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Capital One Cup: Steve McClaren delighted with Derby patience

Derby County manager Steve McClaren during the Sky Bet Championship, Play-off Semi Final
Image: Steve McClaren: Happy with Derby fight

Derby head coach Steve McClaren was pleased to see the Rams rewarded for their patience after they overcame Reading in the Capital One Cup.

McClaren's men were 2-0 winners at the iPro Stadium, with Johnny Russell breaking the deadlock in the 67th minute and an own goal from Alex Pearce after 82 minutes ending any doubt about the outcome.

Derby dominated and, despite making six changes to the team that drew with Cardiff on Saturday, looked fluid and attacked with a good tempo, on-loan Liverpool winger Jordan Ibe catching the eye on his first start for the club.

For a long spell, however, the Rams did not work Mikkel Andersen in the visiting goal enough, and it looked like it might be a frustrating night for the hosts as chance after chance went begging.

Reading occasionally offered a reminder that they were still a threat on the break and young Kelle Roos, making his debut in the Derby goal, made a superb save to deny Jamie Mackie, on loan from Nottingham Forest, as half-time approached.

Ibe was denied the goal his performance deserved when Andersen tipped his shot onto the crossbar but shortly afterwards Russell made the breakthrough, before Pearce's own goal saw Derby secure a passage through to the fourth round of the competition for the first time since their semi-final appearance in 2008/09.

"We have spoke about discipline and concentration and the team had that tonight," said McClaren.

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"We got the clean sheet and if we keep doing that we will win games. We have got players who are dangerous, can create and can score goals. We had to stay patient, but in the end it paid off.

"We haven't quite reached the heights of last season yet, when some of our football was absolutely fantastic to watch. But the style of play is coming back consistently and we have been a little disappointed with conceding goals.

"Reading are a good team and we knew it was going to be tough. But even though we made six changes, we felt the team was good enough to win - and it did."

Royals boss Nigel Adkins felt the first goal was vital in the tie.

While Derby created the most chances, Reading arguably had the better ones prior to Russell breaking the deadlock.

Adkins said: "We had a great opportunity with Jamie Mackie in the first half, he's through one on one with the keeper and he's made a great save. Then he's made another stop from Ryan Edwards.

"The first goal was always going to be key, Derby got it with one ball, and then a second goal from some good wing play in fairness,

"In the second half I thought we were in control of the game, so totally against the run of play, for me, they've scored.

"Against a team who play excellent possession football I thought it was us who were in control of the game at that time.

"Unfortunately the goal changes the complexion. It's a great bit of wing play leading into the second goal which is unfortunately a deflection - the second one in two games now against us."

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