3/1 To Win
Harry Wilson was delighted to take a ‘deserved’ three points against Reading at Pride Park Stadium but admitted the Rams made the victory hard for themselves.
The Welshman assisted Duane Holmes for the opening goal after just three minutes before firing in his 12th goal of the season ahead of the break to make it 2-0.
Derby could have put the game out of sight for the Royals in the first 10 minutes with back-to-back chances from Jack Marriott, one forcing a good save from Anssi Jaakkola then another glancing just wide.
Reading worked their way back in to the game in the second-half with Sone Aluko pulling a goal back to make it 2-1 and despite a nervy ending, Frank Lampard's side held on.
Wilson believes that after the dominating start the Rams should have been out of reach to make the second-half easier for themselves.
“I felt that those early chances came from our good pressure, not allowing them to get out easy,” Wilson told RamsTV.
“Maybe we could have done better with one or two more and gone three or four up before half-time.
“The half-time talk was about how 2-0 is a dangerous scoreline and it can go either way.
“Second-half they probably had the better of the play, but all in all we defended well and deserved the three points.
“I felt our fitness and our work levels were good today and we deserved the three points.”
Wilson was heavily involved in both goals. He set up Holmes' opener with a fine through-ball before rifling in to double the lead from the edge of the box.
The Rams’ leading scorer admitted his 12th goal of the season was helped along with a bit of luck, via a deflection, but was happy to get on the scoresheet once again.
On the first goal, Wilson said: “Tom Huddlestone won the ball back in the middle and managed to give it to me. I drove forward, and I was going to shoot but I saw Duane’s run, so I managed to slide him in and he did well to finish it.”
On his goal, he added: “It was a little bit of luck, but they all count. I think it was sneaking in the corner, so I will claim that one. It’s nice to get another goal and an assist.
“I would have liked to get to around 15 goals this season, so having 12 at this point is good and I will just be looking to get as many as I can between now and the end of the season.”
Having retained their spot in the top-six, edging closer to Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Albion who are now just a point ahead, the Rams will again switch their focus to the FA Cup.
After the Third Round victory over Southampton on penalties at St. Mary’s on Wednesday, the Rams will have a week to prepare for the next test, Accrington Stanley of League 1 next Saturday.
“We are looking forward to it,” he said. “We worked hard to get there so we will be looking to go to Accrington Stanley next Saturday, put in a good performance and get to the next round.
“It could be a tricky tie but we will be professional about it, go there strong and try and play our football. I am confident that we will get a positive result.”
