Nigel Clough has heaped the praise on Derby County’s players for an ‘excellent attacking performance’ in their 3-2 victory over Charlton Athletic.
Jamie Ward’s brace and Craig Bryson’s first goal of the season handed Derby their second win of the campaign, although they did have to hang on in the closing stages as the visitors pulled two goals back in the final 20 minutes through Danny Green and Yann Kermorgant.
Clough admitted letting the visitors back into the game was a concern, but he was more interested in focussing on the fine attacking football his side produced when conducting his post-match interviews – as well as the fact Derby didn’t buckle under Charlton’s late pressure.
He told Rams Player: “It was a nervy ending to the game but for our display for 75-odd minutes; we deserved the win there is no doubt about that.
“In all honesty it could have been more than 3-0 by the hour and we should really have been more than a goal in front at half-time, so we need to be more clinical from that aspect.
“At 3-0 a stunning goal gave them a bit of hope and the second soon afterwards obviously gave them a real chance, but we’re far more interested in the positives that we saw and the quality of the goals we scored.
“It was an excellent attacking performance from us for the majority of the game and the two goals we scored from open play were superb goals in their own way.
“It could have been a little less tense late on that it should have been, but we have to remember we still got three points and that’s the main thing.
“We held on as well when we had to, because we didn’t manage to do it against Scunthorpe or Sheffield Wednesday earlier in the season – so that should give the players a boost in confidence.”
Derby have scored 15 goals in four home games so far this season, and have established themselves as one of the Championship’s hot-shots in front of goal.
It took the Rams until the end of October last season to score 15 goals at home and Clough commented: “I suppose if you want value for money and you want to see goals, you should head down to Pride Park!
“It’s crazy to think that we could have scored far more goals as well than 15, so we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing because our biggest strength is being on the front foot and attacking the opposition.”
Despite the dramatic ending, Clough says he is already looking forward to the visit of Burnley on Saturday.
He said: “We’re looking forward and why shouldn’t we be? We’ve scored plenty at home, we’re unbeaten at Pride Park this season and we’re in the top half of the table – so there’s plenty to look forward to.”
Watch Nigel Clough’s post-match interview on Rams Player.