both rested for the remainder of the campaign, Davies having an ankle operation and Bywater resting a sprained rib joint. Bywater's injury resulted in Ross Atkins being recalled from a loan spell with Kidderminster Harriers. Paul Connolly, who Sheffield United loan was initially extended for another week, returned when it became mathematically impossible for Sheffield United to make the playoffs. The season's away fixtures wrapped up with The Rams 13th away defeat of the campaign as the lost 2–1 at Bristol City, meaning Derby had taken just 17 points from a possible 69 on the road. Derby's goalscorer in the game, Stephen Pearson, also underwent knee surgery, ruling him out for four months. Leading scorer Rob Hulse also had an operation on his adductor tendon problem leaving Derby with 14 senior players ruled out for the final game of the season against Cardiff City. One of these, loanee Gilles Sunu, was returned to his parent club, Arsenal, one week early due to the injury. The season ended with a 2–0 win over Cardiff City which helped the club to record a 14th placed league finish and beat the previous season's points total by 2. Looking towards the 2010–11 season, Alan Tomlinson, who had been with the club as Head Physio since December 2007, left the club to "pursue other interests." The club announced it had agreed a deal to sign ADO Den Haag utility player Danny Buijs once the Dutch football season had finished, and gave Russell Anderson, whose contract expired at the end of the season, a new two-year deal. Goalkeepers Saul Deeney and Ross Atkins also signed new one-year deals. They also confirmed their ongoing interest in Crewe Alexandra defender John Brayford and a desire to continue Michael Tonge's loan from Stoke City into the new campaign. Liverpool youngster Adam Pepper was also taken on trial, scoring in the reserves 3–2 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, and Clough highlighted Scunthorpe United forward Gary Hooper as a "player we admire" and confirmed the loan of Tomasz Cywka from Wigan Athletic was with one eye on next season. The club also announced that Season ticket sales for the following season were matching those for the current campaign, with 2,000 season ticket sales on Friday 16 April 2010 being "one of the single busiest days in the Ticket Office's history." By close of the club's Early Bird offer (which froze 2010–11