"It Was A Great Reaction And We Battled Hard"

Mason Bennett began Derby County's impressive comeback in their 3-1 victory over Birmingham City with his first goal of the season.

The 22-year-old forward praised his team-mates’ character and reaction to bounce back from Lukas Jutkiewicz’s first-half goal.

Bennett tapped in a pinpoint cross by Craig Forsyth to pull the Rams level just after half-time.

Two minutes later they were ahead when Harry Wilson fired in a free-kick, before Jack Marriott sealed the victory with just over 15 minutes remaining to stretch Derby’s league unbeaten run to six games.

“They are very direct and have a physical team, but like the gaffer said before the game, we have to go out there and match the physicality,” Bennett told RamsTV following the victory.

“We weren’t great in the first-half but there was a great reaction from the guys in the second-half to battle hard and get the three points.”

Frank Lampard was forced to make a change early in the first-half and it was Bennett who came on to replace the injured Martyn Waghorn.

The Academy product, as he has done so many times this season, was an impact off the bench and slotted seamlessly into the play.

After providing three assists already this season, including the cross in injury-time to supply Tom Lawrence to head home the winner at Reading in August, Bennett was on the receiving end of a cross to bag his first goal of the campaign.

“I’m delighted; it has been a long time coming,” he said.

“With all four of the full-backs, we all know where they are going to put the ball and we just have to gamble on that. I know Fozzy has a great delivery and I had to be there at the back post.

“I’d like to repay the fans for the support they have given me and the faith they have shown in me, as well as the gaffer and the staff for believing in me and putting me on in a difficult situation at 1-0 down.

“It happened quite suddenly, but everyone knows their roles and responsibilities whatever position they are playing in.

“I’ve been playing out wide all season, I know my job is to be direct and just get at people, get behind them and try and stretch them as much as possible.”

Bennett heaped praise on his team-mates for showing their quality. Harry Wilson scored his third free-kick for club and country this season while Marriott has found sensational form in front of goal, with five in the last six games.

“’Harry Wilson has got the quality, ‘Lozza’ [Tom Lawrence] has got the quality and so has ‘Mounty’ [Mason Mount], but unfortunately he wasn’t in the squad today due to injury..

“We have got that quality on set plays and like we have done all season, scored from a direct free-kick."

He added: “I told him Jack Marriott before the game to carry it on and he has done it. He is a clinical finisher, you saw that last season at Peterborough, he has got so many goals.

“He has brought that form to Derby and the Championship and I am delighted for him. He is a top lad, is working hard and has bided his time to get into the squad.”

The Rams will get a rare midweek break from match action and return to Pride Park Stadium next Saturday to face Aston Villa ahead of the November international break.

Bennett is urging his team-mates to keep up the tempo and put their mark on the league ahead of the third international break of the season.

He said: “This next game before the international break is key for us to show what we can do and show the league that we mean business this season.”