No positives for Cocu as Rooney’s first Derby goal goes to waste
Philip Cocu was bitterly disappointed as Derby lost 3-2 to struggling Luton and wasted the opportunity for a first away league win since the opening day of the season.Wayne Rooneys first goal for the club saw the Rams ahead just after the hour mark before the hosts hit back, Jayden Bogles late own goal settling a pulsating match in Towns favour.Cocu said: Its very disappointing, we created chances, we didnt score over a long period, then the first goal came.We should have more goals, then after the first goal we totally lost initiative, lost our organisation, didnt defend set-pieces and in seven minutes they take hold of the game.Its something that cannot happen to us, especially at this stage of the competition.We got back again, scored a great goal and we know the rules of football, late equaliser, you can score another one, its great, we have the win, but were not going to lose the game.Then its poor defending for the last goal so its ourselves to blame in this defeat, as its unnecessary.Rooneys first goal was warmly celebrated by his team-mates but Cocu said: I cannot focus on any positives, 3-2 in the last minute is a big setback.Its good for him to score, and he had a good game, but its about winning. Today we have had an excellent opportunity to win an away game and we didnt do it.After a first half in which Harry Cornick went closest for the hosts, the second period burst into life once Rooneys deflected effort beat Simon Sluga.The hosts levelled on 67 minutes after Pelly Ruddock fired home from the edge of the box and then led six minutes later, Donervon Daniels heading in a first goal for the club from James Brees corner.Chris Martin came off the Derby bench to power home a header with five minutes to go, only for Bogle to get the final touch on Cornicks cross as Luton won it. The Rams finished with 10 men when Max Lowe saw red for pushing referee Andy Davies late on.Hatters boss Graeme Jones said: Its our first win in nine (league games) and it was incredibly satisfying, because we managed to stay together when everybodys tried to divide us and they havent.Were against all the odds and to dig out a win after responding to going a goal down is really satisfying.The desire, the need, the character of the group, I think we had more efforts on target than them. They had more possession, obviously theyve got some really, really good players but our lads didnt listen to any of that.I thought we were exceptional as we still managed to have composure, confidence and belief to play.(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
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