Ronnie Langhorne reports from Kedleston Road
University of Derby Men’s 1st XI manager Liam Sutcliffe has confirmed four surprise inclusions for today’s BUCS title decider with University of Oxford 1st XI, including three players from the 3rds and one from the 4ths.
Derby are hosting Oxford 1sts in the final Aldi Men’s Midlands Tier 2 league game of the season at Kedleston Road, knowing victory will be enough to seal promotion. However, to win the league, Derby will have to win by four clear goals to overturn the goal difference with table-toppers Loughborough 4ths.
Sutcliffe spoke to DerbyUniFootyJournos in his pre-match interview about how maintaining the team’s approach could be key to getting success today.
He said: “We’re really excited, the lads are looking forward to the game.
“I think the main thing is to win the game, then it’s done.
“I think as the season has progressed they [Oxford] have really progressed, so we have to be on our guard against that.”
Sutcliffe confirmed a few shock inclusions to the squad, as three 3rds players, including Adam Blair-Park, Liam Chawke Emyr Lloyd and 4ths player Adnane Kinani are also included in the squad for such a key game.
Defeat would not stop Derby from winning promotion; however it would take it out of their hands. Birmingham still have two fixtures left of the season and they know defeat for Derby would hand them the opportunity to overtake Sutcliffe’s team.
