Derby County Secures First Away Victory, Nelson Calls It “Massive”

Defender Curtis Nelson, who was part of the Derby County squad that achieved promotion from League One last season, described the team’s initial away victory of the current Championship campaign as a “massive” turning point for the club. On Wednesday, The Rams secured a 2-1 win against Coventry City, a result that concluded their seven-match winless streak in away games since their return to the second-tier league. Speaking to BBC Radio Derby, Nelson stated, “We are just really happy to get the three points on the road because it has been a long time coming.” He further elaborated, “It’s massive. I couldn’t tell you what clicked – we had our backs up against the wall at the end of the half but we just defended well. And that’s how away days are sometimes.” Jerry Yates played a significant role in the victory, capitalizing on weak defending from Coventry to score the opening goal and subsequently forcing an own goal that ultimately determined the match’s outcome. This win places Derby three points ahead of Coventry, elevating them to 13th position in the league standings after 14 games. Rams manager Paul Warne expressed satisfaction at securing all three points away from home for the first time this season, especially given that the team had previously accumulated only two points from a possible 21 in away fixtures from Pride Park before Tuesday. Warne commented, “I think all our performances have had merits, we have competed against the best teams and have picked points off some, not as many as I would have liked, but I’m realistic.” He added, “I have to give massive credit to the lads. Sometimes hard work and grit gets you a bit of luck.”