Mason Bennett has hailed Derby County’s effort against Blackburn Rovers and despite being held to a frustrating 0-0 draw believes there are plenty of positives to carry though to Saturday.
It was a solid team performance by Frank Lampard’s side who suffocated Rovers with their aggression and relentlessness as they pressed high.
Derby showered their oppositions’ box with chances but were unfortunate that none could find their way in.
Bennett earned his third start of the season and as he has done all campaign, he influenced the game and left no doubt that he left everything on the pitch, as did his teammates.
“We worked our socks off and the confidence is building,” he told RamsTV following the game.
“For the basics we were spot on today, we pressed high on the pitch, created a lot of chances and made them make mistakes and we pounced on it.
“We are all disappointed to not get the win. We dominated the game from start to finish, and it was just unfortunate a goal didn’t go in for us.
“Like the gaffer said, we have got the take the positives because it was a great performance in and out of possession today.”
The 22-year-old forward has had two assists so far this season, providing last-minute goals in the wins against Reading and Hull. He was unlucky to not add to that number with a couple of fine crosses and was even more unlucky to be denied his first goal.
Fikayo Tomori played through to Bennett who then unleashed his speed and charged into the box, but his effort from just inside glanced wide.
It’s those chances he wants to keep taking moving forward.
“I’m the first person to be very critical of my own performance, so I think I have got to start scoring goals,” said Bennett.
“It’s alright creating chances, but I have got to start taking them when they come.
“We worked on it all throughout the week, getting in those pockets behind the midfield. Fik found me and I thought ‘you know what I’ll just drive out and see how it goes.”
Bennett has made the opening couple of months of the season his own as he has taken his opportunity within the first-team and ran with it.
Despite just starting three out of the eight league games, the academy product continues to fight for his place and proves he belongs. Ensuring his name is on that starting XI line-up though, is no easy feat with the depth and quality within the Rams’ squad.
“I understand we have a great squad here and there is competition for places and I’m going to give 100 percent in every opportunity I get,” he added.
“I think in training it only brings the best out of us, everyone is giving 110 percent and grafting to get in that squad. It is obviously paying off and you could see the difference from Saturday.”
Derby will now look to take the positives forward to earn a positive result against Brentford back at Pride Park Stadium. The Bees currently sit second in the league and the Rams will need to put on a similar performance to prevent the visitors from playing on their terms.
“They are flying at the moment,” said Bennett. “They like to get on the ball and pass it around but we are not going to let them come here and do that to us. We are going to get on the front foot and press them as hard as we can.”