Paul Clement admits Derby rode luck in Bolton draw
Monday 10 August 2015 14:58, UK
Paul Clement said he was satisfied but not overjoyed by Derby's 0-0 draw at Bolton in his first Sky Bet Championship match in charge of the title favourites.
Game-ending first-half injuries suffered by Craig Bryson and Will Hughes also took the shine off Clement's welcome to life in English football's second tier, described by rival boss Neil Lennon as "a graveyard for managers".
But Real Madrid's former assistant manager might have left the Macron Stadium feeling even more disappointed.
Debutant Gary Madine - twice - and former England striker Emile Heskey struck the woodwork in the closing 15 minutes for a Bolton side who finished with 10 men after Jay Spearing's second yellow card in the 86th minute.
Clement, whose late father Dave played one season for the Trotters in their Burnden Park days, said: "In the end it was a fair result. We didn't deserve to win but we probably didn't deserve to lose.
"Maybe they will be more disappointed because they hit the woodwork three times in the second half.
"But overall our players showed a lot of character when there was an aerial onslaught.
"We were resilient during that period and rode our luck. We didn't play as well as I would have liked but I was pleased with our character."
Clement revealed Bryson and Hughes suffered knee injuries but declined to go into the potential seriousness of both.
"We will get a full medical examination when we get back to Derby but you don't expect that in the first half," he said.
"Overall I enjoyed it. I would have liked us to play better but we have got to be patient. I have only been here for six weeks and it takes time to get across ideas and new ways of playing."
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Lennon, in his first full season as Bolton boss, jokingly said: "I am going to have a word with the groundsman about the size of the crossbar. It looked a foot long in the second half.
"We were very good against an excellent side who are one of the favourites for the title.
"A lot of people thought we were cannon fodder but some of the players put in exceptional performances. And we were unlucky not to have won the game."
On Spearing's dismissal by referee Andrew Madley, after being pulled up for what the official saw as diving, Lennon said: "I can understand the referee making his decision from the angle he was at.
"But it was harsh. Jay didn't need to go down. He was in on his left foot and might have got in a cross or a shot.
"He actually fell over his own feet, probably with fatigue more than anything else. So, hopefully the referee will have another look.
"It is a start, that's all it is, but a very good start. Every point is vital in this division and it's probably one gained."
