MOUNT DESTINED TO REACH HEIGHTS
DERBY manager Frank Lampard has predicted a big future in the game for Mason Mount after the on-loan Chelsea midfielder starred in this win over Hull.
Mount had shown his promise in the 4-0 Carabao Cup win for the Rams over Hull at the KCOM Stadium on Tuesday when he scored his side’s third goal.
Hull starved him of possession this time around and Lampard praised Mount’s work rate in the Championship victory.
Lampard said: “It might not have been Mason’s best game, he was fantastic in midweek. They stopped us getting the ball into his feet today. They know Mason is a big threat and they tried to nullify it. We know Mason is going to have a big future.”
Lampard admitted a much-changed Hull side had given a better performance than during the 4-0 thrashing in midweek.
He said: “It was a tough game, the second half was very tough. That’s the Championship. Full credit to Hull. They will feel they deserved a draw.
“We showed great character. We were under pressure at times, particularly in the second half.”
Florian Jozefzoon and Martyn Waghorn, who both scored in the 4-0 Carabao Cup win at the KCOM Stadium on Tuesday evening, were on target once again.
Waghorn added to his opening goal on Tuesday with a penalty which had been won by David Nugent.
On-loan Todd Kane, who has spent time away from parent club Chelsea with eight other clubs, brought Hull level in the second half when he was first to a Fraizer Campbell pass to shoot past Scott Carson.
Unlike on Tuesday when they had been out-played, Hull looked value for at least a point and would have gone ahead had Evandro’s close-range effort not been deflected narrowly past the post.
But just as the game looked destined to end in a draw Jozefzoon, who scored twice in the Carabao Cup, hit a shot from inside a crowded area which deflected past David Marshall.
The win boosted Derby’s promotion push and defeat kept Hull in the bottom four.
Head coach Nigel Adkins tied to take the positives out of his side’s performance after making numerous changes from Tuesday.
Adkins said: “I thought we were very good. I talked on Tuesday night night about what a good side they were. Today I thought technically we were spot on.
“The second half in particular we had numerous opportunities but, unfortunately, we did not take them. The atmosphere was excellent. The fans were great and the players did well.”
Adkins was critical of referee John Brooks, who chose to give Derby a penalty when Nugent went down under a challenge from Jordy de Wijs.
Adkins said: “The penalty looked a very clumsy challenge. There’s were some really good performances against a team who will be in the top six who have invested heavily. The passion was there for all to see and the quality was there, too.”