"We Need To Really Try To Kick On Now"

Fresh from netting the winning penalty against Southampton on Wednesday night, central defender Richard Keogh believes there is a great spirit in the Derby County dressing room - and is hoping the Rams can now push on.

Keogh’s spot-kick sparked jubilant scenes at St Mary’s as the Rams booked their place in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup, following a 2-2 draw in the Third Round replay at St Mary's Stadium.

Frank Lampard’s side netted all five penalties during the shoot-out, with Keogh taking the final kick.

He has also revealed that he changed his mind on where to place his shot at the final seconds.

“I was half-hoping Matt Targett would miss to be fair,” he told RamsTV.

“I knew that I was going to be last, and the way it fell obviously I had a chance to win it.

“I just had in my head what way I was going to go – but then I changed it! I saw the goalkeeper dive quite early, so I ended up rolling it in the other corner. Just before that, the gaffer just told all the lads to be confident and obviously he was a penalty taker himself.

“I was quite confident, I felt good. The game went quite well so confidence was quite high anyway. The gaffer asked me and it was just the right thing to do, you have to put yourself forward. It was nice to be the winning penalty and a nice celebration after.

“It shows that we have got a good, technical team and the lads are confident and back themselves. With goalkeepers doing so much research nowadays and in shoot-outs they can be quite saveable so for us not to miss one is quite good going.”

League 1 side Accrington Stanley await the Rams in the Fourth Round of the competition; however, they face Reading in the Sky Bet Championship this weekend and the focus is firmly back on Derby's league campaign.

There was a dramatic ending when the sides met on the opening weekend of the season.

The Rams recovered from a goal down to win the game 2-1 in the dying seconds, courtesy of a fine header from Tom Lawrence.

“That was, in the end, a great way to start the season – a dramatic way,” Keogh said.

“It just shows the togetherness of the squad and the fitness levels as well.

“We have scored quite a few late goals and we never know when we’re beaten – so that is a good sign, especially in a league like this where it is very tight.

“Reading are going to be a different team to when we played them there with Paul Clement leaving and a new manager coming in. We have seen some improvements in the last few games they have played. It will be a tough game but we are back at home and we are excited.

“We have been through that tough period, and it was really tough, and to come out of it how we did, I think we came out on the right side of it and left ourselves in a good position. Now we need to really try to kick on now. It is not easy in this league but let’s hope we can do that on Saturday.”