Pearson Purring With City Start

The Foxes came out all guns blazing against their East Midlands rivals – scything their way through the Rams defence and creating a series of early chances to go with the ones they took through Zak Whitbread and Martyn Waghorn.

Derby improved during the game’s middle third, striking back through Theo Robinson before half-time and probing for an equaliser in the second period.

But City’s leading scorer David Nugent produced a sparkling cameo off the bench, scoring twice in the final 16 minutes to ensure City climbed to third in the npower Championship table.

“We made an outstanding start to the game and for us to get two goals from that period was richly deserved. It was the best football we have played this season.” Pearson reflected after the game.

“From that period until the end of the first half was a good illustration of how tough this league is. I don’t think we played particularly badly after that, Derby just controlled possession a little bit better and scored during that period, which left a slightly lop-sided feel to the half.

“I was a bit disappointed to only be one ahead at half-time, but I thought we kept our composure well in the second half and, even though they asked a few more questions of us, we defended well as a team.

“We were disciplined, but dangerous on the counter attack and when we had more sustained periods of pressure we always looked likely to create chances.”

Whitbread’s sixth-minute opener, his first for the Club, was City’s first from a corner since the opening day of the season.

But Pearson felt it was a strike that had been coming, as a result of improvements made in recent weeks.

“It’s all about delivery and I think the delivery has improved over the last few games from set-plays and today it got us going,” he said.

“We’ve shared the goals around again today, which is always important.

“The first goal in this division is always very important and we got off the mark pretty quickly.”

Nugent’s involvement, and subsequent double, will have come as a sizeable boost for City.

The England international striker has missed the last two games with a neck injury, but returned to take his tally for the season to 11 with a fine header and an instinctive finish.

“We didn’t expect him to be right,” Pearson admitted post-match.

“He decided he wanted to try it on Friday, so he trained and we had to see if there was any reaction. He felt ok to play some part and, off the bench, he’s made an important contribution.

“He’ll get the headlines, I’m sure, but there were a lot of important contributions today.”