“ KENNETH ZOHORE IS JUST A BIG LUMP “ SAYS

Derby County defender Curtis Davies

Sunday 1st October 2017

By Tom Coleman

Derby County defender Curtis Davies has boasted about keeping striker Kenneth Zohore quiet in Saturday's goalless draw with Cardiff City, labelling the striker a 'big lump'.

Having caught the eye with a brace in midweek, hopes were high that Zohore could kick on at the Cardiff City Stadium, but it proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the Dane, and indeed Neil Warnock, as the visitors produced an impressively solid performance to earn themselves a point.

Former Hull man Davies emerged with plenty of credit for his role in helping to keep Zohore quiet, and he duly lapped up the praise after the game, proudly declaring he had got the better of the Bluebirds striker, before adding that he even let him win the first aerial duel between the two players.

He told the Derby Telegraph : "I’m not bigging myself up at all, but I let him have the first one and then he thinks he’s going to wrestle me.

“He’s stronger than me, I’m not going to be able to wrestle him so I had to work out another way to do it.

"I managed to get the better of him, yes, but he was still a big handful and managed to cause a lot of problems with his physicality.”

Nevertheless, Davies couldn't resist taking a bit of a dig at Zohore, whose power and strength in the final third has made him one of the most feared strikers in the Championship.

“I’m used to playing against big lumps, with all due respect,” Davies said. “I grew up playing big lumps and that game, for me, is easier than playing against someone who is trying to spin me.

“I knew what he was about, I knew he wanted to try and wrestle me so the first one I let him think he could wrestle me and then I kept stepping in front of him.

“It’s just about working out a player early on and trying to do your best.”

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Sums it up perfectly they have Sussed him out stop him spinning off job done

Derby County defender Curtis Davies

Sunday 1st October 2017

By Tom Coleman

Derby County defender Curtis Davies has boasted about keeping striker Kenneth Zohore quiet in Saturday's goalless draw with Cardiff City, labelling the striker a 'big lump'.

Having caught the eye with a brace in midweek, hopes were high that Zohore could kick on at the Cardiff City Stadium, but it proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the Dane, and indeed Neil Warnock, as the visitors produced an impressively solid performance to earn themselves a point.

Former Hull man Davies emerged with plenty of credit for his role in helping to keep Zohore quiet, and he duly lapped up the praise after the game, proudly declaring he had got the better of the Bluebirds striker, before adding that he even let him win the first aerial duel between the two players.

He told the Derby Telegraph : "I’m not bigging myself up at all, but I let him have the first one and then he thinks he’s going to wrestle me.

“He’s stronger than me, I’m not going to be able to wrestle him so I had to work out another way to do it.

"I managed to get the better of him, yes, but he was still a big handful and managed to cause a lot of problems with his physicality.”

Nevertheless, Davies couldn't resist taking a bit of a dig at Zohore, whose power and strength in the final third has made him one of the most feared strikers in the Championship.

“I’m used to playing against big lumps, with all due respect,” Davies said. “I grew up playing big lumps and that game, for me, is easier than playing against someone who is trying to spin me.

“I knew what he was about, I knew he wanted to try and wrestle me so the first one I let him think he could wrestle me and then I kept stepping in front of him.

“It’s just about working out a player early on and trying to do your best.”

Cheeky tw@t we will see in the return game !!!

Zohore and co will sort him, where are Derby in the League ?

Still top of the league with that big lump up front. Didn’t happen for us yesterday but we can’t expect Worldy performances every week. He managed to be in the right place at the right time Tuesday. We also have guys he makes space for. He does a tough job and is clearly aware he is a marked man. But keeps working.

Every team sandwich him between a centre half and a midfielder and squeeze him out. Although i am not sure if Warnock is expecting him to win anything over 30% of the aerial duels at restarts as this is not really his game despite his size. He is not Rudy Gestede. Its all about the second ball for Warnock.

He really needs to be on the turn to see im at his best and sadly we lack that little bit of composure in the middle at the moment although Bryson looks the real deal and i think he'll soon start dialling into Kennys real game which is not a "battering ram"

If he is that average how come we are top of the league whilst spending so little ? I would love to compare the salaries of yesterdays squads.

Kenny is still a baby at this "mans" position, he is doing just fine.

All strikers have scoring runs,big ken is yet to have this run.
Wait till he does, that run could cement our place in the top 2.

Davies played him well yesterday and didn't give him a sniff. To be fair to Big Ken, he ran himself into the ground against Leeds and he did look a bit leggy. I was surprised Warnock kept him on but he now has the international break to freshen up and then hit the ground running. As soon as he goes on a scoring run then we will really be in business!

Agree with Jimbo above. Thought Curtis Davies played really well yesterday and Ken wasn't at his best but we are top of the league a quarter of the way through the season and Ken hsnt really hit the heights yet he will eventually then look out.

Curtis, the difference is that Ken is still improving in his career whilst yours is going downhill. Fast.

There were two occasions in the 2nd half yesterday where KZ was able to turn and run at Davies, on the first occasion he needed Keogh to get across and block the shot because KZ left him for dead pace wise. On the 2nd occasion he resorted to a terrible challenge on KW when he headed the ball past him and was on his way into the penalty area until Curtis Davies left his shoulder on KZ as he was again leaving him for dead.

From what I saw yesterday CD had no answer other than to foul KZ or rely on a team mate to cover for him whenever KZ had the opportunity to turn and run at him.

Big lump or not.

Sums up his performance on Saturday. Where's the Zohore from the first few weeks of the season gone.