Mon 02 May
Time to read: 3mins
After getting over the initial disappointment, Andreas Weimann believes Derby County can take plenty of positives from their meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion – insisting they deserved to win it.
The 24-year-old Austrian wideman struck the Rams in front with his fourth goal of the season as he made an immediate impact off the substitutes bench at a packed out Amex Stadium.
After Lewis Dunk had been sent off for the promotion-chasing Seagulls, Darren Wassall’s side looked on course for their fifth win in six games, but James Wilson’s finish deep into added time saw Chris Hughton’s claim a share of the spoils.
Weimann was particularly full of praise for the Rams’ second half display on the south coast.
Speaking to Rams Player HD, he said: “Straight after the full time whistle we were all disappointed that we have drawn the game.
“Obviously they scored with the last kick of the game and after our second half performance, we all felt that we deserved to win the game.
“When we look back, we will be able to say that it was a really good performance because we have come to a place where Brighton have won a lot of games this season.
“We should have won. With the way we are playing, it’s great for us going into the play-offs.
“Our second half performance was very good, there are a lot of positives that we can take away from the game going into the Ipswich game.”
On his goal shortly after the 70 minute mark, he added: “First of all, it was just nice to get on to the pitch.
“Will has played a through ball and I have probably hit the first effort too nicely and it was saved.
“I scuffed the second one and that ended up going in. It’s been a few months since my last one, so it was a nice moment.
“We have all got that big goal of reaching the Premier League. All that matters is that we are happy around the place and are pushing each other for those starting spots by playing and training to our top level.”
The draw saw Derby extend their unbeaten run to six games heading into regular season finale fixture at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday 7 May.
It has been confirmed that the Rams will now face Hull City in the Play-Off Semi-Finals after that and Weimann insists it is important that he and the side continue to build their momentum.
He added: “We’re in good form. We have won four and drawn two of our last six games, with the latter two coming against sides in the top six.
“We should have won the game today too. We have got Ipswich next week, so if we can get three points from that then we will be going into the play-offs full of momentum.
“They are a side that we have beaten twice in the league. I have never been involved in the play-offs before, but I can anticipate that they are going to be nerve wracking occasions and the atmosphere will be completely different to what it was in the league fixtures.
“It doesn’t matter too much that we beaten them twice because it’s a clean slate, with two more games, and we have to do it again.
“You can look at whichever way you want, but we will go into the game full of confidence.”
