‘We’ve Had A More Positive Mindset’

Gary Rowett believes Derby County are benefitting from a more positive mindset after making it three wins in a row with a 2-1 victory at Norwich City.

Derby moved up to seventh in the Sky Bet Championship table as David Nugent and substitute Sam Winnall hit the net at Carrow Road.

Nugent fired the Rams ahead in first-half injury time with a superb long-distance strike, before Winnall came off the bench to score late on after Timm Klose headed the hosts level midway through the second half.

The win in East Anglia means Rowett’s side are now unbeaten in six games and on the cusp of the division’s play-off spots.

After admitting in early September that he was not satisfied with Derby’s start to the campaign, the side have hit a fine run of form to fire their way up the table.

They went into the October international break off the back of three draws in a row and have since backed those up with successive victories against Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich.

Rowett told RamsTV at Carrow Road: “There were some moments in the game that we had to navigate ourselves through and we showed great character to get the win.

“We have spoken about those qualities (hard work) before and they are just as admirable as great skill and good quality.

“We showed lots of that today and maybe in the first half we needed to show lots more. I felt the game was really there for us and there were lots of openings that we could work and open Norwich up.

“We came to attack and we did that. In the last six games we have tried to be even more positive.

“We’ve had a more positive mindset lately and if that’s come with the run of results, I don’t know. We have gone into all the matches positive and trying to attack the opposition.”

He added: “Both of our goals were really well worked today; Nuge was excellent all game and his goal was excellent and I am pleased for Sam too because he is frustrated he’s not had more opportunities, but he got himself in there to get the winner.”

Rowett felt Derby’s character really came to the fore after Norwich equalised on 71 minutes.

Instead of going on the back foot, the Rams went back on the attack and had opportunities before Winnall stuck after Bradley Johnson’s shot was pushed into his path by home goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

He said: “The goal that we conceded was really poor from our point of view; we should have stopped the cross and also dealt with it when it came into the box.

“From then on in, it was all about character. The substitutes came on and did a fantastic job for us and we’ve made that point before, it’s about everyone and not just those that start.

“We could have sat back after they equalised, which is easy to do, but we continued to get some brilliant opportunities. We passed the ball well and with quality; we had plenty of shots for an away side and I still felt we were 85-90 per cent of what we are capable of.”

Derby were backed by over 1,000 supporters at Carrow Road and the 43-year-old was pleased to send the travelling army home happy.

He said: “I’m really pleased and it was some justification for the fantastic support we had from the supporters.

“They go home from an away game with something to cheer about which is great and I’m happy for them.”