Phillip Cocu was quick to admit that everyone in the Derby County camp was frustrated to come away from Tuesday night’s Sky Bet Championship fixture at Huddersfield Town with nothing to show for their efforts.
Derby were beaten 1-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium, courtesy of a Juninho Bacuna goal early in the second period.
Cocu’s side produced a positive display in the opening 45 minutes and got themselves into several good attacking areas.
However, the home side struck shortly after the interval and left Derby with an uphill battle.
Duane Holmes and Matt Clarke both went close to getting an equaliser, but the Rams were unable to break the Terriers’ backline despite late pressure.
Derby have three points from their opening six fixtures in the Championship this season and Cocu admits key moments are not falling in his side’s direction at this time.
Cocu told RamsTV after the game: “I think in the first-half we played brilliant, really good. The only thing missing was a goal, which I think is absolutely what we deserved in that first-half. There was great intensity, great press and great combination play.
“Sometimes when you are in a tough situation like we are, those key moments are not coming our way.
“They are decisive moments because in the second-half, after a good start when we conceded, we continued to work really hard but we got hasty, made sloppy mistakes, gave away too many fouls and had no rhythm in the game.
“After that, it is so much more difficult to get a goal. We got close in the end with Matt Clarke hitting the post, but it just the situation we are in. I think a draw would be a good result and, for me, we deserved at least a point. It is frustrating for everybody.”
Cocu’s attacking options were boosted by the return of Martyn Waghorn from a calf injury off the bench, while Tom Lawrence made his first start of the campaign after recovering from a shoulder problem.
The duo, alongside recent addition Colin Kazim-Richards, will provide the Derby boss with much-needed firepower in the final third moving forward.
The 49-year-old said: “You have to take the positives after tonight.
“Tom Lawrence played 60 minutes; you saw just before he got taken off the energy was running out which is normal.
“Martyn Waghorn came on, Colin Kazim-Richards played a few minutes too and both of those are a boost. Kamil Jozwiak came back to give some more creativity as well.
“The team is getting stronger and stronger but mentally it is tough for the players because you need a result, and I think we deserve one as well.”