Post-Match Verdict: Warne Reviews Narrow Barnsley Defeat

Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne was disappointed to come away with nothing following the 2-1 defeat at Barnsley on Saturday afternoon.

The Rams led 1-0 through a Sonny Bradley header in the first half but goals from Adam Phillips in either half ensured it was the Tykes that took the three points in the Sky Bet League One clash at Oakwell.

Speaking to RamsTV after the game between two of the division's top six, Warne gave his overall thoughts on the result.

On the result...

We're obviously disappointed. I thought we were poor in the first half. I didn't think we had any personality on the ball. However, Barnsley are a very young, athletic team and they just come after you. We don't have a natural 'number nine' right now, so it's awkward and there's no focal point. We struggled to keep the ball and that's credit to the opposition. In the second half, I thought we were significantly better and ironically they scored following our good bit of play. We didn't really create any gilt-edged chances, though. I appreciate the fans staying with the team and I think you can see how much effort there was to win it. I love the team for that but today wasn't our day and hopefully we can bounce back on Tuesday night against Charlton.

On scoring from a set-play...

We looked a threat on set-plays, so that was pleasing. It felt like neither team wanted to lose and it felt like we were playing inside ourselves in the first half. Going 1-0 up like that was great ,but to concede from a screamer is a tough pill to swallow and then to concede off of a corner isn't like us - credit to them though as it was a good run and a good finish. It felt like a draw would have been a fair result, I don't think there was much between two good teams.

On the quick turnaround with Charlton heading to Pride Park on Tuesday...

I've said to the lads that we play again in three days' time, so we just have to pick ourselves up and go again. There's no point sulking about it. If we get two wins in the next week then we are in a much better place. Sometimes it comes down to the smallest of margins. We had a set-piece we nearly scored off and theirs could have gone over the bar. There wasn't a great deal wrong, but maybe I got the shape wrong in the first half.

On getting Dwight Gayle some minutes...

It was good to get him out there. We automatically looked better when there was a nine in the middle of the pitch. There were some really good things, but as always you're blighted by the scoreline. I liked the character of the lads to keep going until the final whistle but unfortunately today we didn't get that late goal.