Derby manager Frank Lampard hailed his team’s fightback as a reward for their “character and desire” after they drew 1-1 with Norwich at Pride Park.
Timm Klose’s header put Norwich on course for a fifth consecutive Sky Bet Championship win only for Craig Bryson to equalise late on.
Lampard felt the draw was deserved, saying: “It was a fair result, probably, although the feeling at the end was we could have won because we finished so well and strong.
“I’m very happy with the character and desire to get back in the game against a very good team who are on a good run for a reason.
“They would probably say it was a fair result but our momentum at the end meant there was only one team trying to win it at that point.
“That’s not a bad point, there have been results where you can be disappointed but I can’t be disappointed when the team shows that desire.
“It’s not easy to react to a goal at that time in the game, it takes personality to recover and quality and we pushed after that so I’m pleased.”
Norwich had been the better side for much of the night but a lack of quality up front when it mattered prevented them turning possession into goals.
Todd Cantwell should have put them ahead in the 40th minute when his strong run took him through Derby’s defence but his low shot was saved by Scott Carson.
Derby’s best moments came through Mason Mount but Norwich continued to control the game in the second half without scoring.
Emi Buendia’s precise pass sent Teemu Pukki in only for the striker to delay shooting before he was closed down but Norwich finally struck in the 69th minute when Klose headed in Buentia’s corner.
Derby finally came to life in the closing minutes and after Mount had been brilliantly denied by Tim Krul, Bryson equalised when he turned in Martyn Waghorn’s cross with his knee.
Norwich manager Daniel Farke echoed Lampard when he said: “It was a really good game of high quality with both teams of similar style trying to dominate the ball and play with many combinations.
“Some periods Derby were on the front foot, sometimes we were on the front foot and in the end it’s always disappointing when you concede such a late equaliser but it’s a fair result.
“This is a really decent draw for me, Derby are one of the favourites for promotion so to get an away draw with them is always a good result, especially with such a young squad and at the moment we have unbelievable consistency in our performances.”
