Football: Derby's day of destiny: Rupert Metcalf on the tension of the Wembley play-off finals
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Your support makes all the difference.DESPITE having been in charge at the Baseball Ground for little more than six months, Roy McFarland, the Derby County manager whose side face Leicester City in tomorrow's First Division play-off final at Wembley, knows that time is running out for him to deliver the goods.
When he inherited a team assembled at a cost of about pounds 12m from Arthur Cox, the former England centre-half, who has a year to run on his contract, he knew that expectations were high. Derby left the top flight in 1991, and their supporters regard a return to the elite as overdue.
'Now it comes down to just one game,' McFarland said last week. 'There is so much at stake. We know the rewards will be great. Even if we don't go up, I would hope my contract is honoured. But when you are involved with a club that wants so much, you realise directors make decisions which you have to respect.'
Derby's main injury doubt is the highly-rated striker, Paul Kitson, who will only face his former club if he passes a late test on a stomach muscle injury.
Leicester, hoping for a change of luck after two successive play-off final defeats, have had a series of injuries to cope with. However, Iwan Roberts, Steve Thompson, Steve Agnew and Colin Hill could be in contention after long absences. 'It will be my most important selection of the season, and I cannot afford to let my heart rule my head,' Brian Little, the City manager, said.
Today, Burnley face Stockport County in the Second Division play-off final. Like Leicester, Stockport have bad memories of Wembley, having suffered three defeats there in the last two years. However, Burnley have a longer jinx to lay: in six Sunday games in 11 years they have yet to score a goal. Stockport's key striker, the 6ft 7in Kevin Francis, is a slight doubt with a groin strain.
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