RAMS RECOVERY ROCKS ROBINS... Darren’s double rescues a draw
STEVE McClaren wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry after Derby came from three goals down to draw with Bristol City.
The Rams boss watched his side recover from a 3-0 half-time deficit to secure a well-earned point in an absorbing encounter.
But McClaren says the team , currently in eighth, must learn from the result if they are to achieve a play-off spot.
“It was a real Jekyll and Hyde performance from us,” said McClaren.
“We know which direction we want to go in and it’s up to the players now to do that.
“We didn’t have our gamehead on in the first half, it’s that simple. We got punished as a result, but credit to the boys for staying in and fighting back.
“We got that early goal after the break and then the momentum was with us.
“I wanted the players to step up for me and they did that in the second half.
“This was a valuable lesson and I hope we now move forward.”
The Robins took the lead on 14 minutes when Matty Taylor, a January signing from rivals Bristol Rovers, smashed home his maiden City goal after County failed to deal with a corner.
Chelsea loanee Tammy Abraham then showed his poaching capabilities and was in the right place at the right time for his 20th of the campaign.
McClaren attempted to stop the rot and made two substitutions on the half-hour mark and one of the hooked players, Bradley Johnson, appeared to throw his shirt to the ground in disgust after being subbed. McClaren said afterwards he didn’t see the incident, which angered home supporters near the dugout.
Those two alterations failed to stem the tide and City looked out of sight when Abraham made it 3-0 from close range before the break.
After an awful first-half showing Derby came out for the restart with plenty of purpose and Darren Bent duly headed home Chris Baird’s cross to make it 3-1 on 57 minutes.
Taylor then inexplicably missed an open goal from barely a few yards out for City.
Had that gone in it would have almost certainly been game over.
However, it proved to be a costly miss when Tom Ince nodded home inside the box after getting on the end of Ikechi Anya’s centre.
Derby were now in the driving seat and their all-out attack approach paid off when they were then awarded a penalty after Ince was tripped by Scott Golbourne in the box.
Bent stepped up and lashed beyond City stopper Fabian Giefer to complete a remarkable turnaround and ensure both sides earned a share of the spoils in what was a superb advert for the Championship.
City manager Lee Johnson said: “I can only describe it as when your child runs out into the road and you quickly grab them.
“You don’t know whether to smack them or cuddle them!
“So much of our work was excellent and we created numerous chances.
“We showed what a force we can be, but obviously I’m massively disappointed not to have won from being 3-0 up.
“We have to learn from this and grow together.
“I felt we were quite comfortable at 3-0, but I have to try and take some positives from this match.”