Rory Delap declared himself delighted after getting off to a winning start in his first game in charge of Derby County’s Under 21s on Tuesday evening.
Goals from Darren Bent, Ivan Calero and Shaquille McDonald helped Derby to a 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at the iPro Stadium as they secured their fourth win in five outings.
The victory extended Derby’s lead at the top of the Barclays Under 21 Premier League - Division 2 table, with just five games of the campaign remaining.
Delap stepped up from the Under 18s to take charge of the Under 21s last week, after Academy Director Darren Wassall was placed in charge of first-team affairs until the end of the season.
Although delighted with the victory, Delap admitted he was more pleased with the way his side went about achieving the three points.
He told Rams Player HD after the game: “I thought the attitude of every single player was tremendous, the work rate and desire was spot on and that’s something we’re proud of as a club.
“It was special, in my first game in charge, to get a 3-0 win at the iPro Stadium. You have to make the most of these occasions whether you are a player or a coach.
“I’m very pleased that we won the game but I’m more pleased about how we achieved it.
“It was a professional performance and a hardworking one as well.”
He added: “The game was on a knife-edge at times but I thought our back four and goalkeeper did well against a young Blackburn side that played well, and we scored at good times too.”
First-team squad members Bent, Nick Blackman, Jake Buxton and Jamie Hanson were all named in the Under 21s’ starting line-up.
Delap felt that as well as benefitting from their quality on the pitch, it was also important for the club’s young players to see their professionalism and application first-hand.
He said: “It was massive to have them on the pitch and also want to be involved in the team as well.
“That shows that the lads are willing to push themselves for the cause.
“It was great for the young players to see that type of attitude from individuals that have played several hundred professional appearances.”