Tuesday 17 May 2016 23:23, UK
Darren Wassall praised his Derby team after their second-leg performance against Hull and hit back at the recent critics of his side.
The Rams produced a much-improved display after looking lacklusture at the iPro Stadium in the first leg on Saturday, and did win the game 2-0.
Johnny Russell put the visitors ahead after just seven minutes and the comeback looked on after Andrew Robertson turned the ball into his own net just before half-time, but Derby couldn't find another killer blow to take the tie all the way.
Hull saw out the game to win 3-2 on aggregate and set up a play-off final with Sheffield Wednesday, but Wassall was full of praise for his team following Tuesday's game.
"We're certainly very disappointed after Saturday, but I can't stress how proud I am of all the players tonight," the Rams head coach told Sky Sports.
"That's how Derby County should turn up. That's how I want a team representing me to turn up and we certainly turned up tonight. The play did the talking for them, I shouldn't have to say too much.
"We didn't lose the tie tonight, we lost it on Saturday and we know that but everybody who was questioning our attitude and our courage, our application and desire and what we're all about, tonight we showed what Derby County is all about and I'm very proud of the performance tonight."
The Midlands outfit had beaten Hull twice in the regular season and had a good record against other play-off sides, and Wassall believes if Derby can continue to perform next season, they can make it to the Premier League.
He said: "The damage was done on Saturday and we had to put that to bed very quickly, but that performance is the type of performance we've been having consistently since I've been in charge and unfortunately, when it mattered on Saturday, we didn't get that performance for whatever reason.
"We'd beaten Hull twice this year, we have now beaten them three times so it's a funny old game that we beat them three times and didn't get to Wembley.
"We're very disappointed that we're out of the tie because I think everybody saw that we deserved to go through on that performance, but credit to Hull, they won the tie and we wish them luck in the final.
"At least we've ended the season on a high and I've said to the players, if they continue to perform like that on a consistent basis for 46 games next season, they will get out of his league."
