Pride Park reeled in despair, Craven Cottage erupted in joy as Aleksandar Mitrovic’s brace sealed Fulham’s return to the Premier League a day later. In a 3-0 win over Preston North End, the Serbian scored either side of Fabio Carvalho, whose remarkable rise this season has culminated in a transfer to Liverpool. Carvalho, nonetheless, will face his former teammates twice next season in his new threads, with the Cottagers set to take their spot amongst the elite once more.
Led by former Hull City, Watford, and Everton manager Marco Silva, Fulham’s current point tally for the season stands at 86 – good enough for promotion but not quite for the Championship yet. Currently sitting ninth ahead of second-placed Bournemouth with four games to go, they will look to end their season on a high by winning the league.
