Joe the hero as Rams edge win in crucial Bolton clash
PAUL Warne praised Derby County goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith for two moments of brilliance in the 1-0 home win against promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers.
Kane Wilson’s 78th-minute header was enough to secure a 1-0 win for the Rams at Pride Park Stadium and give them a four point cushion in second place over the third-placed Trotters.
Wilson left the bench to head in Callum Elder’s corner with 12 minutes remaining but the Rams were indebted to two special saves from Wildsmith.
He denied Jon Dadi Bodvarsson from point-blank range in the first half and then thwarted George Thomason after the break.
“Joe pulled us out of it and we congratulated him after the game,” said Rams head coach Warne.
“That is unheard of in terms of managers congratulating goalkeepers but he pulled off two unbelievable saves.
“The one in the first half from Bodvardsson’s header was a great save.
“As soon as the cross came in, which I wasn’t best pleased about, I just thought it would hit the net.
“He also made another in the second half, so Joe has been a part of a decent team performance.
“I was pleased with the goal. Kane’s been a royal pain in the butt in training with first-team
set-pieces.
“He always seems to get on the end of things so it was like, well let’s see what you’ve got in a real game. That was pleasing.
“Obviously, in the game, I harp on to the lads about bending and not breaking.
“You are going to be under pressure, so just be solid.
“Try and win your headers and your tackles.
“But if I was in the other dressing room, I’d be disappointed that I wasn’t leaving with a point because I thought the game probably was a draw.”
Bolton manager Ian Evatt, the former Rams defender, is not giving up hope of earning automatic promotion.
“It’s not over, there’s a lot of football to be played, we have to stay calm and keep the faith,” he said.
“Nobody in the stadium could agree that Derby deserved to win the game. We were completely dominant.
“I think it was the first time in our final third in the second half with the corner and we’ve conceded a poor goal. Obviously the result matters and it makes it more difficult for us but there’s loads of football to be played and a long way to go.
“We had the better chances, their keeper is probably man of the match, which speaks volumes.
“Football isn’t fair SOMEBOWLING times but the most important thing for us is to keep believing.”
DERBY County head coach Paul Warne is waiting for news on striker Dwight Gayle’s hamstring injury but revealed Tyreece John-jules could be back before the end of the season.
The Rams were dealt a blow when Gayle had to be replaced by Korey Smith in the first half against Bolton Wanderers. The former Newcastle United striker buried his head under his shirt as he left the field.
Gayle had been in excellent form for the Rams, having scored three goals in his previous three games before Saturday’s clash against the Trotters.
But Warne revealed that onloan Arsenal forward Johnjules could return before the season ends. John-jules’ campaign looked to be over when he damaged his hamstring in the defeat to Reading in January and returned to Arsenal for treatment.
When asked how long Gayle could be out for, Warne said: “It depends on how severe it is. It could be two weeks, four weeks, six weeks or eight weeks.
“My personal guess is that it will be four weeks. I have a lot of skills but medicine isn’t my top one. But, hopefully, it won’t be too bad.
“Tyreece John-jules was up here for the game on Saturday and they’re now telling me there is a chance he may be fit for the end of the season.
“That would be a result. Conor Washington is fit and Martyn Waghorn is looking a bit more like it.”