Paul Warne felt Derby County's defeat at Bristol City was a "game too far" for his players as Luke McNally's goal proved the difference at Ashton Gate.

Derby actually created the better chances in the first half, but paid the price when Kane Wilson was outmuscled from a free-kick as McNally steered the hosts into the lead.

The second half proved a non-event however with both sides struggling to create any chances of note as the Robins secured all three points. Derby, who were without Ebou Adams due to concussion, are now four points above the Championship drop zone and speaking after the game, Warne said: "I didn't think we were anywhere near our best today.

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"I thought it was a game we could win, but it just felt like a game too far for our lads, and this is the honest truth. We obviously had Ebou who had to come out of the squad. Liam Thompson's not match-fit.

"Ben Osborn is not match fit. We then have Joe Ward drop out in the warm-up.Tom Barkhuizen's ill. In fact, half the group are ill. I can honestly say I don't think we played with a lot of energy.

"There were moments where we got into the final third in the first half, but in the second half is like we just tired out of the game.

"That's my honest opinion. I just feel like we just need to regroup, freshen up, and freshen the squad up a little bit, and it just looked like a game too far. We lost too many tackles, we made some crazy decisions and I don't think we did enough to win and to concede off a set-piece was really disappointing."

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