Nigel Clough admitted he felt for his players after seeing a 2-0 lead against Queens Park Rangers slip through their fingers this afternoon.

Clough's side looked to be on their way to their second victory of the season after goals from Kris Commons and James Bailey at Pride Park.

But Patrick Agyemang and Jamie Mackie struck in injury time for QPR, to avoid their first defeat of the campaign.

Clough's young side, with an average age of 24, were excellent throughout and the Derby boss admitted his squad deserved better.

He told dcfc.co.uk: "It wasn't quite to be today, despite a magnificent effort.

"We were down to the bare bones because of injuries, and we couldn't have asked for any more than what each and every one of them gave out there.

"The lads were brilliant, and there were lots of positives to take from the game.

"We've said from pre-season onwards it is a learning experience for our younger players, and today was another one of those experiences.

"We feel for the lads after all the effort they put in; they are down right now.

"We just couldn't see it through, but I suppose before the game if we'd have been offered 2-2, especially after losing Kris Commons to injury as well, we would probably have taken it.

"The performances aren't reaping the rewards of points, but they certainly giving us encouragement."

Clough was always wary of the lift a goal for the Rs would do for their confidence.

Agyemang's goal provided that lift, before Mackie broke Derby's hearts soon afterwards.

He said: "They are such a good side, and we were always concerned about them getting a goal.

"That late goal gave them a lift, and anything can break in the final few minutes as they found to their advantage with Mackie's goal."

Derby lost Commons to a hamstring injury before the break, which was a major blow after he was the stand-out player of the first period.

"It was a blow losing Kris, he was on it today and he deserved his goal," said Clough.

"His hamstring tightened and we didn't want it to go completely and lose him for two months.

"Dean Moxey moved up front and ran his socks off and certainly wasn't the reason we didn't win the game."

Clough is now calling on a similar sort of performance against Sheffield United in a fortnight after the two-week international break.

"We want exactly the same performance against Sheffield United," he said.

"Our performances have been consistent; we've passed the ball well, created chances and scored goals.

"That bodes well for the next 40-odd games."