DERBY: ADEYEMI SAVOURS WINNING FEELING

DERBY: ADEYEMI SAVOURS WINNING FEELING

Goalscorer reflects on Saturday's iPro Stadium victory...

Goalscorer Tom Adeyemi says the 2-1 win at Derby County "feels like justice" after coming so close to a first victory of the season in recent weeks.

Adeyemi’s towering first-half header – his first competitive goal for the club - had given United a deserved lead going into the break, only for Chris Martin to equalise with a low strike just three minutes after the restart.

But Chris Wood struck two minutes from time, his rasping effort flying in off the post, to ensure the three points would be heading back to West Yorkshire after a run of four consecutive draws for Uwe Rosler’s side.

“It’s an amazing feeling," Adeyemi said. “It’s something that has been coming for a little while after going on a run of games with only draws.

“It was really nice to get the first win of the season. We feel – in some of the games at least – that we’d done enough to get a win but that hadn’t been the case.

“To put that run of draws together and then to get the win, it feels like justice.”

On his header, the midfielder added: “It was really pleasing to get my first goal.

“It’s something that I feel like I do have in my game – that I can get into the box and chip in with the odd goal here and there.

“It was really nice for me to do it and nice to get the win.

“I felt like we were on top in the first half. All the talk in the changing room at half-time was about not letting them get back into the game.

“For them to get that goal so quickly after half-time was disappointing but I think we showed good character to turn it around in the end.

“It was really important because after their goal the crowd got up and it was a really dangerous period for us.

“We weathered the storm and stayed in the game. As the game went on, it did feel like either team could get it. Fortunately it was us.”

Adeyemi was also full of praise for fellow goalscorer and eventual match-winner, Chris Wood, who continued his rich vein of form in spectacular fashion.

“It was an unbelievable finish from Woody,” he said.

“He’s a lot more than just a goalscorer as well – his all-round game and his hold-up play gives us that option that if we are under pressure at the back, we can get it forward to him and he’ll look after it or flick it on.

“For him to get his third goal in three games, it’s great we’ve got a player who’s in that sort of form.”

Adeyemi lined up alongside Lewis Cook in midfield, with the youngster having completed his three-match suspension to put in an impressive display at the iPro Stadium.

“He’s a great player for us and really important,” Adeyemi said. “As midfielders, we all add something different.

“Cookie has that little bit of creative spark. Having him back in the team was really good for us and I think he did really well.”

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