Paul Warne: Wycombe draw might be really good point for Derby in promotion race
Posted Thursday, April 11, 2024 by PA
Derby boss Paul Warne felt a goalless draw against mid-table Wycombe represented a good point despite its implication in the race for promotion in League One.
The Rams missed the chance to put distance between themselves and Bolton in the hunt for automatic promotion to the Championship.
Derby could not make early pressure pay and were forced to withstand a barrage of chances from the Chairboys in a stalemate that left the Rams two points clear of Bolton having played one game more.
“It’s frustrating,” Warne said. “We’ve got three games left and the players want it so badly that it could impact their performance.
“First half we looked good as we created chances and we passed the ball really well, but we missed two absolute sitters and we need to take one of them.
“The longer the game goes, the harder it is and we were lucky to not lose so this might be a really good point for us.
“It’s that time of the season when teams are fighting for promotion and relegation so the pressure mounts.
“These people aren’t robots, but we need to be a bit more patient, breathe and play the way we’ve played.
“I thought we forced things and there were times I saw individuals rather than a team, not through selfishness, but by someone trying to grab the game to make that moment happen but we didn’t have it.”
Derby almost took the lead within two minutes as Wycombe defender Ryan Tafazolli’s header nearly went past Franco Ravizzoli in goal.
Four minutes later, Derby missed a gilt-edged chance of their own making as Corey Blackett-Taylor shot wide in front of an open net having been set up by Conor Washington.
Washington was then denied by a block from Jack Grimmer before the resulting set-piece from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing was tipped over the bar.
From there, Wycombe grew into the game but failed to properly test Joe Wildsmith in the Rams net as Beryly Lubala and Kieran Sadlier were two of several home players to send attempts wide.
Conor Hourihane and James Collins went close for Derby with seconds remaining.
Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield said: “We were a bit shaky for the first 15 minutes or so, but we woke up and played very well for the next 75 minutes.
“We played against a team, and rightly so, who are playing for a place in the Championship.
“They’ve got loads of experience but I thought we were excellent as we got a clean sheet and on another night, we could have won it.
“I believe we could be higher than where we are and tonight we’ve gone toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the league.”
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