POST-MATCH INTERVIEW: ‘We were up against a strong side but needed more quality in attack’ - Warne

Head Coach Paul Warne said his Derby County side put in a spirited display but couldn’t create enough attacking moments as they tasted a 2-0 defeat against Leeds United in the Sky Bet Championship at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.

After a stalemate for most of the first half, Joe Rodon’s header and Max Wöber’s finish inside the box came in quick succession before the break to down the Rams’ defensive efforts and give the hosts a two-goal lead that they held to take the three pointsand go top of the Championship.

Warne spoke to RamsTVafter the final whistle at Elland Road.

On coming up against one of the toughest oppositions in the division…

We didn't have enough personality on the ball in the first half, but they made it difficult for us; they press well with ex-Premier League players coming after you all the time. I thought we defended quite well but it was just disappointing to concede from a corner that late in the half.

It's about trying to reduce them to little chances and to try and get things on the break, but we weren't good enough offensively today. In fairness to the fans who came, and I thank them for it as they kindly clapped the players off, but we didn't give them enough going forward to really get behind. That isn't because it wasn't from a lack of effort, it's just the fact that they cancelled out everything we had. Any time we took someone on, they'd take the ball off us and it made it difficult.

On being defensively strong, with Leeds’ quality making the difference…

Jacob had shots to save but that's what he's there for, and I thought we had good passages in the play without having any final bit to it, if that's the nicest way I can put it. I thought our substitutes came on and did well and we had to think about Tuesday night at Burnley with a few of them, so we changed the pack.

It's a difficult place to come to, they have very good players and the lads gave me everything they had so for that I thanked them, but it was a tough day.

On seeing the efforts the team put in against a strong Leeds team…

I'm really proud of our efforts, but I don't want it to become a trend that I always say the performances are good, but results aren't because I don't think today our performance was good enough overall. Our effort levels were good and our organisation was good, but we just let ourselves down at times and when you're chasing the ball and you get it back sometimes your legs are gone and it's hard to find a simple pass. There were moments where we looked really comfortable on the ball but then the final ball or the final decision wasn’t there as Leeds make it really tough for teams. It's a hard game if they're on song and some of their players were very good today.