Post-Match Verdict: Korey Smith Vs Cheltenham Town (A)

Derby County full-back Korey Smith was delighted that the team were able to hold on for a valuable three points on the road in Sky Bet League One on Saturday.

The 3-2 victory away at Cheltenham Town was the fourth in a row for the Rams in all competitions and although it brought to an end the side’s five-game run without conceding a goal, Smith believes it showed that Paul Warner’s side are able to win in more ways than one.

Speaking to RamsTV after the final whistle, he reflected on what was the 17th game without loss for the side.

On the result...

I'm delighted. We've had a few of these matches where we've come away with draws when we maybe should have won.

We're a little bit disappointed because we know we could have seen the game out better and we conceded from a set-piece - but at the end of the day it's three points, we're 17 unbeaten and you've got to grind some results out.

Fair play to Cheltenham, they are a good team. The pitch is really small, it was windy and bobbly and they got a bit of momentum so we had to see it out but I'm proud of the boys for getting the result in the end.

On digging in at the end...

We're not going to win every game 3-0 or 4-0. It's a tough league and we've got to find different ways of winning. We could have been better in regards to seeing the game out but the reaction to going behind so early was absolutely brilliant.

On the clean-sheet run coming to an end...

I'm disappointed with it but I'm not going to go home and be down about it, we've won the game. Our record has been amazing, we aren't going to keep a clean-sheet every game and there's different ways to win.

On Max Bird's goal...

It was beautiful. The gaffer has been telling him to have a go more but as soon as it left his foot I could see it was sailing in. I'm delighted for him, he's been brilliant. He's a young player but he's really mature for his age and today will be another learning curve for him.

On being one of the only players without a Paul Warne mug for scoring...

I'll try and get one before the end of the season Hopefully I can get an important one.

On the travelling fans...

They stuck with us and kept singing. They were delighted at the end an singing all our names. Whenever we go away it's great to send them home with three points, it will make everyone's weekend that they got to see some goals and got to go home with three points.