Saturday 14 May 2016 17:31, UK
Derby head coach Darren Wassall has urged his side to show character as they look to over-turn a 3-0 play-off semi-final deficit at Hull on Tuesday evening.
The Rams didn't show much attacking intent in the Sky Bet Championship first leg tie in front of their home fans and didn't muster a shot on target until the 80th minute.
The only player to score for the hosts was Jason Shackell, who deflected the ball into his own net for the Tigers second with Abel Hernandez and Andrew Roberston adding their names to the scoresheet.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, he said: "We have left ourselves with a mountain to climb. It was a result that we didn't want and we certainly didn't expect.
"We have got to show some character and make sure that Tuesday night, we play for some pride, some character and to show what we are made of.
"We're all bitterly disappointed in that dressing room, to lose 3-0 in the first leg at home is certainly your worst nightmare. We've got to dust ourselves down and go again on Tuesday.
"I have just said to the players in there, us as staff and them as players we've all got to look ourselves in the mirror and make sure that we show some character and show that we are men on Tuesday night, as we have got 72 hours to put it right."
While some of the the goals were fortunate for Hull, Wassall did concede that their opponents were the better side and Derby should have done better to keep them at bay.
"We always knew the first goal was going to be crucial in this game and unfortunately we didn't get it and the rest of the game Hull were the better side.
"The first goal was certainly a mistake by us. If you're talking about the game, we started very well and there was very little in the game. I thought we were getting some momentum and then we make an unforced error, we concede the goal straight from that.
"It shouldn't have done but it kind of knocked the stuffing out of us a little bit. Hull grew in confidence, and then a fortunate deflected goal, for the second goal and then we came in at half-time knowing we couldn't really concede another goal.
"We thought we'd see the game out and get 2-0 and we knew that was a mountain to climb to go to Hull 2-0 down. It's unacceptable from our corner with 30 seconds to go that we concede a third goal."
