Highlights and reaction as City beat Derby

Last updated : 02 March 2022 By Michael Morris

Steve Morison was honest in his post match comments "It's been a good day. I am really pleased to top it off with three points, not that we deserved three points.

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"I thought we were poor tonight - we could have been better. Tired minds, tired bodies make for not the best decisions, but we have come quite a way as a group. We are quite resilient. We won the game but we want to be better.

"Apart from the header when Al [Smithies] makes a great save, they didn't trouble the goal too much.

"It's tough for Derby - I thought they were really good and it's a kick in the teeth for them."

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney claims he's unhappy with the quality of the officiating in the Sky Bet Championship and fumes that it's reached an 'unacceptable' level after the 1-0 defeat to Cardiff. 

He said: "I have been [unhappy with the officials] for the majority of the season. It is very frustrating because we've got a group of very good, young, honest players who have given everything and we're getting spoken down to and not getting decisions. I asked the fourth official after the last game why they don't give us any decisions. Is it something that is getting spoken about because of the situation we are in? I don't know.

"I think it is a clear foul. We have to defend better afterwards, obviously I know that. But it's unacceptable. I've got my captain Tom Lawrence on a three-game ban, so do they get banned? Do we bring VAR in? It's clear that doesn't work - we've seen the handball in the Everton game. I don't know where we go.

"I questioned this after the last game. So it is because I've questioned the officials, the powers that be? No one likes being questioned; is that why they are not giving them to us? Is that why the fourth official wouldn't speak to me with any respect or he wouldn't speak to me with any dignity?

"We were in must-win territory today, so you can clearly see my frustration, my disappointment, my anger. That's clear for everyone to see. As I've said, I'm a fighter. I'll keep going, the players will keep going and we'll keep doing what we are doing, trying to pick up points."