Derby County’s struggles have been well-documented this season amid the backdrop of a potential Middle Eastern takeover.

The idea of sacking Phillip Cocu has so far been only fanciful given reports about his wages despite such poor results with the Rams struggling to convince.

While no Derby fan will need to be told about their woes, one of the underlying stats about their season so far certainly sums up the situation.

Prior to 22 July 2020, Derby’s record of goals per 90 was actually really quite impressive. Indeed, 38 goals in 21 games between 2 January 2020 and that point equated to 1.81 scored on average a game.

During that spell, only high-flying Brentford ranked higher in the Championship.

However, in the period since (taking them up to 9th November), things have plummeted.

Now producing only 0.45 goals per 90 (5 in 11 games), they are the third-worst on that front in the division with just newcomers Wycombe and struggling Sheffield Wednesday below Derby.

Derby County stats

Clearly, that’s an alarming drop off as you can see from the graphic above (supplied by Twenty3) and speaks to some serious struggling from an attack who have combined for just four goals all season.

Should a new boss come in, he needs to get Derby scoring more. Granted, that’s a patently obvious statement to make but they are only attempting marginally fewer shots in this latter period (10.18) to the earlier one (10.57) while attempting more headed efforts (1.55 to 1).

So, it’s not as if the attack has completely dried up, it’s just the quality of their chances and finishing ability have dropped off a cliff.

Derby fans will know the struggle but the task at hand is now obvious.