"Both Teams Can Be Happy With A Point"

Fikayo Tomori said he is happy with back-to-back clean sheets - but was disappointed not to come away with three points against Nottingham Forest at Pride Park Stadium.

The young defender believed a share of the points was a fair outcome to his first East Midlands Derby as both teams failed to convert in the final third in the 0-0 draw.

Harry Wilson had a stunning volley saved by Costel Pantilimon, who also met a close-range header by David Nugent, while Tom Lawrence fired wide from distance.

Forest also had efforts at goal too with Carson tipping over an effort by Joe Lolley before the Reds’ forward struck the crossbar.

Speaking to RamsTV after the final whistle, Tomori said: “Looking back on it, there weren’t too many clear-cut chances for either team. They hit the bar and we had Tom with a chance in the second-half and Harry with the volley.

“I think both teams can be happy with a point but obviously we wanted to win and we’re disappointed not to get the three points.”

The 21-year-old centre-back added: “In a derby both teams just want to make sure everything is solid defensively and going forward, the final pass, the run or the finish wasn’t quite there.

“I think we were a bit unlucky a few times – the pass just didn’t fall to the right person or to the right side and that is something we need to keep on improving on to score more goals and be more clinical.”

A positive the on-loan Chelsea defender is taking from the game and hopes to build on moving forward was a second consecutive clean sheet.

Which was testament to a back-four that had to deal with Lewis Grabban, who is proving to be the Championship’s most lethal man in front of goal so far this season with 14 goals.

“Going into the Wigan game we hadn’t kept a clean sheet in a while and now we have two in a row so that is positive for us as a back four and as a team as well,” said Tomori.

He continued: “He [Grabban] made different runs to other strikers. Normal strikers want to be in front of you but this time he was always going around and getting behind me.

“I think in the first few minutes it took me a while to adjust but once the game got going I think I dealt with it well. He is a very good striker, he has scored a lot of goals in the Championship this season and he is a big reason why they are up there in the league.”

The Rams head in to the festive season and a busy schedule having earned seven points out of nine in the past three matches.

The England Under-21 international understands the importance of building momentum during this period to set the Rams up well for the business end of the season.

Next up is Bristol City as Derby return to action at Pride Park Stadium again on Saturday afternoon.

“Bristol City are a good side and there are no easy games in the Championship. We have a rest and look forward to Bristol City,” he said.

“I’m sure they will pose a threat, but we will just concentrate on us and how we can cause problems and win the game.

“Hopefully if we keep this form coming out the Christmas period, we will definitely be in good shape towards the end of the season and push for automatic or promotion in general.

“It’s going to be a difficult period, it always is, but we are all focused and the mental strength is there.”