Frank Lampard was quick to praise the patience of his Derby County players following their 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening.
Second half strikes from Joe Ledley and Tom Lawrence handed the Rams a first home win over the Tractor Boys since 2006.
Lampard felt his side showed ‘brilliant patience’ in their quest to make the breakthrough against Paul Hurst's side at Pride Park Stadium.
Ledley opened the scoring just before the hour mark with a deflected effort from distance before Lawrence doubled the Rams’ advantage nine minutes later direct from a free-kick.
Speaking to RamsTV after the final whistle, Lampard said: “We had to be patient tonight and I thought we were brilliantly patient.
“We kept moving the ball, sometimes even if it was from side-to-side trying to work an opening, and we were playing well trying to find holes for our attacking players to get in to.
“I know the fans want exciting football but sometimes you have to work for those openings. We have to stick with it and the supporters will stick with us too and I know we can do it even better as we keep working on it.
“Both goals were deflected but I thought we got what we deserved for our attitude and work rate.
“You make your own luck at times and we deserved to win by working very, very hard.
“It’s nice to get that first home win under our belts. We’re trying to do something for the bigger picture here; we are trying to change things and bring young players into the team – but you have to have results alongside that.”
He added: “It felt nice to score first goal and get ahead – and then we shut the game down really well.
“It can be difficult to close the game out when the opposition are pushing but we did it really well and Scott Carson only had a few comfortable saves to make.”
Lampard was also keen to praise Ledley’s professionalism after the midfielder came off the bench to score the opener.
The Wales international started the Rams’ opening two games of the campaign against Reading and Leeds United but wasn’t involved in the matchday squad at Millwall on Saturday.
Lampard said: “Credit to Joe because he started the first two games and then wasn’t involved on Saturday.
“He’s a great professional and did well when it isn’t easy coming off the bench and into the action.”
The only downside on the night was the injury sustained by summer signing George Evans.
The midfielder, who started the game brightly in his first league appearance since joining from Reading, sustained a knee injury in the first half and will undergo a scan to determine the full extent of the damage.
He said: “It’s disappointing news for George that he had to come off. It’s a knee injury, that’s clear, but we don’t know the full extent.
“He was playing really well and I thought losing him, going down to ten men for a bit, changed the tide slightly. Hopefully it won’t be too long for him.”
