3/1 To Win
Full back Nathan Byrne felt frustrated following Derby County’s 2-1 defeat against Swansea City at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Joel Piroe scored twice in the opening 20 minutes to put the home side in command, however, the Rams showed a good reaction to get back into the game.
Tom Lawrence reduced the arrears from the penalty spot after Luke Plange was fouled in the penalty area midway through the first half, but the Rams struggled to create clear cut chances as the game went on.
Malcolm Ebiowei was a bright spark for Wayne Rooney’s side, as he saw an effort fly wide at the start of the second half, but in the final minute of the game, the Rams could have been awarded a penalty.
Substitute Bartosz Cybulski appeared to be fouled in the penalty area deep into added on time but the referee waved away the strong protests.
Speaking after the game, Byrne told RamsTV: “Frustrating. I think we gave them a big head start with the two goals, sloppy goals but they took their chances.
“We know that they are going to get chances, they are a good team. It’s just disappointing that they took the first two. We started sloppy, all of us, and essentially has cost us.
“We grew into the game and played well, I feel. Coming here, they are quite a special team in the Championship because they don’t play like anyone else, but we managed the game well.
“We had chances and I think we could have been more clinical in the final third. I think everyone knows it’s a clear penalty at the end on Bart.
“I think you saw from half our team sprinting to the referee, we knew straight away. It was clear. I don’t know what he saw, I think he thought it was just a coming together but I think it was quite clear it wasn’t. It didn’t happen and we’ve just got to go again.”
The defeat leaves Derby still nine points behind Reading, however, with only 15 points left to play for, it’s going to be a challenging task. But, Byrne knows this team will keep on fighting right until the very end.
“We want to win games and we know the situation that we are in,” he said. “There is no hiding from that and we know it’s been a tough ask all season but we have always believed and we are going to keep going until the end.
“That’s the manager’s character and that’s the boys in there. We are going to dust ourselves down and go again.
“It’s the most honest group of lads that you’re going to get. We are not going to give in, we are going to keep going and I think everyone has seen that all season.”
A healthy number of Derby County fans made the trip down to South Wales and Byrne was full of praise for their support.
“They have been amazing all season,” he commented. “There are no words that I can say to praise them more. It doesn’t go unnoticed and they have been brilliant.”
