Rowett: "We Weren't Brave Enough"

Gary Rowett called on Derby County to be braver after Norwich City came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.

Matej Vydra scored a terrific goal to put the Rams in front, but James Maddison converted from the spot to level the scores inside the last 20 minutes.

The Canaries controlled the game in the second half, and Rowett wants to see his side show more, especially on their own pitch.

He told RamsTV: “We allowed them too much of the ball, they grew in confidence and we got away with it once or twice.

“I’m not going to have a go at them for trying to do the right things, but for me we didn’t try to do the right things.

“We weren’t brave enough, we showed resilience and we defended stoically but we’re at home and we want to put the other team under pressure.

“We looked a little bit nervy and edgy, but hopefully we can get that out of our system in the next game.

“Sometimes you haven’t got the energy to press high up the pitch and sometimes you need to play a little bit safer, but today we did it far too much, I don’t mind it in spells.”

Before the visitors took control, Derby started well and got the early goal through the league’s top scorer, who produced another superb finish as he continues to put together his own personal Goal of the Season competition.

Rowett praised the opening spell, as well as the influence that his forward had on the early stages of the game.

He said: “We had a very bright start, for 15 minutes we controlled the ball and possession, and we managed to put them under quite a bit of pressure.

“It was a great goal, a great individual goal. He turns and hits it with his left foot, and it was a wonderful finish.

“He’s done that so many times this season with a moment of quality.”