Head Coach Paul Warne described Derby County’s dramatic 1-0 win over Stevenage as his ‘favourite win in my time at the club’.
Midfielder Louie Sibley came off the bench to score a 90th minute winner for Warne’s side to see them claim all three points and retain second spot in Sky Bet League One.
With several injuries to contend with, including the absence of leading goalscorer James Collins with a knee injury, Warne was proud of the way his players stepped up to the plate at Pride Park Stadium.
Warne caught up with RamsTV after the final whistle to offer his immediate reaction to the victory, review the performance and provide an update on how long Collins will be out of action for.
On how he’s feeling after the win…
I am exhausted, but it feels pretty good. It was a tough game, which we knew it would be. Stevenage have done really well this year, and they fight and scrap for everything. We had to defend balls into the box and did it well.
I was speaking to some fans outside today beforehand and they were asking what it would take to get promoted. Whoever gets over the line will deserve it, that is for sure. You get different games every week; it isn’t like the Championship where the majority of teams play the same way. There is no right or wrong way to play, that’s for sure.
On the performance…
Without Collo today, we had to find a way to make us competitive and stop Stevenage’s threat. We picked a team to defend and have a threat at the same time. We didn’t do enough going forward in the first half, there weren’t enough connecting passes through the lines at all. There was no real rhythm to how we played. We were better in the second half, and I thought we looked the fitter side. It is hard to ask someone to play up top with their back to goal when it isn’t their position. It is a hard skill.
On the Pride Park atmosphere…
That is the loudest I have heard Pride Park since I have been here. I loved it and appreciate the fans helping the lads. It would be nice if it was that they recognised we didn’t have a striker and needed to help the lads over the line. The atmosphere was amazing, and I really enjoyed it. Everyone put a real shift in. There are a few battered and bruised bodies in the dressing room and for everyone to step up, and for Sibs to get the winner, felt good and was an emotional time. At the final whistle, you get scenes that you can take with you for the rest of their life. The players are lucky to be professional footballers, so I encourage them to make the most of it and not a waste a minute. I leave here today very, very proud.
On getting a clean sheet…
Our goal difference is good and we don’t concede that many goals. We don’t let the opposition have that many shots on our goal, generally, and the lads in front of whoever is in goal always do well. When called upon, Joe made an amazing save today in the first half. With all the excitement at the end, you can forget about moments like that. When I watch the match back, I’ll remember the headers Sonny Bradley won and the attacks Eiran Cashin started for us. All those little moments add up and culminate in a good win.
On everyone playing their part…
I do tell the lads that everyone has a part to play. I’d love to bring everyone on off the bench so they all get minutes, but I can’t. Each player that stepped on the pitch contributed today and Korey Smith and Louie Sibley are an example of that. It does take everyone, it will do moving forward, and some games suit certain players. I am pleased for the whole dressing room. It is probably my favourite win in my time at the club. Everything sort of came together at the right time.
On James Collins’ injury…
You could see the effect of Collo not being out on the pitch today. I knew after the Exeter game, with the way the medical team were talking, it wasn’t a good sign. He is going to be out for a good period, significant weeks. If we are fortunate, we could see him near the end of the season. Collo is a great professional and is really dedicated. He will be a big miss and we’ll do everything to get him back before the end of the season. We had a bit of adversity today and we had to roll our sleeves up to get the win.