Manager Frank Lampard rued the fact his Derby County side could not get the second goal in the game as they had to settle for a point in their 1-1 draw against Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Wednesday night.
Their fate, however, is still in their own hands as they know a victory on Sunday against West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park Stadium will secure the final play-off position.
Heading into the clash with Swansea, the Rams knew a victory would put them in a commanding position in the race for sixth-place and they got off to a great start as Richard Keogh headed Derby ahead on 22 minutes.
The second goal eluded the Rams despite getting into good attacking, before Swansea equalised midway through the second half.
Wayne Routledge tapped home after Kelle Roos made a good save from Oli McBurnie’s header and the manager was left rueing missed opportunities.
“It is a difficult place to come and the reason we didn’t get the three points was because we dominated the first half but didn’t get the extra goal,” he told RamsTV.
“I think the performance warranted it, probably our own little bits of quality in the final pass or shot let us down, but it was all us in the first half.
“They came out and made it more difficult and they were in the game in the second half but if we had gone two goals up it would have been game done.
“We created all night but it was just the final pass. The critical moment for me was the first half because we should have been two or three up at half time.
“We were playing a good team and they can play. They have given everyone a tough game recently.
“It’s a hard place to come so because we were all willing to get three points to be where we want to be, I don’t think we should take away from the fact we have got a point at a difficult place.”
It was an in-different night for Derby captain Keogh as he opened the scoring but later had to depart the field with a groin injury.
“It was a great header and it was good timing because again, we started so well,” Lampard said. “We had our moments and you wonder what is going to happen but then we got the goal from the set piece and I’m delighted for him to get that one for us.
“He has got a groin issue and I’m not sure how bad it is. It was his error but because he was struggling, it wasn’t actually his man but we were slightly off because of it and then they scored.”
The point tonight means the Rams need to win on Sunday to secure their place amongst the end of season play-off lottery.
“We are in a position where our noses are in front,” the manager commented. “We are at home and anything can happen. There are three teams fighting for it and we have to worry about ourselves. If we win that game then we are in the play-offs.
“There are other permutations around that but all we can do is worry about ourselves. We will try and perform the way I think we did here in the first half with our fans who will be hugely behind us and give it everything.
“It’s not good for the nerves. We would have all loved it to have been done tonight but it doesn’t always go that way but it’s all on the last day.”