Phillip Cocu was delighted to see his Derby County players to produce another eye-catching performance as they breezed past Blackburn Rovers with a 3-0 victory at Pride Park Stadium on Sunday.
First-half goals from youngster Louie Sibley and striker Chris Martin fired the Rams to within five points of the Sky Bet Championship’s top six with nine matches of the season remaining.
Sibley, making his first-ever career start in the league, thundered Derby ahead with a long-range strike just after the midway point of the half.
Martin doubled the Rams’ advantage just before half-time as he slotted home from close range after Christian Walton pushed Graeme Shinnie’s effort from distance into his path.
Derby dominated the opening half at Pride Park Stadium but had to be at their resilient best as Rovers pushed for a way back into the game after the interval.
Martin rounded off the afternoon with a cool penalty conversion, to take his tally for the season to ten in all competitions, after Jason Knight had been fouled in the box – while the visitors had John Buckley sent off late on for a foul on substitute Curtis Davies.
After recording back-to-back league wins for the third time this season, Cocu was understandably happy with the performance of his players against a side vying for a play-off spot.
Speaking to RamsTV after the game at Pride Park, Cocu said: “One issue we spoke about before the game was being ready to go again after the Manchester United cup game.
“We needed the same adrenaline and motivation as we did when we played a top team like Manchester United and knew today was a very important game for the league.
“The players gave the right answer in their performance. In the end I think we just played an excellent game today."
Academy graduate Sibley became the fourth player to have come through the Rams’ youth ranks in recent years to score for the first-team this season.
He produced another lively display and his first-half strike, thundered into the top corner from 25 yards out, will live long in the memory.
“I think if you start with a goal like that, you have to enjoy the moment,” Cocu admitted.
“I told him after the game that many more great moments of enjoyment will come by in his career, but this is a special one.
“He deserved it, he played a good game on Thursday against Manchester United and he was close (to scoring) but he found the net today in a great way.”
Derby may be five points off the play-off spots, but all Cocu is focussing on his side maintaining their impressive progression.
Since the turn of the year, the Rams have displayed a more consistent level of performance and results.
He said: “We have some influence on the opponents above us, also it will be depending on the results of others, but we will focus on us.
“We focus on one game at a time. Next week will be a tough game at Millwall but if we can get a good streak of results then anything is possible. There is a lot to play for and we will always fight until the last game of the season.”
He added: “The progress we have made in how we play is not only important for now, but for next season and I am pleased with the positive development of the whole team but also you see the youngsters getting more mature in the way they play the game.
“The main target for us is to keep doing it every game.”
Derby’s next Championship fixture will see them hit the road when they travel south to take on Gary Rowett’s Millwall at The Den next Saturday (3pm kick-off).