3/1 To Win
Manager Frank Lampard described himself as proud of his players following their 2-1 defeat against Aston Villa in the Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Final.
Goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn put Villa 2-0 ahead either side of half-time before Jack Marriott’s low shot 10 minutes from time reduced the arrears.
The Rams continued to fight until the end but could not find the all-important equaliser at Wembley Stadium.
However, the manager spoke of his admiration for the hard-work his players put in over the 90 minutes and the season as a whole.
“It was a close game and Finals are generally close,” he told RamsTV. “We are obviously disappointed to lose the game. I can’t ask for any more effort and the players pushed and pushed and pushed.
“It was a cagey first half today and they got the first goal just before half time. A mistake gave them another and then it was nothing but character from our group. I’m disappointed but proud.”
One of the biggest achievements of the season has seen the connectivity between the players and fans return.
From moments at Reading at the start of the season to Leeds United at Elland Road in the Play-Off Semi-Finals, the supporters have been with the players all the way, while the players have regularly shown their appreciation for the backing of the fans.
Lampard said: “There are so many big stories from this season which I couldn’t tell you in one answer. Individual stories, collective group stories, players becoming friends, players performing and showing resilience and quality - we've had it.
“I feel the link between the fans and the club has been amazing and everyone tells me that; it certainly feels that way.
“They love the players, the players love them. We have moved in one direction and I can’t say it’s been an amazing and incredible season because that would have been promotion, but it’s as close as you can get to that.
“As soon as this dust settles, I think we can all say we have enjoyed the ride. I’m just disappointed to send the 40,000 Derby fans home, who have had a good day still, I think without the promotion we all wanted.
“They came here with a mindset which was that we are delighted to be here, and we are going to support our club and that helped us. To send them home disappointed was bad because they wanted us to get promoted.”
