Derby County head coach Paul Warne was beaming with pride after his side’s 2-1 victory over West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park. The Rams dominated the first half, with Jerry Yates’ excellent finish giving them a deserved lead at the break.
Although West Brom hit the woodwork twice from distance in the opening 45 minutes, Derby’s control of the game meant the visitors were unable to capitalize on those close calls. The Baggies, however, came out stronger in the second half, but Mason Holgate’s deflected goal from Kayden Jackson’s shot put Derby further ahead.
A late goal from substitute Grady Diangana threatened a West Brom comeback, but Derby held on to secure a hard-fought three points. Warne was thrilled with his team’s performance, saying, “I was really pleased with how we played in the first half. We were really good, although West Brom did hit the post twice from distance.”
Warne acknowledged that his team had to dig deep in the second half, saying, “They put us under pressure, and we had to hang in there. We didn’t press every ball because you can’t, but we defended pretty well and made some important changes.”
The Derby head coach was relieved that his team was able to hold on for the win, saying, “When they had that free-kick in the last minute, I thought, ‘Oh my God, no!’ It felt like Luton revisited. But getting three points in this league is a big deal, especially against a really good team like West Brom.”
Warne praised the impact of the Derby crowd, saying, “The crowd was fantastic. They helped us so much, especially when we were getting tired. It’s a great club to be at, and everybody played a part in this win.”