‘Nuisance’ Lee was spark for Rams – Rooney
LEE Gregory changed the game for Derby County against Nottingham Forest when he came off the bench, says Rams boss Wayne Rooney.
Gregory, the striker on loan from Stoke City, replaced Graeme Shinnie after 64 minutes with the Rams trailing 1-0 to their rivals following James Garner’s first-half strike.
Derby rallied late on to grab an equaliser through Colin Kazim-richards before Gregory had a chance to win the game, only to drag his shot wide.
Rooney was impressed with Gregory’s contribution in Friday night’s 1-1 draw at Pride Park Stadium.
“Yes, it was a great strike by Colin (Kazim-richards). The one thing I will do is credit the players for staying in the game because we were going through a very tough period and it didn’t look like we were going to get anything out of it,” said Rooney.
“I made all the changes I could to get a goal.
“Football is a funny game because we could have won it with Lee Gregory’s chance.
“I have to say I think Lee Gregory changed the game for us.
“He came on with great energy, enthusiasm and work-rate.
“He was a nuisance and his energy lifted the rest of the players.
“Sometimes small things in games make a difference to the other players.”
Rooney was pleased to come away with a point against Forest after falling behind.
“I thought for 30 or 35 minutes we were excellent and caused Forest big problems, not in terms of creating chances but we were making them run, making them work,” he said.
“They did not know how to press us or figure out how we were building up.
“But we conceded the goal and let our heads drop.
“I felt at half-time we could still go and win the game, if we got back to what we were doing.
“In the second half, we weren’t good. We were losing second balls and almost played Forest in three or four times ourselves.
“So to come away in the end with a point, I am pleased because it could have been a lot worse.
“I think they scored against the run of play and we did the same in the second half.”