Derby County boss Steve McClaren upbeat following Middlesbrough reverse

Derby County manager Steve McClaren has insisted that his players will bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Championship promotion rivals Middlesbrough.

The Rams boss said that he was not disheartened by the loss, putting it down to the number of injuries he has had to contend with of late.

"I didn't think we deserved to lose but I'm not down about this game. We'll have our injured players back after the international break that is coming up and I have no doubt that we will come back strong," Sky Sports News quotes McClaren as saying.

"Nothing is settled by any means. There are eight games to go and believe me, there will be many a twist and turn to come in this division.

"At the moment we are having the throw the youngsters in and have Johnny Russell playing on his own up front with a broken nose but things will be different when we have the big lads back to give us what we are lacking in the final third."

Boro took maximum points courtesy of a strike from Patrick Bamford, moving into second place in the table in the process.