Nigel Clough has expressed his delight at Derby County's clean sheet and point at Sheffield Wednesday this afternoon.

The Rams kept their sixth clean sheet on the road at Hillsborough with a hard fought and deserved point in the goalless draw.

"It is a great clean sheet for us," said Clough afterwards.

"I think we edged the first half and had some good chances to take the lead.

"We were on the back foot in the second half, but for all that Stephen Bywater wasn't called into action too much.

"When we spoke yesterday it was about keeping the gap between ourselves and Wednesday intact, which we have managed to do.

"We will keep battling away and I think a few more performances like today on the road and a few home wins will see us safe.

"If we have to battle and scrap, then so be it. I don't think anyone in that bottom six will be playing fluent football at this stage of the season.

"We haven't had a problem scoring lately, and despite not doing that today we saw the game through which was vitally important and kept a clean sheet."

The clean sheet coincided with the return of Bywater in goal after a two-game absence with a back problem, and Clough was delighted to have the former West Ham shot-stopper back between the posts.

"It was lovely to have Stephen back in goal," he said.

"He made two or three important saves for us in the first-half.

"In front of him, I thought Shaun Barker was absolutely outstanding.

"We are just lamenting the games he missed earlier in the season because I'm sure we would have had a win or two more if he had been playing."