Lampard: “We Will Never Settle”

Frank Lampard believes that Derby County have shown the level of their potential during pre-season, but he insists that his players will never stop striving to improve.

Goals from David Nugent and recent loan-signing Mason Mount secured a 2-1 victory against Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.

The Rams displayed a number of attributes that have been consistently on show throughout pre-season, but Lampard will not let his team rest on their laurels at any point.

He told RamsTV: “I’m very pleased, we came up against a team that comfortably won the Championship last season, and we matched them from the first moment.

“I thought that our work-rate was the best thing about the game, for us.

“We worked hard without the ball and there was some really good stuff with the ball - some good signs.

“It’s still pre-season, but I am seeing so many things that I love about the players, particularly how hard they work.

“This performance, and the performance last week are great signs of where we want to be.

“We will never settle, and I just said that to the lads in the dressing room. This is great, but the standards can keep improving every week.

“We will look back at this game and fine-tune, but there are some lovely signs for us.”

Mount’s strike was his first since he arrived on a season-long loan from Chelsea last week, as he latched on to Nugent’s cut back to put Derby back in front after Diogo Jota had equalised for the visitors.

Lampard highlighted the key aspect to Mount’s game that separates him from other players in the same position.

He explained: “I hate to put pressure on him, but I have so much belief in his quality.

“That is the difference - a midfielder that ends up in the six-yard box. Too many midfielders don’t want to go the extra yard, but he does and then things like that happen.

“He’s been great, himself and Harry Wilson have given us some youthful energy and quality in the way that they play.”

The boss also reserved some high praise for the man that opened the scoring on the day…

“From the moment that we came in, David Nugent has been incredible in terms of running the line, and every day in training, he is the same,” Lampard added.

“You almost want to tell him to slow down sometimes, because he will chase everything.

“He sets the tone for our team from the front because when he chases down the centre-back, other people follow him in.

“We know that he can score as well, like he did.”