Paul Warne hails impact of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in Derby win at Forest Green

Posted Saturday, April 08, 2023 by PA

Derby boss Paul Warne hailed Nathaniel Mendez-Laing after he helped his side to a 2-0 win over League One’s bottom side Forest Green to keep the Rams play-off bid on track.

Mendez-Laing provided the cross for James Collins’ effort that cannoned off Brandon Cooper’s hand in the first minute leading to the penalty that set County off and running.

Goals from Collins from the spot and David McGoldrick late in the second half were enough to see Derby to all three points in Gloucestershire.

“We didn’t have full control of the game, not many teams come here and have full control of the game but Nat (Mendez-Laing) was virtually unplayable today,” claimed Warne.

The Rams halted a run of three straight defeats to keep pace with Bolton and Peterborough who both recorded wins on Friday afternoon.

Warne added: “No-one wants to lose games, the lads’ efforts are there we just haven’t had it in the entirety, today we had enough to finish the game off.

“We’ve been cheering five-a-side wins of late so that’s a massive win!”

The visitors made the perfect start when Collins’ effort was blocked by a Forest Green hand, and the referee pointed to the spot with just 40 seconds played and Collins scored the resulting penalty.

“We craved the second goal but the first one was a boost. You could see in the last 10 minutes when we had the second goal, we looked unbelievable.

“We have beaten a really organised team here, it should be massive praise for the dressing room,” added Warne.

Forest Green boss Duncan Ferguson rued the early penalty call that saw his side go a goal down in the first two minutes of the game.

“It’s not intentional. The boy’s hit the ball, it’s smashed against him, what can the lad do?” questioned Ferguson.

“We were on the back foot again, another decision that goes against us.”

Paul Warne’s team threatened a second through McGoldrick but Ross Doohan’s double save soon after the break thwarted the experienced forward.

McGoldrick was not to be denied his 17th league goal of the campaign as he closed down Cooper who was slow to clear and the ball ricocheted into the Rovers goal from his boot in the closing stages.

League One’s bottom club are now 13 points below Oxford who occupy the place outside the relegation zone.

Ferguson added: “Today it was a penalty and a mistake, there’s nothing in it. They weren’t peppering the goal, but our final ball wasn’t good enough.

“We were causing problems, it’s a 2-0 defeat but it doesn’t feel like it, I really felt we were pushing particularly at half-time; we were well in the game.

“I thought we had them worried but the second goal kills it.”