CHRIS LAKEY Nigel Worthington insists he is not concerned that chances were not converted into goals at Pride Park on Saturday.

CHRIS LAKEY

Nigel Worthington insists he is not concerned that chances were not converted into goals at Pride Park on Saturday.

For the second away game in succession, City drew a blank in front of goal, despite having the opportunities to win the game.

“Again, we had some good positions to get shots off and we didn't do it quick enough, but the pleasing thing is we are creating those chances,” he said. “The big thing is as long as we keep creating we'll score goals. We created some reasonable chances that didn't drop for us on the day, but it's a good point, a great clean sheet and there will be a lot of teams that will come to Pride Park this year and go away with nothing.

“We could have won the game. The Derby people are actually very pleased with the result, so I think that tells a story. We plugged away in the first half. What you've got to do, you've got to stick to the task. In the second half I thought we were excellent all the way. We were solid, we passed the ball well.

“I think it was a game of two halves, where they were pushing forward, certainly in the first half. The good thing is that we kept them to long-range shots which we dealt with OK. The second half I thought our fitness shone through again. We had chances to try and nick it so as far as we are concerned we are on the right road and that has got to be done week in, week out.”

It's a very different story from last season when City went to Pride Park and capitulated and were lucky to escape with just a 2-0 defeat. City are now much more difficult to beat.

“That wouldn't be hard after last season's performance and result,” admitted Worthington. “That's Norwich City and the performances we're putting in at the minute. The honesty is there, the desire is there. It's a good group working together, a stable group. They're doing what they're asked by both myself and the staff. We're all pulling in the same direction, again that's very, very important. And if we do that we'll continue to pick up good points.

“The resilience is there, because we've got to get that belief into them and performances like at Leeds, yes we lost the game, but the performance was good. With the performance today, we got a very, very good point, we might have got three. That's all good stuff as far as proving to the players if they set about their jobs properly then we can get very good results away from home to add to the good home results.”