Nigel Clough declared himself pleased with Derby's performance after a goalless draw at Barnsley.
Both camps pleased to edge closer to survival
Derby boss Nigel Clough declared himself pleased with his side's performance after a goalless draw at Barnsley edged the Rams a point closer to safety.
Both sides struggled to create clear-cut opportunities but the draw left Clough's side seven points above third-bottom Sheffield Wednesday with three games remaining.
"I am very pleased with the team's performance in the circumstances," said Clough.
"All that was missing was a goal. Both sides are happy with a point as it makes us both safe.
"I don't think our keeper had a shot to save. We could have had three in five minutes.
"If we stay unbeaten for the rest of the season it's something we can take into the summer."
The result was a fourth draw in succession for Barnsley while for Derby it was their sixth goalless stalemate on the road.
The visitors had the best chance to open the scoring in the 56th minute as the ball fell to Tomasz Cywka after a mix-up between keeper Luke Steele and Bobby Hassell on the edge of the box.
The on-loan Pole tried to place it into the empty net from 20 yards but Potter raced back and heroically cleared off the line.
A minute later Steele dropped a cross but somehow Barnsley managed to clear the danger.
"It was a magnificent clearance off the line," Clough said. "I thought Cywka played very well for his first start. His all-round performance was very good.
"I am also very pleased for (Barnsley boss) Mark Robins because when he came they were struggling but I am delighted for him."
Barnsley reaction
The draw kept Barnsley a point better off than Derby - eight points above the Owls - but assistant manager John Breckin is not taking survival for granted just yet.
He said: "I thought it was a typical end-of-season game. We've kept a clean sheet but they made it very difficult for us and we had one or two lads who weren't 100%.
"We could have been playing till tomorrow and we wouldn't have scored. It's taken us a long time to claw out of the situation we were in but the job's not done yet.
"We've got three games left and we are on an unbeaten run, all be it we've drawn four matches in a row.
"We want to go unbeaten till the end of the season. We are nearly over the line and we will be in this league next year."
