Latest Derby County news from Derbyshire Live brings you a recap of the Facebook Q&A with Rams writer Leigh Curtis

Despite the fact that Derby County are on international duty, there has been much to talk about despite the dearth of League One activity.

The Rams return to action next weekend when they visit Portsmouth at Pride Park in an attempt to avenge their loss to Bolton.

Derby also had an in-house 60-minute game involving first-team and under-21 players in which Tom Barkhuizen played as he looks to build-up his fitness.

This and much more was discussed as Rams writer held a Facebook Live with football editor Brian Dick and here’s what was said.

BD: Let’s just look back at the loss at Bolton. There are so many angles we could go at here. Let’s start with the refereeing decisions and the result was clearly affected by them. There has been plenty of fallout too hasn’t there?

LC: First of all, it goes without saying that I didn’t think Derby were very good on the day. I thought they were not particularly brave in possession and I thought they were weak out of possession. Bolton started the game really well, Derby got back into it, got the goal, and it was a case of whether they could see the game out to half-time. Obviously, there was a serious injury to Jake Rooney, which I’m sure we’re going to talk about, but I didn’t think it was a very good performance in truth. However, in saying that, there were a multitude of decisions that did prevent Derby from trying to fight for a point or even a victory.

In the first half, I couldn’t believe that the referee didn’t award a penalty for the handball when Curtis Nelson headed it in the box and it clearly struck an arm in an unnatural position. If League One had VAR, the penalty would have been given. The one after that was where Derby actually won a penalty after they had scored. I can’t understand for the life of me why he just didn’t give the goal. I accept there was a foul on Callum Elder but the ball had gone in. The foul is immaterial and the goal should have stood.

Imagine if Conor Hourihane had missed that penalty. It was just a ludicrous decision. In the second half, what I will say about Joe Wildsmith is that he’s an honest kid. He’s not somebody who would look to try to pull the wall over anybody’s eyes. As soon as the ball struck him, he immediately pointed to his chest. I’m thinking has the referee seen that clearly and I don’t think he did. He then went over to his assistant. I don’t think he really saw what happened and between the two of them, I think they felt the heat of the crowd who were baying for blood and they sent Joe off.

Obviously, video evidence has since shown the incident in a different light and shows clearly that the ball struck his chest and the red card was rightly overturned. There was the penalty just before half-time from which Bolton scored. I’ve looked at that again and in slow-mo and for me it’s outside the box. It should never have been given in the first place. When you’re talking about big all you’re asking is the referee to get them right? And unfortunately, as far as Charles Breakspear is concerned, it’s not the first time that he’s been in control of a Derby game where there have been contentious decisions.

He was in charge of the game against Plymouth last season where he awarded a penalty which I felt was, was the wrong decision at the time. There is a bit of history there. Now I am led to believe that Derby have strongly registered their protestations about how he handled the game against Bolton on the day.

I don’t think anybody’s excusing the fact that Derby could have played a lot better than what they did. But games hinge on big decisions sometimes and I just felt he got those blatantly wrong. It’s not the first time that Derby since being relegated to League One, has had justification to complain about some of the refereeing decisions. But I do think the referees at this level need help.

BD: I’ve watched a lot of Championship football and I’ve seen Tim Robinson, who I think is one of the worst Championship refs go to a high-tension Premier League game the other day. They have all the support you need with VAR and they’re still getting stuff wrong. So you’ve mentioned the Wildmith red being overturned, which is obviously good. But there is further fallout from that game with Jake Rooney and his unfortunate injury. What are we talking about there?

LC: No timescale has been put on his return but in my experience with ACLs, you’re looking at a very, very large chunk of the season. The fortunate thing is it’s not like 25 to 30 years ago, probably even longer than that, when a player suffered a serious knee injury, you thought it was the death knell of a player’s career. But since then, treatment has progressed significantly and players do come back from them quite comfortably now, but it is a very long process. I really feel for him. I share what Paul Warne and what the supporters have said, in that it’s absolutely devastating for him. I really like Jake as a player. He’s been a terrific signing on a free transfer. He’s very composed for a player of his age. He can play right-back, he can play centre-back, he can play as a holding midfielder, which he did last season for a couple of games. He’s very versatile. He’s got a very calm head on young shoulders and I felt this year with the performances that he showed against Fleetwood and Peterborough, this was going to be the year when he was going to be a key component of the first team.

I was sat next to Derby’s head of comms in the press box and I think we both looked at each other when he did it and just thought that doesn’t look good and you can pretty much tell when a player goes over and immediately holds his hand up that you know it’s going to be a pretty bad injury. It was clear as soon as Derby’s players went over to see him and they immediately called for the substitution that you felt that, yeah, this isn’t good and the poor lad was in obvious distress. He got carried off down the tunnel, he got applauded by both sets of fans and it was just a really horrible sight. I really feel for him and we wish him all the very best in his recovery. I’m sure he will come back fitter and stronger. It does leave Derby a little bit bare at the back and that might be something they look at solving in the free-agent market.

BD: So just with an eye on transfers, what are Paul Warne’s thoughts about the free-agent market? And if indeed he’s having any positive thoughts? Do you think there’s anything in that free agent market that could address either end of the pitch?

LC: I don’t think they’ll go for another striker. I spoke to Paul after the game on Saturday and asked for his assessment of the window and he was happy with the four strikers that he’s got. What I will say is that when John-Jules came on Saturday, I thought he looked really good in flashes. I’d like to see him start against Portsmouth. He has got that little bit of devilment and a bit of spark. He could add something much different to the attack than what they’ve currently got. I don’t think Derby will look up strikers in the free-agent market and besides I’ve looked at the names and there’s nobody really who stands out.

However, there are a multitude of options available in midfield or out wide and I think they will probably go for a wing-back. It just depends really on whether it’s centre-backs who can play wing-back given Rooney is now injured. However, in saying that there was a boy who played for Lincoln on loan from QPR last season in Olamide Shodipo and I know Derby were looking at trying to inject some pace into the attack. They wanted another Mendez-Laing type player, somebody who could go past people.

He could maybe add that bit of chaos in the last half-an-hour of the game even if it was just a short-term deal until January. He has got good experience, he’s played for QPR in the Champ. He’s 26 and fits in with the age bracket of the players that Derby were looking for across the summer, and maybe would have a point to prove.

BD: There was a sort of behind-closed-doors squad friendly that happened yesterday. And another player Tom Barkhuzien played in that match, is that right?