Derby 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday: Darren Wassall and Carlos Carvalhal reaction
Saturday 23 April 2016 18:22, UK
Derby head coach Darren Wassall saluted his team's character and the return of midfielder Will Hughes after the 1-1 draw with fellow promotion hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday at the iPro Stadium.
Hughes made his first start since suffering a serious knee injury on the opening day of the season, in an entertaining game that saw Wednesday lead through Barry Bannan before Darren Bent equalised with only his second league goal of the season.
Both sides played excellent attacking football in a Sky Bet Championship clash that surprisingly saw nine players booked.
Wassall said: "It was a really good advert for the top half of the Championship. Both teams were at it, with both teams in their own way having a lot to play for.
"We wanted to remain unbeaten until the end of the season and continue our excellent form and I thought we played very well. We went behind against the run of play but what pleased me most was the resilience and character we showed to come back into the game.
"Credit to all the players and we said before the game that if you can't win don't lose, and that's what happened today and we remain unbeaten in five.
"We are delighted to have Will back and I thought he handled the occasion very well and played that holding role like he'd been playing it for 10 years.
"His out-of-possession stuff was good as well, he put some great tackles in and ran around and did himself proud, he's a good player to get back.
"I think Will is capable of playing in any of those three midfield positions and it's great that we showed the depth of our squad. At the end of this season it's great that our players, whether they are starting 11 or squad players, are firing on all cylinders."
Both goalkeepers showed of their skills as Scott Carson made an acrobatic save to deny Fernando Forestieri at the start of the second half before Keiren Westwood brilliantly denied Craig Bryson and then saved a Johnny Russell shot with his legs in the space of two minutes.
Carson could do nothing in the 68th minute when a clever backheel by Gary Hooper teed up Bannan who curled a 20-yard shot in off the underside of the bar.
Forestieri clipped the top of the bar with a free-kick but Derby deservedly levelled in the 82nd minute when Bent headed in Russell's cross with his first touch.
Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal said: "If you look at the point as part of a marathon then I would say I'm happy with it. I am happy but also a little disappointed because we know if we win we achieve something important.
"During the 90 minutes it was a good balanced game with two good teams. We did well and played good football and I'm happy with the performance."
Carvalhal praised the quality of Bannan's strike but also knew how important Westwood had been in earning a point.
"It was an amazing goal from Barry but it is not the first time he's scored a goal like that," Carvalhal said. "Usually Keiren doesn't have much to do, but like all good goalkeepers he was ready when he was needed and he did really well."
