Byrne: “All We Can Do Is Work Harder”

Derby County full-back Nathan Byrne cut a frustrated figure as the Rams fell to late 1-0 defeat against Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park Stadium on Wednesday night.

Substitute Macauley Bonne scored the only goal of the game late on to ensure the Rams fell to defeat on home soil.

Derby did have chances throughout the encounter, going close on several occasions in both halves.

Martyn Waghorn had the ball in the back of the net but was ruled offside in the opening five minutes, whilst at the end of the half Wayne Rooney saw an effort saved by visiting goalkeeper Semy Dieng.

The skipper then crashed an effort against the post early in the second half as the Rams continued to attack, while defender Matt Clarke’s header with 15 minutes remaining was saved on the line by Dieng.

Then, with only minutes remaining, Bonne headed past David Marshall to ensure Mark Warburton's side left Pride Park Stadium with all three points.

It proved to be another frustrating evening for Derby, who still remain without a win at home this campaign.

“We were confident going into two home games this week, on the back of three unbeaten,” Byrne told RamsTV. “To lose like that, we are extremely annoyed but we know that we’ve got to be better and we have got to climb the table quickly.

“We know that in the Championship when you get a chance that you need to take it. As a team, we have got to be better at both ends.

“We don’t need to look at the table. We know that we need to get more points on the board and we need to perform better as a team. We know we should be winning games, Derby County is a big club. We know that and we know we need to put it right on Saturday.

“We know it’s going to be another tough test but we will be ready for it and we need to get the three points.”

Derby had drawn their previous three fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Cardiff City and AFC Bournemouth heading into the game and performances were encouraging.

Byrne knows that there is enough talent in the dressing room to get the Rams up the table.

“We have players out there who are good Championship footballers,” he said. “It’s not clicking at the minute but all we can do is work harder. We need to get the result on Saturday and push on into the international break.

“Everyone in the Championship has been through tough times and have been through rough patches. All you can do is train harder, work harder and keep working together.

“It’s a great group, and I’ve said that since I’ve come in. At the minute it’s not falling for us but it’s only us that can change that.”