Post-Match Verdict: Rams 'Owed' Fans A Performance - Nelson

Defender Curtis Nelson says Derby County 'owed' the fans a performance following the 2-0 victory over Exeter City at Pride Park Stadium on Tuesday night.

The Rams bounced back from a disappointing 1-0 loss at Shrewsbury Town on Saturday with a big three points under the lights against the Grecians and Nelson was delighted with the response from the team with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Conor Washington getting the goals.

Speaking to RamsTV after the match, the defender gave his verdict on the performance.

On the performance...

Three points and a clean sheet; you can't ask for much more in front of the home fans on a Tuesday night. We owed them a performance, especially after not getting the result we wanted on a Saturday, so it was important tonight.

On starting the game well...

We go out with that message every week but obviously there's another team out there trying to stop us. We did start the game well though and it helped us build into it.

On Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's showing...

Nat was brilliant tonight, he looked really sharp throughout. He blew up at the end a bit but he'll be fine for Saturday, for sure, so I'm really pleased for him.

On the defensive unit...

It's pleasing to get a clean sheet, which is the main thing. It helps build a fortress mentality at home and we're really pleased with that. Ryan Nyambe is brilliant so it was easy to get to know him after his arrival recently and whoever I've played with at the back has been really good. There's a lot of players in this squad, it's a really good group and it's important you're on song to keep your shirt.

On Saturday's trip to Stevenage...

We have to build on tonight. That's the main message that will be echoed around the training ground. It's important that we go there and put in a positive performance and go for the three points.