Boss Joe Royle was reasonably happy with a 3-3 draw and thought the Blues showed signs of getting back to form at Derby. The Town manager had praise for Matt Richards and skipper Jim Magilton, both of whom scored their opening goals of the season.

Royle said: "I'm happy in the end. It was a great game, there were signs of us creaking back to our dangerous best. We defended too deeply in the first half but you can't fault the support.

"We started off fine and then scored and stopped playing for a while. This year when we've had to chase games, we've not looked overly impressive but we were tonight.

"There were three great goals from our point of view, although the purists will say both sides tried to give goals away.

"But overall you've got to be delighted with a point when you're behind twice. We've scored three goals away from home so we've done something right.

"I just wish we could have got the winner, but 3-3 was probably the right result overall."

Royle felt his captain was the best player on the field: "I thought there was no one better on the pitch than Jim Magilton tonight. I would like a 26-year-old Jim Magilton.

"Even in the 90th minute, defending on his own line, he still wouldn't give the ball away."

Matt Richards was also singled out for praise: "Matt scored a terrific goal and was terrific all night for us.

"We asked him to man-mark Idiakez and he did that job superbly. The other young players were terrific as well; Dean McDonald in only his second league start for us, Dean Bowditch was dangerous and I was also pleased with Jimmy Juan."

One man who impressed the Town manager less was referee Colin Webster: "I would like someone to explain to me what Sam Parkin got booked for because the lad was kicked from pillar to post all game.

"The referee is a nice guy and hopefully he will look at the video of the booking and see he has made a big mistake.

Derby manager Phil Brown was understandably pleased with two-goal loanee Dexter Blackstock: "Whether we can keep hold of Dexter is for the board and myself to come to an agreement. He's a talent. He's 19 years old and led the line, but had a lot of support from Marcus Tudgay."

Brown wasn't so chuffed with his side's defending: "The reason we conceded two goals from set-pieces was poor defending before the set-pieces. We've been telling people to stay on their feet."

Town's third goal particularly irked the former Bolton assistant boss: "A throw-in, two or three passes and a cross, and the ball's in the back of the net."

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