Derby County head coach Paul Warne has admitted his side were “a bit Portsmouthy” after conceding late on in the 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers this weekend.
The Rams put their disappointing FA Cup exit to League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra behind them with a victory over the Gas on Saturday evening. An own goal from Jack Hunt placed the home team 1-0 up with less than 25 minutes remaining in the match.
However, Derby conceded a free-kick in the final third with three minutes of normal time remaining. Former Everton player Antony Evans fizzed the ball into the penalty area which was met by the towering leap of the ex-Derby man Chris Martin who equalised for the visitors.
Nevertheless, Warne’s men were gifted another opportunity when Nathaniel Mendez-Laing latched onto a Tyrese Fornah cutback and bagged the winner which lifted them into the playoff spots, having lingered around mid-table in recent weeks.
Speaking in his post-match interview, Warne was a little critical of his players after the result and even claimed that the last few minutes of the game felt “Portsmouthy” [quotes via Derby County News]:
“When you win late on it’s easy to say ooh it’s character, but when I went back into the dressing room I said to the lads, ‘what do you think I am going to say’?
“They said ‘you’ll say, ooh we would not have done that last year’. I wouldn’t go that far. I just thought we played sporadically quite good in the first half but our final third entries were woeful,” he continued.
“We changed the shape at half-time and we started the second half quite well. I thought we had enough chances to win, but we didn’t take them. If you’ve only got one goal then you are susceptible to an equaliser. It felt like a bit Portsmouthy.
“But to get a late winner is great. For everyone who stayed with the team I appreciate it. It felt like when you score that late on, it felt like everybody could enjoy their day so I am really pleased.”
Writer’s View
Portsmouth have somewhat rid themselves of this stereotype this season, but there was a time when Pompey made a habit of conceding late on in games in England’s third tier.
Perhaps Portsmouth supporters won’t be too happy to be reminded by Warne about the team’s fragilities in recent seasons, particularly in the aftermath of the side’s first defeat of the season following a 4-0 home drubbing suffered at the hands of Blackpool.
Deputy Head of Writing
