Paul Warne makes frank Derby County admission after Hull City fightback
Derby County boss Paul Warne felt his players ran out of steam against Hull City as the Rams fought back from a goal down to earn a battling point.
City took a second half lead when Xavier Simons drilled in a terrific strike before celebrating at the other end of the Pride Park pitch in front of 2,600 away supporters. But just as they did in midweek against Burnley, the Tigers conceded a soft goal to allow their opponents back into the game, with Dajaune Brown looping a header over Ivor Pandur from a Ben Osborn free-kick.
That left Tim Walter deeply frustrated, while Warne, who praised the Tigers in the build-up to the game, suggested a third game in a week - after two tiring away trips at Millwall and Oxford United - eventually took its toll.
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"My lads gave everything they could, they gassed out which is what I always ask," said the Rams' boss. "Physically it was a massive drain at the end of a long week for both teams. I would have preferred to play the home game in the first part rather than two away games first. We couldn't have given more physically. Hull ask a lot of you, and I said in the build-up that they are a really good team. They are a very talented team, and they want you to come after them.
"I thought our lads showed due diligence to stick to the plan and not press the goalkeeper unless you are a few yards away because they just pass it to whoever you release off.
"I thought our shape was really good, but I just didn't think we were very good on the ball, and we gave it away needlessly many times. That is what was disappointing. I couldn't knock the effort, but in the second half, I thought we were good and created some good chances. To concede a 25-yarder was a great strike, and through someone's legs is something I can't complain about.
"But we came back and had a right go. They left everything out there. On another day we could win it, but also might lose it. A draw is probably a fair result."