NIGEL Clough praised his Derby County side’s goalless draw with Burnley describing his player’s efforts as being 'honesty mixed in with really good play'.
The Rams boss saw his team put in a gutsy performance filled with guile and endeavour at Turf Moor on Saturday, which stretched the team’s unbeaten run to six games.
With the FA Cup, and a home tie against midlands rivals Stoke City, up next, Clough savoured a result that continued the Rams’ rise up the Championship table.
He said: “It was a good performance, a good point and I am delighted with a clean sheet again.
“I am also delighted with the manner of the performance that everyone put in throughout the game “Sometimes when you come away from home it can be a negative 0-0, but I didn’t think that was the case at all with this game.
“The lads tried to take the game to Burnley and we were all rewarded with a very solid performance.”
Clough was quick to point out the contribution his defensive team had made, not only during Saturday’s game but also in the Rams’ recent run of success.
He added: “It was a tough examination of the side’s defensive qualities, but they more than met expectations.
“Frank Fielding did not have a lot to do but when he did (following a goal-bound header from Burnley frontman Jay Rodriguez), he made a brilliant save with his feet yet again.”
“Moments like that are what makes the difference between keeping a clean sheet and not.
“We now hope to stretch the unbeaten run, but it is also important that we have only conceded one goal during that period.
“When the current back five is together they are difficult to break down and it is not a coincidence that our great run has coincided with them all being fit and playing together.
“To come away from home you are always happy with a point but I am more happy with the performance.”
The Rams boss revealed that James Bailey and Theo Robinson were removed during the game following a bout of sickness for the former and a knock picked up in the first half for the latter.
Clough also praised the 35- minute cameo from loan starlet Ryan Noble, describing the experience as being ‘great for him’.
He added: “There is still room for improvement and I still believe we are a striker short.
“The three lads (Robinson, Ball and Noble) tried hard but sometimes in games like this you need that extra bit of quality and we don’t quite have that at the moment.
“But overall in terms of the team I am delighted with them all and have been all season, but especially during the past six to eight weeks.
“There is just a lot of honesty, and in this game we saw that, but mixed with some really good play.”
