Manager Frank Lampard was full of praise for his side following the 3-1 win over high-flying Brentford.
After falling behind in the opening minute of the game, Derby reacted well and hit back with a devastating 14-minute spell.
Harry Wilson equalised, whilst seven minutes later David Nugent lobbed Daniel Bentley to put the Rams ahead on 21 minutes. Mason Mount curled a free kick past the goalkeeper just before the half hour mark to give Lampard’s side the advantage.
They saw the game out confidently and professionally and the manager was delighted with his players following a disappointing start.
“We started a bit sloppy to give them a corner and then the man is free so that is something we want to address but these things can happen and the reaction is important and we got it,” he told RamsTV.
“It was a continuation of the way we played against Blackburn in midweek. We were really fast in the first half and created numerous chances, the difference was today that we had the quality to finish. I was delighted with the first goal and Brentford are a good team.
“They showed that in parts today but our energy on the ball was really good in the first half, particularly after they scored.
“Our next challenge is consistency and getting that energy game in, game out. If we can get that then teams will find it very hard to come here and it will be very hard to play against us. There are some really good signs.”
Wilson got the ball rolling for Derby on 14 minutes following a superb breakaway from a Brentford corner. It was unselfish work from Craig Bryson which created the goal, which was Wilson’s first of the season.
“I thought Bryson was fantastic,” admitted the manager. “He got man of the match and rightly so. His work ethic to run, chase and be good on the ball, and he creates that goal, not just with his running but his selflessness at the end not to take the shot on and to roll it and give Harry an open goal.
“It was key for him to get his first goal for the club. I felt sorry for Harry because he came here and played the first two games, then he got injured, then he went away with Wales and fitness has been an issue with him. I said it to him last week, but it was not an issue with him today. His quality, energy and desire to do well and show what he is, is great.”
Today’s result capped off a very good week for the manager, who became a father for the third time. “Everyone is very good,” he said. “Baby and Mum are very good and I’m looking forward to seeing them tonight. It’s been a taxing few days but a good few days.
“Family comes first for me and it’s been nice on that front and we’ve topped it off with a nice three points as well.”
Attention now turns to the Carabao Cup tie against Manchester United on Tuesday, a game the manager is looking forward.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to go against a very good Manchester United team,” Lampard commented. “Everything is against us, that’s going to be good for us because we can take on that challenge.
“People will expect us to lose that game, I understand that because of the quality that they have amassed but we go there with a desire to give everything we can to get through to the next round. If we put the energy we did today into the game then we have a chance to do well there and we will see.
“It’s a test for all of us. It’s a test for me, it’s a test for the players and it’ll be a good atmosphere. We must see it as a test we want to rise to. We are setting standards here – our last four home games have been fantastic but on the road a few times we have not turned up as we wanted so if you don’t turn up at Manchester United you will know about it so we need to do that.”
