Derby moved up to third in the Championship after a 3-0 home win over Millwall. Boss Nigel Clough was full of appreciation for the industry of his players and their clinical finishing.
"It was the hard work of the players again. The effort that has gone in has been superb and I think the hard work has given us a platform," he said.
"I think the first goal, when Craig Bryson scored after making a 60-yard run, sums up what the team has been about in the first few weeks of the season.
"We didn't score against Millwall last season so to get two before half-time was very good.
"The two midfielders got goals with well-timed runs into the box and I think the four across the middle gave us the platform to win the game.
"We don't look like losing at the moment and we felt a little bit hard done by with the two defeats we have had."
Millwall chief Kenny Jackett is looking for an improvement as the Lions have now won only once this season.
"For 30 or 35 minutes we were the better side and had the better chances but when you're on top you have to put chances away and that's a problem for us.
"We also gave soft goals away. Between the boxes we're fine but in the boxes we have to be ruthless.
"We have to get back to being hard to beat and we are quite anxious because of a lack of goals which is filtering through.
"Some of our body language after the second goal wasn't great and those players know they have to address that because you have to believe you can get back into it."
