Paul Clement: “We’re Disappointed But We Have To Respond”

Paul Clement was quick to admit his disappointment after Derby County tasted only their second league defeat of the season at Nottingham Forest.

Paul Clement was quick to admit his disappointment after Derby County tasted only their second league defeat of the season at Nottingham Forest.

Nelson Oliveira's early goal was enough to hand the Reds all three points in the first East Midlands derby of the campaign at the City Ground.

Clement felt his side didn’t play their normal game and made life difficult for themselves as they sought to find a way back into the match.

Jeff Hendrick came closest to a Rams equaliser when his shot struck the bar in the first half as Derby’s ten-game unbeaten run came to an end.

Clement told Rams Player HD after the game: “I think we have to be disappointed with our performance.

“We didn’t want the run to end against our arch rivals or our supporters to go away from this game with a bad feeling.

“We have to take the positives that we’ve been on a terrific run taking 13 points from a possible 18 and we are in a good position in the league.

“I didn’t think we played very well tonight; we were either doing things that were too difficult or having too many touches on the ball.

“A lot of our good results have come from a real presence of unity in the team, people understanding their roles and playing simple but tonight the decision making was not very good.

“We could say that tonight was due to the way the opposition defended, putting a lot of intensity into the game, but there have been other games where teams have put a lot of intensity.”

He added: “Our form has been good over recent games and our away form has been excellent.

“Clearly we’ve come to a big game as it is our local rivals and we want to do better.

“There wasn’t a lack of effort but it was just the choices that were being made, particularly offensively, that let us down."

As a result of the two-week international break Derby aren’t in action again for a fortnight, when they welcome Cardiff City to the iPro Stadium.

Clement says it is important that his side show a positive response to the rare league loss.

He said: “We’ve been in this position before where we lost against Leeds United going into the international break back in August.

“We’re in a good position in the table and the good thing that we are pushing and in the mix, now we have to put things right for the home fixture against Cardiff.

“We’ve got a good group of players training during the course of the international break– all of which will be looking to improve and make the most of the two weeks on offer.”