Manager Frank Lampard admitted his side’s first half performance against Brighton & Hove Albion was not up to the standard he requires - but did praise their second half display as they went down 2-1 against the Premier League outfit.
The Rams found themselves two goals behind at half-time following strikes from Anthony Knockaert and Jürgen Locadia, who netted in injury time, however, their second half showing was much better.
Lampard made changes at the break and one of those that came off the bench got Derby back in the game.
Ashley Cole’s first-ever FA Cup goal reduced the arrears, and despite the Rams’ best attempts, they could not force the equaliser as they exited the competition at the Fifth Round stage.
“The first half killed us,” Lampard admitted, speaking to RamsTV.
“It’s the first half that is the lesson of that game because if you come to a Premier League team without urgency and allow them to play and create chances then they are going to score.
“The chalk and cheese of the first half was evident. The team had urgency and the substitutes helped after half time. I thought we were good and deserved to get ourselves back in the game and we were the team pushing at the end so we can take something from it on a positive note, but what a great lesson for us.
“I couldn’t get it because the talk before the game was to play without fear. We have done it before against Premier League teams, so everything was there and then sometimes performance comes.
“If we play with some below par performances within our 11 on the pitch then you are going to struggle. I was clear in the message at half time and I wanted to be honest and I think I was.
“I made a couple of changes to try and inject something into the game and the second half was certainly better.
“If you play passively like we did in the first half then you have no chance, if you play with aggression and desire, all those attributes, like we did in the second half then we know we have a great chance but now we have the league to focus on.”
Cole’s goal was his first for Derby after signing on a short-term deal until the summer last month and his first in English football for over six-and-a-half years.
“I’m delighted for Ash,” the manager admitted.
“I speak to him a lot, obviously, about fitness and to see where he is and he was honest and said 90 minutes is a push at the minute.
“This was perfect for him, 45 minutes. hHe played calm and composed. The quality was there and the goal was great for him. It was a good exercise for Ashley individually today.”
Both Cole and Jack Marriott came on at the interval and made an immediate impact while Florian Jozefzoon entered the action later in the second half.
“The two substitutes at half time changed it and then Florian Jozefzoon was good when he came on,” he said.
“We changed the formation at the end to get three at the back and push people forward and at that point we were waiting for something to drop in the box and for us to score.
“It wasn’t to be and the lesson is the first half is what damaged us today.
“Today is clear. If we play like the first half then we have no chance and if we play like the second half then we have every chance. The players know that and the focus is now all about the league. We have 15 games so let’s give it our all.
“It starts on Wednesday at home to Millwall so we have to be at it. We know we have quality in the dressing room but we must bring everything in our game to every game. We have 15 finals to see how high we can get.”