Source: Team_Talk
Clough: Derby not safe yet
The Rams moved to 46 points after a 1-1 draw at Southampton, and with 10 games of their season remaining they already have a seven-point advantage over third-bottom Norwich.
Steve Davies came off the bench to snatch a late Derby equaliser and leave second-bottom Southampton deep in trouble.
Southampton had taken the lead in the 58th minute when veteran defender Chris Perry smashed home a shot in off the crossbar.
Clough was happy with the point, but he admitted: "We only started playing after we had gone a goal behind and that is disappointing.
"When Southampton scored, it seemed to spur us into action and in the end we might even have got all three points if Davies shot had gone in.
"That is one defeat in the last eight games which is a lovely run and good for our confidence.
"We are not out of trouble yet by any means and the situation at the bottom of the table is so tight it will take more than 50 points to be sure of safety.
"With seven minutes to go and one goal down before Davies scored, I would have taken a point.
"Until then we did not play with any urgency or commitment which is disappointing."
Clough sent on Davies in the 78th minute in place of the ineffective Rob Hulse and replacement took advantage of chaos in the Southampton penalty area to lash home from 10 yards five minutes later.
Davies might have scored a winner with two minutes remaining when he cut in from the right and unleashed a 25-yard left-footed shot which struck the post before rebounding to safety.
Andrew Surman should have made the game safe before the equaliser arrived when he had only goalkeeper Stephen Bywater to beat, but his effort was scuffed harmlessly across the face of the goal.
Southampton boss Mark Wotte admitted Surman's bad miss was a turning point.
Wotte said: "That was a great opportunity but I do not want to blame Andrew too much because he has been fantastic for us this season. But today was not his best game for us and I think he is suffering from fatigue like a lot of our players.
"We were the only team playing to win until we scored and then Derby began to come forward and change their system to play with two attackers.
"Derby's was a sloppy goal. I cannot blame my defenders either because they were outstanding for most of the match and deserved better."
