REACTION: ‘Amazing Support Got Us Over the Line’ - Gardiner

Derby County Assistant Head Coach Matt Gardiner praised the Rams fans' ‘fantastic’ support that got the team over the line in a battling performance against Portsmouth.

Sam Szmodics’ second goal for Derby was enough to claim all three points against Pompey, after the early first-half goal and gritty defending sealed the result in a battling contest.

Head Coach John Eustace served an automatic one-match touchline suspension at Fratton Park, triggered by receiving three yellow cards this season.

Gardiner, alongside First Team Coach Keith Downing, Tactical Coach Christoph Bühler and Head of Goalkeeping Paul Clements, was on the touchline on the South Coast.

The Assistant Head Coach spoke to RamsTV to reflect on picking up three points at Fratton Park.

On Getting the Win on the Road

We are really, really happy; all the staff and players deserve that result. It was a real battling performance, and everyone was looking after each other on the field. It was really pleasing to see.

On the Competitive Nature of the Match

We had some really good opportunities on the counter with transitions – but maybe we needed a bit more quality, and we could have scored a few more goals.

Defending was magnificent. But again, from the way the gaffer set us up and the way we defended the box, it's what you expect. He (John Eustace) has been driving us all on to get more clean sheets. So, it's pleasing to get one of those tonight.

On Richard O’Donnell’s Performance Between the Sticks

You could see his experience. He managed the game really well, managing the defenders in front of him effectively, as have all the goalkeepers this year. We've got a really good goalkeeping unit led by Paul Clements. It's a testament to Rich, the way he trains every day, the way he is around the group, that he's come in and put in that level of performance.

But, you know, we're not surprised because we see what he's doing every day.

On Setting the Tone with An Early Goal

In the Championship, especially this year, it can be all about that first goal. Then, we had some really good opportunities on transition, a few little breakaways where we didn't select the right option. But, as we keep improving, that'll come through. So, everyone's really happy with the overall performance.

On John Eustace’s Vantage Point from the Stands

It was quite nice, because the gaffer was able to communicate all the time. He could speak to the boys before and half-time.

So, he's game-planning, and he was really pleased with that battling performance. Subs coming on, everyone on the bench, everyone together.

The fans behind the goal also deserve that clean sheet as well, because they really got the boys over the line. Really amazing on a Monday night away in Portsmouth. They were fantastic.

Szmodics caught up with RamsTV after bagging the winning goal on the South Coast.

On Taking Three Points from Fratton Park

It wasn't our best performance. At this time of the season, it's just important to grind out wins, get those ugly wins, and today that was exactly what we did.

I thought defensively we were top. We could have added a couple more goals in the first half on the counter, but all in all, a good night's work. And I’m happy to score another and have a big three points on the board.

On Scoring the Winning Goal Against Pompey

I’m over the moon to score. I got one at Hull, and I've been champing at the bit to score another, and I've had chances, and I could have had assists, but tonight it just fell for me nicely, and I'm happy to score the winner, and most importantly, get three points.

On Having to Dig Deep to Take the Win

I think you probably don't realise that watching at home or even in the stands, it's so windy here, and it was a game where we probably could have played more. But like I said, it wasn't our best performance, but these are the games, if you want to get promoted, that you've got to come and win - win dirty, win ugly, and we've done that tonight, and it's a massive three points.

It's a tough place to come, Fratton Park, similarly to the Den, and I think we deserved more against Millwall, and so we came full of confidence today, backed by the fans, and it's an important three points that gives us a bit of momentum going into the weekend.

On Returning to Pride Park to Face Birmingham City

It's just a game that everyone wants to be involved in, and everyone wants to play in the atmosphere at home. The fans will be top, like they were tonight, backing us throughout in tough, tough conditions. So, we've got to rest and recover now, and get ready for a big game.