Liam Rosenior was beaming with pride after seeing his Derby County side progress to Round Three of the Carabao Cup.
Derby were 1-0 winners over Championship side West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park Stadium courtesy of Louie Sibley’s stunning first-half goal.
The Round Two tie proved to be an entertaining affair and Rosenior’s side will be competing in Round Three in early November for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign.
Derby’s Interim Manager spoke to RamsTV following the final whistle to offer his take on the 90 minutes under the floodlights.
On The Display…
I couldn’t be happier with the players. The energy they’re giving me; the commitment, the spirit and the quality. There were some outstanding passages of football and I couldn’t be happier with the group, or with the fans who have turned up and produced an amazing atmosphere. I thought it was a great game, West Brom are a really good team and Steve Bruce is a really good manager. I’m delighted with the commitment and the desire to keep the ball out of the net and at the same time to play with energy and the beliefs that I’m trying to instil into the team. It makes it very difficult for me to pick a team for this weekend, but that’s a really good problem to have and we go into the game against Peterborough with a lot of confidence; which is perfect. No matter what team I pick, the lads that aren’t starting will be right behind the group. That’s what I demand, it’s a group effort and we need every single player if we’re to get to where we want to be at the end of the season.
On The Playing Style…
I’m trying to play out from the back and we do make mistakes at times but when we get it right, you can see from tonight how difficult it is to live with us. You’ve got to be brave to do it against anyone, but that’s what I ask from the team. For Kwaku Oduroh and Jake Rooney to come in for their home debuts against that quality of opposition and believe in the style and to keep taking the ball and keep playing, I couldn’t be happier. I singled them out in front of the players and the players were singling them out when they came in at full-time. I want a group of brave people who take accountability. I’ll take that for the way that we play because I believe in it and hopefully it’ll stand us in good stead for the long months to come.
On The Back Four…
I was really tempted to change to a back five or swap one of the young players out but then you think of their development. Kwaku played for 90 minutes and Grady Diangana, who is probably the best winger in the Championship, comes on fresh against us. Then Jed Wallace and Jonathan Swift do as well. But for Jake Rooney and Kwaku’s development I left them on and trusted them to see the job through. That’s important for us as a club, making sure we develop players for the long term, not just the short term, and that’s what the club has a history and tradition of doing.
On Performance Levels…
He’s been outstanding and so have the rest of the players. I said after the game on Saturday at Fleetwood our luck will change, but the performance levels and belief levels can’t. I’m really happy with the group, not just the starting line-up. It’s every player and member of staff in that dressing room who is fighting to do something that will make this club proud again and I couldn’t be prouder of tonight or the start to the season.
On David McGoldrick…
I’ve known Didzy since he was 17. He’s someone I trust, who cares about the young players and is a great role model. I don’t need to talk about his quality as a player, with his touches and link-up play. I want him fit for the season, I need to make sure he has the right grounding so that’s the case but when he is, he’ll be an absolutely delight to watch.
On Facing His Old Manager…
Steve Bruce is someone I’ve got huge respect for. Him, Steve Agnew, Steven Clemence and Alex Bruce, too. I was part of a journey with them and that was a massive part of my career, so I wish him and his players all the best for the rest of the season.