Paul Warne acknowledged Sunderland’s superiority as Derby County faltered once again in their quest for the first away points in the Championship. The Rams suffered a 2-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light, allowing Regis Le Bris’s side to claim the top spot in the league with goals from Jobe Bellingham and Wilson Isidor.
Despite a spirited effort from Derby marked by Curtis Nelson’s near miss, Warne was candid in his assessment, admitting his team’s shortcomings. Reflecting on the match, Warne commented, “Our performance in the first half was subpar. While we were decent off the ball, our possession game was lacking. Sunderland outperformed us, particularly with a spectacular 30-yard goal that left us disheartened. Although we made errors that led to their goals, we regrouped at halftime. We believed we were still in contention until Sunderland’s second goal dampened our spirits.”
Warne highlighted his team’s resilience in the latter part of the game, emphasizing the positive impact of tactical adjustments and substitutions. Despite Derby’s late push for a goal, Sunderland’s sturdy defense thwarted their efforts. Warne concluded, “It’s disappointing to leave with another away defeat, but there were glimpses of quality in our play that we can build on. We showed promise, especially in the final stages when we pressured Sunderland. While the result is not what we desired, there are positives we can take from this experience.”
