Not pretty - but the result was

NEVER mind the quality – feel the points. Blues boss Joe Royle accepted the display against Derby was not vintage Town, but given the disruption due to a suspension to Georges Santos and a host of defensive injuries he is happy to see them sit third in the table this morning.

NEVER mind the quality – feel the points. Blues boss Joe Royle accepted the display against Derby was not vintage Town, but given the disruption due to a suspension to Georges Santos and a host of defensive injuries he is happy to see them sit third in the table this morning, writes Derek Davis.

Royle said: "I will accept the points and with the other results going our way it was a great day for us. We also got two goals again, even though the second was slightly fortuitous. Millwall won't be easy next week but we are in a great position."

He added: "The fans were slightly muted, although the reception they gave George [Burley] was fantastic, and then we didn't get them going the way we should. The start was almost too good. You find when a goal is scored in the first minutes there is seldom a deluge. I was happy enough to take it. I would have happy with a 1-0. We were so pulled-about at the end with two midfielders in the back four and a centre half making his first appearance in nearly a year.

"We did not have too many problems but we were not at our best. It was probably a good time to play Derby but they have had a good run but George will probably be disappointed they did not do more going forward."

Royle said: "It was just as well John McGreal came through the way he did and I thought he was excellent.

"Well done to Chris Bart-Williams playing in an unaccustomed role.

"Matt Richards had a super game as did Jermaine Wright while Jim Magilton was smashing as usual."