3/1 To Win
Defender Lee Buchanan was full of praise for Derby County’s resilience despite conceding in the final minute of the game to lose 1-0 against Preston North End at Pride Park Stadium on Boxing Day.
The loss signalled Derby’s first defeat in six games and ended a run of 450 minutes of play without conceding a goal.
The Rams were dealt a blow in the opening 20 minutes of the game as Martyn Waghorn was dismissed for a late challenge on Alan Browne.
Derby battled and kept their Sky Bet Championship counterparts at bay with some excellent defensive play but unfortunately succumbed in the final minute of additional time.
Browne managed to curl the ball past David Marshall to ensure the Rams fell to defeat - but Buchanan was keen to focus on a positive performance.
“We’ve just said in the dressing room that it’s one of the best performances we’ve had this season,” he admitted, chatting to RamsTV.
“We know we have the lads to go out there, even with ten men, and put a performance in like we did today so we have to keep digging in.
“The second half of the season is going to be massive for us and you can tell by the performance today that we are all hungry and we will work our way up the table.
“To lose it like that gets everyone down, but we have another game in three days so we go again.”
It’s Derby’s first defeat in December and their first since the 3-0 defeat against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium over a month ago.
The Rams have improved since that evening in the North East and Buchanan believes Derby are on the right path.
“Since Wayne Rooney has taken over, we have seen a change,” he said. “He has simplified training, there are more small-sided games and he has been great with us - so let’s hope it continues.
“There is a lot of work to do but we believe that we have the lads and the lads on the bench to come on and make a massive difference for us so we have a great squad so we have to utilise that and hopefully work our way up the table.”
