3/1 To Win
Gary Rowett was quick to praise Derby County’s composure as they came back from a goal down to earn a share of the spoils at Fulham.
Oliver Norwood’s powerful free-kick from distance gave the hosts a half-time lead at Craven Cottage, but Derby stormed back in the second half.
Matej Vydra coolly slotted home his eighth goal of the campaign just after the break following good play by Tom Lawrence to ensure the Rams returned home with a point.
Rowett felt Derby stayed in the game after going behind and kept their composure well, before shooting out of the traps at the start of the second half and to get back level.
Holding firm whilst under pressure, particularly away from home, is a sign of the progress Derby have made in recent months having had to learn the hard way with some early-season losses on their travels.
That is certainly backed up by the fact that the Rams are now unbeaten in five on the road.
Speaking to RamsTV after the game, Rowett said: “You have to say sometimes away from home from home, particularly at a place like Craven Cottage, you take a point.
“It was important to stay in the game and keep our composure, which maybe we haven’t done in some away games in the past and ended up losing.
“That’s five unbeaten away from home now and we’ve picked up points at some difficult places too.
“We regrouped after going a goal down and got ourselves going again in the second half. We had been behind a Leeds a few weeks ago and that was the message at half-time; we have been here before.
“We had a good spell at the start of the second half and could have got another goal. We dropped a bit deeper later on and saw it out with a few nervy moments.”
Rowett was pleased with the quality of Vydra’s equaliser.
Lawrence won possession back after an opposition attack broke down and, after embarking on a mazy run, superbly slipped the Czech Republic international in to fire home.
The in-form frontman once again earned praise from his manager afterwards.
He said: “Tom Lawrence won the ball back with a good reaction and got us into a great position with Vyds scoring.
“It was great play and we know they (Lawrence and Vydra) can do that; I wish Vyds would believe in himself more because I have said before how good he can be and he has so much to offer.”
Derby are back in action on Tuesday night against Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park Stadium in the first of two successive home midweek matches.
The Rams tasted a rare home defeat in their last outing on home turf, against Reading earlier this month, and Rowett now wants his side to build on their point gained in West London.
He said: “We have to perform better than we did against Reading.
“There’s been a lot of talk that the away form was a concern so we want to keep our form going at home.
“We have won four, drawn one and lost one of our last six games and if we can keep doing that every six games, I’ll certainly be a happy man.”
