Paul Warne: Defeat harsh on his Derby players as Luton score twice in stoppage time comeback

Paul Warne says the defeat was harsh on his Derby players as Luton score twice in a surprise stoppage time comeback on Friday night.

It was a much needed win for the Hatters, snatching all three points after they had looked to be heading for defeat, which would have been Derby’s second away win of the season after Kayden Jackson headed home Kane Wilson’s cross – his first goal since August.

However, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu’s volley deflected in off Tom Holmes, then Carlton Morris netted three minutes shortly after to give the home side all three points.

Victory lifts Luton up five places to 14th in the Championship, as high as they have been all season, while for Derby, they are 15th.

Paul Warne said post-match as per the club website, on falling to a late defeat against Luton…

I thought we played really well. I didn’t really like the first half. It was an ugly game. The pitch wasn’t really that conducive to a smoother game. We did probably need to be a bit braver at times, though, and we said that at half-time.

We needed to counter at pace and pick the right pass out. I thought we were really good in the second half. I was really pleased. We also defended well until the 90th minute.

Both goals were potentially deflected and it’s a hard way to lose – so I just feel a bit raw with emotion for the lads. We try and drive their performance levels but I think they gave everything they could.

It’s a game that we set out to win. We played an aggressive team. Unfortunately, the last four minutes are what it will be remembered for, which is harsh on my boys.

On the positive aspects of the performance…

I thought we defended really well – and without Eiran Cashin available. We frustrated them too, giving them very few chances. I know Jacob Zetterström made a great save in the second half but I don’t remember a lot more he was made to do.

We looked dangerous on the counter-attack and created good opportunities. I thought there were some really good performances. The midfield three were really good. Ben Osborn dictated play really well. The longer the game went on, the more involved and the better Kenzo Goudmijn was. I thought both wing-backs worked hard and went man-to-man to defend well. Jerry Yates and Kayden Jackson worked tirelessly up top, too.

They brought on the big guns late on and in fairness, when you’re 1-0 down at home, you might as well bring three strikers on. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t. Unfortunately for us, it worked for Luton tonight.

On getting back to work and changing focus to West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day…

We will watch tonight’s game back and, hopefully, we’ll be able to show the players things that can help improve us. Sometimes it’s just the randomness that is difficult to review with late goals.

I want them to hurt for an hour, but once they get on the team coach, I want that to be over because from a performance perspective away from home, against a team who have strong form at home. It’s not an easy place to come and I thought we kept it quiet for 99% of the time. Hopefully, the lads see me saying how proud I was of them – because I am.

“It’s a bit surreal that I’m standing here saying we lost 2-1!” 😓

Derby County boss Paul Warne reacts to his side’s dramatic late defeat to Luton Town 🗣 pic.twitter.com/4I2oO7yO4v

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 20, 2024

Luton Town manager Rob Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio:

“I don’t think it was a great match, but it was a good ending for us. It was never going to be that pretty, the pitch is difficult now because of all the weather we’ve had – and it seems like we’ve had loads of games here as well.

“The crowd stuck with us even though we weren’t playing great and somehow we found a way (to win). It was hard to get momentum and at one-nil it can create one or two doubts in players but the one thing we know we have got is a threat when we get free-kicks, corners and set-pieces.

“It wasn’t direct from them, but second and third phases, we just found a way. I’m relieved more than anything. Pelly caught it really well, he should be credited with it really.

“We’re not at our strongest (at the moment) but no-one’s giving up, no-one’s going home, and we’re fighting and that’s what we’ll keep doing.”

“I need to tell my face that at the moment” 😅

Rob Edwards reflects on a tough-fought comeback win for Luton 🔁 pic.twitter.com/Nj5mRdRgmi

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) December 20, 2024

Here’s how fans reacted as Paul Warne says defeat was harsh on his Derby players as Luton score twice in their stoppage time comeback…

@dcfcg02: That is just agonizing cruel, We looked by far the much better side in the second half 😞

@georgemach10: Good performance boys, two extremely unlucky goals.

@cspaceram: Not sure I’ve been this shell shocked after a #dcfc game since QPR. Excellent performance by Derby. Better all over the pitch. Support immense. No idea what just happened. Absolutely gutted. #dcfcfans

@stefdcfc89: Most comfortable 88 minutes of football all season and somehow lose. WTF!!!! #dcfc

@RainfordShay: disgraceful substitution cameos embarrassing

@CatherinePayn14: Didn’t deserve to lose. Heartbreaking for the lads who gave their all. What a horrendous journey home now for our magnificent away support. Gutted. Devastated. #DCFC #dcfcfans 🐏 🐑 🖤 🤍

@victos1884: Once again, PW makes substitutions for the sake of making substitutions. No need to put Collins on, he is useless, offers nothing. 3 games lost 2-1 which they couldn’t kill off. Every side playing Derby knows they will get chances in the last 10 mins. Weak underbelly.

@DiscoDave1980: I wish we would stop defending a one goal lead. Showed v Pompey how important it is with this side to get a second goal.

@jammsterz: One of our best performances undone by 2 poxy deflections, forget and move onto the next one

@wragg_nick: How have we lost that. Literally a goal of somebody’s backside changed the game.

@peterlee7395: Unbelievable. Controlled the second half and undone by two deflections.

@Frodo_Yani: Some of the comments are just incredible. We deserved the win. No doubt. Two massive deflections have done us. On another day. Neither go in and we walk with 3 points and “that’s a great performance” is what those comments would say. Unlucky. Support the lads. Onto the next one.

@Gav1981: That result stings a bit tbh… don’t think we deserved that!!!

@DiscoDave1980: That wasn’t deserved at all. So poxy both goals. But one gripe play 433 instead of a back 5. Cost us not getting the second again 😒

@SantanCraig: On reflection, I think we played well and was damn unlucky to not come away with at least a point. Perhaps I’m harsh on Warne sometimes, I do think our main issue is largely down to our financial situation. If we have a steady season and hopefully get investment next year #dcfc

@aaronclarke1990: One thing I can’t understand this season is bringing Collins on instead of Brown. You could argue that neither have offered much off the bench I guess but surely you give the player who will be here next season the minutes instead of the old guy who can’t even run anymore #dcfc

@Garry44665335:
1. The game isn’t “1 to 11” anymore. It’s a squad game now, and our squad is lacking.
2. Set up to win? 1 shot in the first 45mins isn’t going to win you games. The game is 90 mins, so we need 90 min performances, and not just ones like the 2nd half.

@cymru_pfc: I don’t understand all the derby fans wanting this guy out. He’s doing a very good job with what he’s got.

@MegaDarkFlames: Luton fan coming in peace. We didn’t deserve that win so i wish you all the best for your season

@LewisWatto10: Subs cost us yet again, why change it when we was cruising most of the second half?

@rjohnsondcfc: Didn’t deserve to lose that, but to lose it to two late deflected goals is sickening.

@wynnielad: Slept on it, absolutely did not deserve that last night. First half was poor but competitive, second half much better. Only gripe is the questionable substitutions again but on the whole deserved at least a point if not 3. Aim is to stay up and I think we will.🐏#dcfc #dcfcfans

@paulelford5: Those two deflections were very cruel. First half not great and again the final ball let us down. But second half we were much the better side and it was good to see the forwards linking up. Phillips and Wilson stood out for me. Robbed of 3 deserved points! #dcfcfans #DCFC

@Guardthebee: Pick yourself up and dust yourself down when you get dealt shite like that. And that’s exactly what Warne and the team will do. Suck it up and move on #dcfc #dcfcfans

@AndyMargett:
Did we play well enough to get something 2nd half? YES
Were we unlucky with goals conceded? YES
Was the game management poor last 10 minutes? YES
You don’t have to be all in on one camp as always 🐏
#dcfc #dcfcfans

@viksinghdosanjh: No idea how we lost that tonight, didn’t deserve to lose played some decent stuff, got our goal and thought especially second half we were the better side, guess that’s football sometimes, on another night we take 3 points. Encouraging performance from us,Onto the next one! #DCFC