Robbie Savage admitted to feeling satisfied with his night's work after frustrating Adel Taarabt.
Rams midfielder earns Clough praise for containing QPR star
Derby midfielder Robbie Savage admitted to feeling satisfied with his night's work after frustrating Queens Park Rangers playmaker Adel Taarabt in Monday's goalless draw at Loftus Road.
Taarabt has been named Championship Player of the Year after inspiring QPR towards promotion, but he could not shake off the attentions of Savage and was substituted with 20 minutes to go.
Taarabt hurled a water bottle in frustration as he stomped off while Savage mimed taking him back out of his pocket to the delight of the travelling fans afterwards.
"He's a talent, but sometimes when it is not going his way he can have a little strop like he did tonight," Savage told
Sky Sports.
"But he deserves to be the player of the year because he has got great skill and great ability and he's very good on his day.
"I would have preferred him to stay on because he was not doing anything."
Savage later added on
Twitter: "It was hard playing with 12 stone in my pocket!!"
Psychological
Rams boss Nigel Clough insisted that it was out of respect to Taarabt that he asked Savage to man-mark the Moroccan.
"I think it's a psychological thing. Robbie's done it to him a few times in the past. It's down to experience," said Clough.
"The kid has got ability but he knows Robbie will stick to his task.
"He's probably the only player in the league you would do it for."
