Bruce Delighted

Well he would be wouldn't he. After turning on the fans and trying to pass the buck the team got the win they badly needed.

Without repeating myself too much, Bruce has been well out of order over the last few days, attacking the fans and trying to blame his shortcomings on the players but credit where credits due.

Yesterday he picked the right team for the right opponent and although luck played a part, in football you invariably create your own and we were good for the three points.

It was three points everybody connected with the club needed after the last week and the embarrassing performance against Norwich.

It won't go far to allay the fears fans have, nor will it do much to quiet those who believe our manager should've walked to pastures new after relegation but it buys time and gives both Bruce and the team a platform to grow from in the upcoming games.

If they can turn it around then all of us will be happy again, but we want both results and performances. That is the bit Bruce still seems to have not grasped.

Speaking to the official site following the game he said:

'I thought we had the outstanding chances in the game, particularly in the first half when we had two or three.

'Derby caused us a few problems with their three in midfield in the second half.

'And maybe we needed a little bit of luck.

'Somebody I brought back into the team, Stephen Clemence, who has been a fantastic servant to the club, hit a shot that has took 27 ricochets and ended up in the back of the net.

'But if we hadn't have got the win, today was still all about the attitude amongst my team.

'They really rolled up their sleeves after Tuesday's debacle and ground out a result which was very pleasing.

'I was looking for a response and thankfully I could call on the likes of Clemence, Damien Johnson and Mehdi Nafti to help settle the whole ship.

'I have just looked at the table and we are one point off third place but there's been a crisis at the club apparently.

'I could win two games this week and then if I lose another couple, is that crisis again?

'What way is that to be? It's ridiculous.

'You have only have to look at this football club (Derby) which has a tremendous history and a great stadium.

'They've had something like nine managers in five years and has it done them any good? I don't think so.

'But this division is driven by the pot at the end of it, which we all know financially is a huge target and that is the evil it has created.'

The only real down point of the day was the substitution of David Dunn in the first half. Bruce later said that he had suffered a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury.

'When I analyse that later on, it is a sickening blow for us because it looked as though he was getting fit for the first time in two-and-a-half years.'

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.