Post-Match Verdict: Paul Warne Vs Morecambe (H)

Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne was delighted with the performance of his team as they swept aside Morecambe with a 5-0 home win at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

A third hat-trick in 98 days for David McGoldrick was added to by James Collins and Jason Knight as the Rams made it six Sky Bet League One wins in a row.

Speaking to RamsTV after the match, Warne spoke about the 'absolute joke' of a second half performance and much more.

On the game...

I was more nervous about this game than any other I've managed at Derby County. I had this awful feeling that we'd turn up and just think we'd be alright.

In the first half an hour I wasn't best pleased as we didn't move the ball quickly enough, it was just a bit predictable and I was thinking if they got a goal from a set-piece it was going to make it so much more difficult.

The joy of getting the goal moments before half-time didn't change the team-talk as we still told them what we thought and they came out in the second half and blitzed them.

I felt like we broke their spirit and our play was a joke, an absolute joke. If the lads keep those standards then they give themselves a right chance.

The best thing of the game for me was James Collins giving Didzy the goal for his hat-trick from the penalty spot as strikers aren't normally that generous.

They are a really close group which is great. I put Harvey White on for his debut and he should have scored but Korey Smith made a great save in fairness!

We could have won by eight or nine though in the end, the lads were that good.

On David McGoldrick...

The goal in the first half gave us a boost and it's a bigger psychological boost than it looks.

For him to win a penalty and score another couple was pretty good and even his second goal isn't an easy finish.

I'm really pleased for him, he's a good bloke and he wants the team to do well. He's a bit of a hero for some of the lads in there. I am really pleased for him.

On Jason Knight...

His energy and drive in and out of possession is, at times, unplayable.

It looks more noticeable the longer the game goes on and that's what he gives. He drives the team on.

He's some player, some competitor and it's a joy to watch him in the form he's in at the moment.

On another clean-sheet...

There wasn't much for the lads at the back to do today but I know when called upon Joe Wildsmith would pull us out of the clunk. He didn't have a great deal to do today but that's testament to everybody.

The free-kick goal at the end of the first-half came from the lads pressing. From hard work comes success and the clean-sheet is as much to do with the back four as it is to the front six, so fair play to them.