3/1 To Win
Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne was left feeling a mixture of emotions following the 2-1 defeat to Bolton Wanderers in Sky Bet League One - but ultimately felt proud of the effort of his ten men.
The Rams led through a Conor Hourihane penalty but a Dion Charles spot-kick levelled things up before the break.
Goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith was given his marching orders in the first minute of the second half before the hosts won through a deflected cross from Josh Dacres-Cogley.
Speaking to RamsTV after the game, Warne gave his verdict on the performance.
On the game...
I'm a tad frustrated, a little bit angry and a little bit proud. We didn't start the game well, we didn't get a foot on the ball at all in the first half and then once we got into it, we did. We can't let the opposition start like that.
I'm disappointed with the goal we gave away before half-time because it came from a simple throw-in but the reaction was good and the game was on a knife edge. I thought in the second half both teams were a little bit edgy. A misplaced back pass led to a sending off and fundamentally that changed the game.
From then on we had to sit back and try and get one on an ugly free-kick or long throw and in fairness the character the lads showed was excellent. We conceded a deflected goal but I thought the lads defended well and they are heartbroken that they lost.
Overall I'm really proud of the efforts but also disappointed that we didn't play with enough character early on.
We've now got two weeks to get everyone back, get Elliot Embleton up to speed and Louie Sibley is training next week. Hopefully Birdy will be back in a couple of weeks and then all of a sudden I go from no options in the middle to plenty.
On the fine margins...
I don't think we have a team that should lose by small margins so it's not an excuse or an acceptance. I think we should play with a character that comes and throttles a game and try and win.
Our goalkeeper getting sent off is obviously a massive blow then you have to work out what to do with the team.
I thought it would end up being a 10 minute game at the end where a set-piece wins it. I thought we had a really good penalty claim on Sonny Bradley that wasn't given and if you're 2-1 down with ten men you need something to go your way and I don't think we had the lady luck today.
On Jake Rooney's injury...
I think it's a pretty severe knee injury. I don't know the full extent but it does look a bad one.
It's heartbreaking for him. He's got in the team, done really well and he's really fit. To be out for a period of time, it's tough and it's tough being a young professional when you're trying to make your way. I'm heartbroken for him to be fair.
On Elliot Embleton's signing...
We need goals from midfield, legs in midfield and with him and Birdy, Sibs and Tommo to come in, we've got a lot of people to come in to help. I'm really pleased he's joined us. He scores goals, he's had promotions and he's done really well for Sunderland. He could be really good for us, we've just got to get him fit now. That's the good thing about the international break.
On the international break...
Next week will allow us to get players up to speed like John-Jules, Embleton and Barkhuizen. These are all good players when they are fully fit and at the moment we are on the edge of our squad.
