Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne says the performance in the first 25 minutes of their 1-1 draw with Portsmouth in Sky Bet League One was 'as good as any he's seen from his own side in his managerial career'.
The Rams had to settle for a share of the spoils before a season's best crowd of over 31,700 fans, with James Collins coming off the bench to equalise in the second half after Colby Bishop headed the vistiors ahead midway through the first half, but it was a performance that Warne thought merited three points.
Speaking to RamsTV after the game, Warne gave his verdict on the performance with Derby two points clear of Peterborough United outside the play-off spots ahead of a final day trip to Sheffield Wednesday next Sunday.
On today's performance...
I thought our play early on was the best 25 minutes I've ever seen from any team I've managed.
Unfortunately if you don't take your chances, you're not going to be able to play like that for 90 minutes and the opposition will always create something.
They took their chance really well to take the lead, it was an amazing header in the only inch of the goal that would have beat Joe Wildsmith and I thought it hit us badly.
In fairness to Portsmouth they got the wind in their sails and caused us problems and Joe kept us in it.
On James Collins' goal in the second half...
I had a near fully-fit squad and he's been unfortunate not to play because Didzy has been in frightening form up top. He'll have the bit between his teeth after his goal and you want all your players desperate to play.
We just have to equal or better Peterborough's result next week. They've got Barnsley away, we've got Sheffield Wednesday away and whoever has the most bottle will be in the play-offs.
We have trust in this group that they can play in the games and I think they'll look forward to playing at Hillsborough.
On whether he'd have taken this position if offered earlier in the season...
I think I probably would have, in fairness. At one stage today we could have lost and Peterborough could have got a late goal and it wouldn't have been in our hands.
I thought it would have been a fitting end to the season had we confirmed the play-offs here at Pride Park but it wasn't to be and sometimes football isn't kind.
We got a point which is better than nothing but the greedy part of me wanted it all.
On the lap of appreciation...
It was lovely to do it and it's a lot easier to do it if you haven't lost. It would have been fitting for the team if we could have won and got in the play-offs but I like to think the fans appreciate how we try to play and how we try to win games.
