Wayne Rooney was pleased with Derby County’s battling qualities as they played out a hard-fought goalless draw against Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon in the Sky Bet Championship.
Derby had the best chances of the opening 45 minutes with midfielder Max Bird twice forcing saves from Joe Lumley in the Middlesbrough goal, while Boro striker Uche Ikpeazu also drew a stop from Kelle Roos at his near post at the midway point of the half.
Rooney’s side began the second half on the front foot too with Louie Sibley calling Lumley into action with a smart shot from inside the box which was pushed away from danger.
Roos, however, kept the Rams in the game as Middlesbrough upped the pressure by the hour mark and the giant goalkeeper was alert to keep out substitute Jonny Howson’s close-range header at the far post.
Neil Warnock’s side had a chance to claim all three points late on as midfielder Matt Crooks’ glancing header from a left-wing cross hit the top of the crossbar with Roos beaten.
The draw means Derby have picked up five points from their opening four league fixtures of the season; recording one win, two draws and a single defeat.
Rooney is satisfied with the Rams’ start to the season, but feels they could still have got more points on the board.
He told RamsTV after the game: “I think in the first half we played some really good stuff today.
“We moved the ball well and we had great composure and bravery about ourselves. We had bravery to play and create some good chances.
“In the second half we got dragged into their game, which can happen, but we need to be braver and trust ourselves.
“We are a good team so we have to trust ourselves a bit more to carry on into the second half.
“After 10 or 15 minutes of the half, I knew we were in their game so it’s very difficult to get the momentum back.
“We had to dig in and fight it out which in the end and I was delighted with how we did that. If this was last season, we maybe would lose that game so to come away with a point, I’m pleased in some ways but I also feel it’s a chance missed because of some of the stuff we played.”
The clean sheet was Derby’s second in as many games after the 1-0 victory at Hull City on Wednesday night.
Rooney said: “It is nice to have another clean sheet but for all of us, clean sheets are so important in this division.
“They give us a platform to win the game so I’m pleased that in the last two games we managed to get two clean sheets.
“I’m pleased in one way that we hung in there and didn’t concede a goal and we got something out the game, but still I want the players to play with an identity which we have worked on and I think if we did that in the second half we would have won today.”
Derby head to fellow Championship side Sheffield United in Round Two of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night in their next fixture (7:45pm kick-off), before welcoming local rivals Nottingham Forest to Pride Park Stadium next Saturday (12:30pm kick-off).
