Wayne Rooney felt Derby County got what they deserved as they left it late to pick up all three points in a 1-0 home win over Preston North End.
Ravel Morrison scored the only goal of the game with a superb effort from inside the box which flew into the top corner.
The result leaves the Rams six points adrift of safety with six games left to play this term as they battle to overcome two hefty points deductions to remain in the Sky Bet Championship.
Derby enjoyed plenty of pressure in the first period as they attacked towards the North Stand with Jason Knight and Tom Lawrence both going close.
The visitors were reduced to ten men just after the half hour mark as defender Liam Lindsay hauled Lawrence down as he drove towards the penalty area, with the Rams’ captain curling the resultant free-kick wide as the half concluded goalless.
Derby themselves were reduced to ten men shortly before the hour mark as Max Bird received the first red card of his career for a challenge on Ben Whiteman in the middle of the park.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, Derby finally made the breakthrough as a corner wasn’t cleared by the visitors and substitute Morrison thundered a superb effort into the top corner with his right foot.
Derby saw the final minutes out well to pick up their tenth home win of the season from 20 outings and the Rams’ boss was thrilled with his players’ efforts once again.
Rooney told RamsTV after the game: “I think it was a strange today; we didn’t start great and grew into it a little bit.
“Nothing really happened then I felt and then Preston had their player sent off. From there, I thought we had control of the match towards the end of the first half.
“Early in the second half, it was complete control from us and I felt it was only a matter of time until we scored.
“Max Bird got his red card and you always get a bit worried because the game momentum could swing into the opposition’s favour at that moment, but as soon as we went to ten men I was delighted with the reaction of the lads on the pitch.
“The energy, commitment, willingness and effort to try and go and win the game was there and I felt we wanted to win it more, which we have to be given the position we are in, and we deserved the win.
“We are in the stage of the season now where points are more important. We want to play well and put good performances on but the three points was all that matters.”
He added: “We will keep pushing, keep trying to win games and pick up points and see where we are at in a few weeks. We’ve got six games left and every game is a massive game for us. We’ve got another tough game next week and we will go into that with confidence and trying to get three points.”
Jamacia international Morrison has been in a good vein of form in recent weeks for both club and country.
The 29-year-old has scored four goals in his last five appearances for Derby, of which three have come at Pride Park Stadium.
Rooney is delighted that the former Manchester United youngster is hitting form at a key stage of the campaign.
Rooney said: “It was a great goal. There were a couple of chances before that which were cleared off the line and it was a good save from the goalkeeper and in that split second you think it’s going to be one of those days but Ravel got the goal.
“It was almost impossible for me to start him today after being away with Jamaica and coming back late, the travelling he’s done and playing in a different climate. He came in yesterday and looked tired, so I felt it was best to put him on the bench and thankfully it paid off.”
He added: “His ability is never in doubt and questionable. I left him out the team for a run of games earlier in the season because we were working on him in terms of discipline and the part of the game without the ball, which I felt he could improve. He’s took that in and improved a lot and there is no coincidence that he’s doing the stuff off the ball better and that’s helping him on the ball to create chances and score more goals.”
Derby are back on the road for their next Championship outing next Saturday when they make the long journey to Swansea City (3pm kick-off).
