'We're up and running' - Johnson

With Josh Brownhill taking the captain's armband for the first time and leading from the front, City kicked on from the draw at Birmingham City and the midweek penalty shoot-out Carabao Cup exit to QPR.

Here's what the City head coach had to say: 

UP AND RUNNING

“The big thing for me is that we are up and running and we can put layer on layer, getting better as we go. I know we have got moments of quality in us and we picked three or four of those moments in the first half, had a couple of decent chances and good runs of attacks and obviously the goal came at the right time.

“We have to do everything we can to win as many games as possible. There are a million things that we can improve on and we have only just tickled the surface of this team. I am really pleased to get the monkey off the back with that win and that everyone has gone home very entertained and delighted with the new players.”

IMPRESSIVE HOME DEBUTS

Nagy, Afobe, Pedro Pereira and Han-Noah Massengo all made Ashton Gate debuts and Johnson said: “I was really pleased with the new players and, with two home debutants scoring goals, it’s great for confidence and for that gravitas in the squad and the fans will go home very happy.

“We are going to take Han-Noah down the barbers and get a patch cut out for the forehead but, in all seriousness, it’s nice that midfielders with defensive attributes can also get in the box. Obviously Adam scored the goal and Han-Noah could have definitely had one and maybe another one where he made a good run. He’ll feel very pleased with himself being an Under-18 effectively playing in the Championship.”

FANS  

“I thought the fans were superb, even when we were in a bad spell giving the ball a little bit too much in the first half. They stuck with us and sung either historic songs or songs about the new individuals.”

NATHAN BAKER AND A CLEAN SHEET

“Bakes was absolutely outstanding today - that was Bakes back to his best. To get a clean sheet is big because we haven’t looked like, including the Palace game, keeping a clean sheet and I am delighted for Bents (Dan Bentley) and the back five to be able to do that.”

MATCH CAPTAIN JOSH BROWNHILL

“Josh led by example with his energy, his interceptions and his sensible play - a couple of times he just spun it down the sides and relieved a bit of pressure and that’s a great sign of Josh maturing.”

ÁDÁM NAGY INJURY

“He just jarred his ankle, hopefully not rocked it. I didn’t want to take him off but the physio department told me I had to and I had no fears in chucking Han-Noah on in that position.”

DERBY COUNTY NEXT

“We are looking forward to the next game and that’s the beauty of the Championship - that the challenges come thick and fast and it’s relentless.”

POST-MATCH INTERVIEW