McCLAREN’S MEN SHOW A GRITTY SIDE

DERBY may not have been able to make it eight successive league wins, but their hardearned point against an impressive Fulham side only served to outline their promotion credentials.

The Rams were certainly not at their best, but the sign of a good team is when they are able to pick up a result when not at the top of their game.

In Tom Ince they boast one of the league’s most potent players and he was at the heart of the action at Craven Cottage with a goal and an assist.

This was always going to be a tricky game for Steve McClaren’s team but this point could prove invaluable come the end of the season, because this was a match in which they had to dig deep and could have left with nothing.

Fulham are a good side and will continue to climb the table under Slavisa Jokanovic providing they cut out the sloppy errors – indeed they will feel as if they have gifted Derby two early Christmas presents.