DERBY County have lost only once in the Championship this season.
They have suffered defeat only eight times in 46 league games (26 wins, 12 draws) in the past year.
It is an impressive record, one that makes them a feared opponent at this level and, rightfully, one of the favourites for promotion, having gone so close last season.
Given those facts and given Derby's recognised approach to matches and their style of play, it was difficult to fathom Dougie Freedman's game plan.
The Bolton Wanderers manager held up his hands after his team were beaten 2-0 by Derby at the Macron Stadium.
"I take full responsibility for the way I set up the team. We tried to out-football Derby, we thought we could. I was disappointed with my performance. Tactically, I got it wrong," said Freedman.
Freedman should have asked himself the following question. How many Championship rivals have "out-footballed" Derby in the past year?
Just the one.
That was Leicester City, who walloped the Rams 4-1 at the King Power Stadium in January.
To his credit, Freedman did not shy away from questions afterwards and you have to admire his honesty, although I am not sure what the Bolton supporters made of his explanation.
Some had already called for his head and that of chairman Phil Gartside during the game. One fan ran on to the pitch and threw his ticket towards Freedman.
The Bolton boss believes Derby are the best side in the League, while his team have taken a meagre five points from 27 and occupy a place in the bottom three.
Those two stats alone make Bolton's "expansive" approach all the more questionable.
To outplay Derby, an opponent must first match their energy, then shore up the channels where the Rams are so potent and then create chances themselves.
Bolton fell short on all three counts. They had two efforts on target all game.
Teams are asking for trouble if they play expansively against Derby, as Bolton discovered.
Nor did mistakes by players help Freedman, especially those made for Derby's second goal.
"Some things I cannot legislate for and football suicide is one of them," said the Scot.
I hope Freedman rides out the storm.
Management can be severely testing at times but Freedman did a terrific job in difficult circumstances at Crystal Palace before taking the Bolton role.
Rams boss Steve McClaren offered Freedman words of comfort.
McClaren has been in the firing line at times in his career, at Middlesbrough and with England.
"This is management and it can be cruel at times. You live and die by results," he said.
"When the pressure is on you need a performance from your players. We have all been in that situation and we all feel for each other."
