3/1 To Win
Steve McClaren was delighted to see Derby County score two ‘quality goals’ in their 2-0 victory over Charlton Athletic on Tuesday evening.
Steve McClaren was delighted to see Derby County score two ‘quality goals’ in their 2-0 victory over Charlton Athletic on Tuesday evening.
Jeff Hendrick and Jesse Lingard rounded off flowing moves in the opening 17 minutes to help Derby extend their lead at the top of the Championship table.
It was the sixteenth successive game in which Derby had scored in and McClaren was delighted to see his side fly out of the blocks against the Addicks.
He told Rams Player: “The goals both came from fantastic football.
“You won’t find better goals tonight in any game.
“The goals we scored were excellent and came from great passing; great control and superb finishes.
“Jeff (Hendrick) was excellent tonight and both him and Jesse (Lingard) finished the chances brilliantly.
“Jesse has been itching to start and he has deserved it. It was a great move leading to his goal and it was a great finish too.”
McClaren was also pleased with the maturity in Derby’s play and added: “We were a good team with the ball, as always, and we were a good team without the ball as well.
“Out of possession, our tempo, pressing and recovering back to shape was excellent.
“We did the horrible things well like the running backwards and defending our goal.
“We are a forward thinking team, so it is difficult for them but they showed maturity in it.”
Derby recorded their first clean sheet since the end of January, in the 2-0 victory at Cardiff City, in the game.
The shut-out was also the twentieth that the Rams have recorded in all competitions this season.
After conceding nine goals in their previous four matches, McClaren was pleased to keep the Addicks at bay.
He also shuffled his pack ahead of the game with Ryan Shotton replacing Jake Buxton at the heart of the defence.
He said: “We set a target for clean sheets at the start of the season and we’re edging closer towards it.
“It was important to get that clean sheet. We conceded nine goals in our previous four games, which was not good enough and it won’t win us football matches on a consistent basis.
“We made changes again before the game and Ryan Shotton was excellent at the back.
“We thought Bucko (Jake Buxton), who has done great, needed a breather and we have to give the squad games. Shots came in against a very good front two and did very well."
He added: “It was a very tough decision and from now until the end of the season, I am not going to sleep too much, especially when it is close to game day.
“That’s the most difficult part of this job when you have got a squad like this.”
