3/1 To Win
Joe Wildsmith was delighted to play a key role in Derby County’s important 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers.
The goalkeeper produced one of his most impressive displays of the season to help Derby overcome one of their top six rivals 1-0 in Sky Bet League One before a crowd of over 32,000, with Kane Wilson scoring the only goal of the contest late on.
The side’s fourth win in a row, a run which has seen them concede just one goal in the process, saw them open up a four-point gap between themselves in second and Bolton in third spot.
With plenty of football still to play, with seven games and 21 points up for grabs, the Rams are certainly not getting ahead of themselves at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Wildsmith, who made an outstanding first half save to deny Bolton striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, spoke to RamsTV after the final whistle to offer his assessment of the 90 minutes.
On getting the win…
It feels very good to get maximum points against a side around us in the table and one that is directly behind us. I thought the lads were excellent and we showed that fight and determination to get the goal that we needed and then to see it out. I thoroughly enjoyed this afternoon.
On the first half save to deny Bodvarsson…
The lads will tell me in the dressing room that it is my job! It is nice to make saves and contribute to a clean sheet and an important win. It was a great moment for me in an amazing atmosphere and game as big as this one. It was an instinctive save more than anything and that is why we do those drills on the training ground every single day. They prepare you for moments like that, so it was nice to make the save and then Sibs and Cash cleared the danger.
On the defensive display…
When the crowd is so big, it is obviously loud and difficult to communicate at times. That is when you rely on relationships and bonds you have built over the course of the season. You put trust in the whole team, and they’ve been excellent all season, to be honest. Our defensive record shows that. Everyone played their part today; the defenders, those that started and the substitutes.
On the atmosphere in Derby's biggest home attendance since 2016…
The stadium was totally full and the atmosphere during the game, and at full-time, was incredible. It was deafening when we scored. The only atmosphere I can compare it to was when we played at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup last season. It was so loud and credit to the fans because they really drove us on at moments when we needed them. We are pleased to send them home smiling.
On making more appearances for Derby in two seasons than during several years at Sheffield Wednesday…
It is the best thing that I had to do in my career. I came here and my ambition was to play as many games as possible. To have played more times for Derby than I did at Sheffield Wednesday in just under two full seasons is something I am proud of.
