Paul Warne says Derby looked jaded in draw with 10-man Lincoln

Posted Wednesday, February 15, 2023 by PA

Derby head coach Paul Warne admitted his team looked jaded after they were held 1-1 by 10-man Lincoln.

The visitors looked dangerous from the start and forced Derby into mistakes before they took a deserved lead two minutes before half-time.

Derby were caught trying to break and, although Joe Wildsmith did well to parry Lewis Montsma’s drive, Olamide Shodipo turned in the rebound.

Lincoln had to regroup when Ben House was sent off in the 55th minute for a second yellow for a late challenge on David McGoldrick and Derby took advantage.

McGoldrick’s 69th minute shot fell to Conor Hourihane who fired home from close range and the home side had chances in the closing stages.

McGoldrick headed in at the back post in stoppage time only to be flagged offside.

Warne said: “I just felt that, not through lack of effort as a team, they were giving everything they had but a few of them just looked jaded and just off it.

“I warned the team before the game that in this league if you’re not fully on it against any opposition you are under pressure and I thought Lincoln were fully deserving of their lead.

“We didn’t ask their goalie anything really first half and we gave the ball away at a crucial point and they punished us.

“It’s disappointing but weirdly enough I’m pretty happy to come away with a point because at times I was thinking it felt like one of those nights.

“They made it difficult for us and so they should, they didn’t come here to have their bellies rubbed and we didn’t have enough guile in our play possibly to win it.

“I thought both goals looked offside to me and I think in the end probably a point after playing poorly is the best we could have expected.”

Lincoln head coach Mark Kennedy said: “We were always going to show Derby the respect they deserve and we talked about playing in mid block and specific triggers of when to press and how to press.

“We’ve been doing it for eight months and I think when the opportunity presented itself tonight our players are really good at making those decisions.

“We’re very good at pressing if you give us the opportunity. Derby play a lovely fluent style of football so I knew we’d have good counter-pressing moments tonight.

“There were two really poor decisions by the officials, both goals were miles offside and you can’t be making mistakes like that at this level.

“The players deserve all the credit, they’re the best group I’ve ever worked with in terms of their professionalism, desire and willingness to improve.”