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It's the big one! - 19/10/2002

It's the big one!
Over there!
 
Links:
 Players:
   Branko Strupar
 Clubs:
   Derby County
 Grounds:
   Pride Park Stadium

It’s Forest on Sunday, and everyone at the club knows how important this is to the fans. I’ve played in some big derby’s before, but although there won’t be 50,000 at Pride Park, it’s still going to be a cracking atmosphere. Unfortunately I’m still suspended, but I’ll be in the changing rooms and still feeling all the emotions! I tell you, sitting in the stands is even more nerve racking than playing in the big games. You can’t influence what happens on the pitch and you find yourself in a helpless situation. When you’re playing it’s different, OK you get the pre-match build up, but when the ref blows his whistle you just get on with it – you’re that focused on the game that don’t notice the nerves and adrenalin. The fact that Sky are covering the match just helps to build it up further. I know a lot of pro’s will say that derby matches are ‘just another game’ but they’re not! We know what it means for the fans to turn in for work on Monday with a victory behind them. We feel the atmosphere…and we’ll do everything we can to get the three points.

The up side of my suspension is that it’s given me a break, fourteen games in six weeks is quite a demand on your body. I’d been carrying a few minor niggles – to my knee and ankle, but they’ve had a chance to recover and hopefully I’ll feel the benefit both immediately and possibly later on in the season. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed not playing, but at least the rest will do me good. Rest is what Branko Strupar needs, he’ll be out for around 6 months so we hope to see him playing before the season is out. There’s only one downside to football and that’s injuries, Branko’s had a difficult time and we wish him all the best. He’s going back to Croatia to recuperate, a lot of the foreign lads like to do this as they can spend time in their own culture and I’m sure it helps. Nevertheless, we’re looking forward to seeing him back at Pride Park.


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