Derby County defender Richard Keogh as happy with a clean sheet as with scoring his goal
KEEPING a clean sheet gave defender Richard Keogh just as much satisfaction as scoring in Derby County's 3-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.
Keogh netted his third goal of the season at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday, while also helping to keep the Terriers at bay.
The Rams skipper headed in just before the hour after first-half strikes from Craig Bryson and Jamie Ward had put the Rams in control.
It was Derby's sixth clean sheet this term – and their first at home in the Championship since early November.
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"The clean sheet gives me as much satisfaction as scoring a goal – if not more," said Keogh.
"It's been a long time coming but I think, sometimes, you've got to accept that.
"We're a young, attacking team but it's something I wouldn't change as I know we're going to win games.
"It's always nice to keep a clean sheet and, hopefully, we can keep a few more."
Keogh scored twice in his first five games after joining Derby from Coventry City last summer.
So when he got on the end of Ward's free kick against Huddersfield, it was his first goal since the start of September.
"It was nice to score – it's something I've been wanting to do," said the 26-year-old centre-back.
"With the quality we've got from set plays, it's important we try to get on the end of things.
"It's been a long time coming and, hopefully, I can get a few more now.
"It was a great ball in from Jamie and I knew I had a chance to make contact with it.
"I heard the crowd roar and I knew it was in."
The Rams produced a positive response to the disappointing FA Cup exit at the hands of Blackburn Rovers the previous weekend.
Keogh was at fault for the opening goal as Rovers cruised to a 3-0 victory at Pride Park.
"It was important that we got a positive result on the back of the previous week's performance, which wasn't our greatest day," he said.
"I thought we were fantastic from start to finish – the tempo we played at, the passing and moving and the goals we scored.
"The first two goals summed up how we play. We made sure we were on the front foot and our passing and one-touch play was great.
"To be fair to them, they came out fighting in the second half but the third goal killed the game off and once we got that, I thought we dominated again and played some great stuff."
Keogh, who now joins up with the Republic of Ireland squad ahead of Wednesday's friendly against Poland in Dublin, hailed the Rams' front pairing of Ward and Conor Sammon for their efforts against Huddersfield.
"We're an energetic team and our front two ran them ragged," he added.
"That allowed us to open up and play our football.
"We played really well and scored some great goals."
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