Steve Bloomer's Washing

Chris, Richard and Tom are reunited (possibly for the last time in a while) as they attempt to make sense of English football grinding to a halt as a result of the coronavirus global pandemic. As the beautiful game – and society – face dire consequences from Covid-19, we attempt to provide some light relief…… Continue reading SBW 79: Coronavirus shutdown special

Derby County returned to winning ways on the road with an emphatic victory at Hillsborough thanks to a Tom Lawrence brace and hat-trick of assists from Chris Martin. Cutch, Tom and Anton discuss the improving away form, a couple of frustrating results against QPR and Fulham and the futures of Chris Martin and Jayden Bogle.

Derby County’s quest for the Most Average Season Ever continues with another win, another draw and another defeat. Chris and Richard analyse the long-awaited away win at Swansea, the frantic five-goal thriller at Bristol City, and the drab draw at home to Huddersfield. There’s also discussion on Radio Derby’s sacking of Craig Ramage for his…… Continue reading SBW 77: Swans, Robins & Terriers

Only Derby County could squeeze their best AND worst result of the season into four days, and that’s exactly what Phillip Cocu’s Jekyll & Hyde Rams have done. Chris, Richard and Anton salute the spectacular four-goal shoeing of Stoke City, before asking what on earth went wrong earlier in the same week against Luton Town.…… Continue reading SBW 76: Hatter, Haters & Potters

A truly woeful FA Cup tie against Northampton Town sees the Rams needing a replay to secure a fifth round spot… but they’re still in the hat. Chris, Tom and Anton pick the bones out of an uninspiring display against their League Two opposition, and also look back on the home win over Hull City.…… Continue reading SBW 75: Cobblers & Tigers

The new year sees Derby County still unbeaten (enjoy it while it lasts!), as Crystal Palace are dispatched in the FA Cup before Duane Holmes’ late volley snatches an unlikely point on Teeside. How long can the Rams continue their undefeated stretch in 2020? Penalties, Rooney, VAR, Deon Burton (!), transfer rumours and loads more…… Continue reading SBW 74: Palace, Boro & John Percy

Derby start the new year as they ended the last – with a 2-1 home win easing unrest around Pride Park. How influential was Wayne Rooney after his long-awaited debut for the Rams against Barnsley? Chris and Tom analyse Captain Wazza’s first appearance, and also single out Derby’s academy youngsters for more praise. With an…… Continue reading SBW 73: Happy Roo Year

2019 is nearly over, and frankly it can’t finish soon enough for Phillip Cocu’s travel sick Rams, as only a last minute bundled equaliser spares them the embarrassment of another away defeat, this time at bottom club Wigan Athletic. Chris and Richard analyse the talking points from Derby’s Boxing Day fixture, look back on the…… Continue reading SBW 72: Wigan woe & Best of 2019

Derby’s 2019/20 season may have left some parts of our fanbase divided, but one era from our past will always remain unblemished. It’s only on reflection when you can appreciate how special some period for were for the Rams. Jim Smith’s six year reign at Derby County was just that. From broken club records and…… Continue reading Jim Smith: Six games which defined the Bald Eagle’s Derby era

The Steve Bloomer’s Washing boys take a break from contemporary Derby County developments to pay tribute to the most successful manager of their lifetime – the late Jim Smith. The Bald Eagle took charge of the Rams in the summer of 1995, leading an entertaining Derby side to automatic promotion in his first season. He…… Continue reading SBW 71: Jim Smith remembered

The below interview is a transcript of our podcast with Dean Sturridge, recorded in June 2018. – Dean it’s a pleasure to see you again – and you’re still working in football? – That’s correct – in another capacity now. I’d love to be out there on the field with the quality of play -…… Continue reading ‘Jim Smith believed in me’: Dean Sturridge on becoming a Rams goalscoring machine

No Derby fan can deny the last decade for the Rams has been eventful. Four playoff campaigns, plenty of managers, heroes, villains and everything in between. But which 11 players made the biggest contribution to Derby County between 2010 and 2020? Chris, Richard, Tom and Anton sat down to name their combined Team of the…… Continue reading SBW 70: Team of the Decade

The Rams’ patchy season continues with a win, draw and, predictably, another 3-0 defeat in London in their last three games. Wayne Rooney’s unveiling against QPR failed to mask a lacklustre display, and Derby’s woeful away record continued at Fulham. Which injured first-teamer are we missing most? Are we a midtable side, or a good…… Continue reading SBW 69: Win, Roos or Draw

After 276 games, 42 goals and an historic hattrick… comes one podcast interview. Rams hero Craig Bryson joined us on SBW to look back on his eight years at Pride Park – from his early career and ‘owing everything to Nigel Clough’, to play-off heartache, Forest hattricks, a fall-out with Steve McClaren, and a new…… Continue reading SBW Meets: Craig Bryson

Yet more travel sickness sees Phillip Cocu lose his first league East Midlands derby, as the Rams are beaten at The City Ground. There were plenty of positives in Derby’s latest away defeat, as Chris, Richard, Tom and Anton discuss. There’s analysis too on the fourth consecutive home win over a poor Middlesbrough side, the…… Continue reading SBW 67: Bogle’s blunder & Boro

The Rams are not quite ‘mauled by the Tigers’, but certainly well beaten as two second half goals mean another defeat on the road. There was, however, that papering-over-the-cracks last minute win over Wigan to compensate for Derby’s latest loss – leaving Chris, Tom and Anton to wonder at what point we write off 2019/20…… Continue reading SBW 66: Highway to Hull

Another London away day, another catastrophic performance. Richard, Anton and Ryan unpick the mess that was Charlton 3 Derby 0, and ask if the warning signs are there that the Rams are in for a midtable campaign…(or worse?). There are some of your hilarious ‘five word reviews’, and Richard once again disgraces himself at Guess…… Continue reading SBW 65: Capital punishment

Derby’s small but nonetheless important unbeaten run continues with seven points in (just over) seven days, thanks to consecutive morale-boosting home wins. Chris and Richard are joined by SBW debutant Ryan Burton to look back on the Rams’ last two league fixtures. Questions we attempt to tackle include: Should Jayden Bogle play further forward? How…… Continue reading SBW 64: Barnsley & Luton

In a month where a minority of Derby’s squad dominated the headlines and took a sledgehammer to the club’s reputation, you could be forgiven for allowing our unbeaten September to go unnoticed. The Tuesday Club, or ‘SeshGate’ as it’s also been labelled, gave Derby County its darkest episode since the ‘Three Amigos’ got their hands…… Continue reading September review: Draws, disgrace… and dodgy keeping

How do you sum up that week? Seven days which Derby fans won’t forget in a hurry ended with a breathless 3-2 win over Birmingham, giving Phillip Cocu his first home win as Rams boss. Will the five-goal thriller kickstart Derby’s season? And what part will Chris Martin play after coming back in from the…… Continue reading SBW 63: Shaking off the Blues