Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Interviews

Post Derby | Tom Bayliss

4 March 2023

Interviews

Post Derby | Tom Bayliss

4 March 2023

Tom Bayliss chatted to the media after his excellent free-kick helped us secure a point at Derby.

A boyhood Derby County fan, Tom netted his seventh goal of the campaign with a wonderful strike early in the second-half.

A sensational goal from Haydon Roberts and a David McGoldrick strike had seen the Rams go into the break with a 2-0 lead.

But Shrewsbury were sensational in the second-half, with Tom's free-kick bringing us back into the game before Luke Leahy pulled us level with an ice-cool penalty.

And from that point on we had chances to win it - with goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith making an excellent save to deny Christian Saydee.

Speaking post-match, Tom discussed his goal, Town's overall performance and the atmosphere inside Pride Park. 

ON THE RESULT:
 
"We weren't pleased with ourselves at half time.
 
"Going two goals down here it's a bit of a mountain to climb.
 
"We had a little change at half-time and the lads kind of thought we have nothing to lose now.
 
"If we want to be that team that comes to places like this and gets something - we have to play our game and I think we did that in the second half and that's what luckily got us a point in the end."
 
ON HIS GOAL:
 
"It's obviously special. I'm a Derby fan so to score here in front of a packed house and in front of the Shrewsbury fans as well - it was a brilliant feeling.
 
"I have not actually taken one (a free-kick) for Shrewsbury and I don't normally take them in training either.
 
"It was just perfect for the right footer and Luke and Winny came up to me and said 'you hit it' and luckily I hit it and it went in the right place and it got us back in the game.
 
"I knew it had a chance as soon as it left my boot.
 
"There was a gap in their wall so it went through that as well. You need a bit of luck sometimes in these games coming to these places and it got us on the road to getting us a point."
 
ON LUKE'S PENALTY:
"You always fancy Luke from the penalty spot I don't think he has missed one this season touch wood!
 
"He is brilliant from there and it's what we deserved.
 
"We were much the better side in that second half and really took it to them. We had them on the ropes.
 
"And I think if we hadn't come away with a point we would have been really disappointed."
 
ON THE ATMOSPHERE INSIDE PRIDE PARK:
 
"For the first 20 minutes, you couldn't really talk to the person that was five yards away from you. But that is what you want.
 
"If we want to play in arenas like this week in and week out we have got to keep working hard and keep getting results.
 
"Maybe one day we will all be here as a squad."
 
ON HOW SPECIAL IT IS TO SCORE AT PRIDE PARK AS A DERBY SUPPORTER:
 
"Obviously it's nice. I'm buzzing. My family were here and they are big Derby fans as well.
 
"I'm just buzzing to be here and get a goal and I think I have completed it now!
 
"I have been here as a supporter at the play-off semi-final and in that final. They lost to a (Bobby) Zamora goal against QPR.
 
"I have been here and sat up in that corner (right) for quite a few games. But it's much playing on the pitch than watching I would say."
 
ON OUR IMPRESSIVE RUN OF FORM:
 
"We know we are punching above our weight but we have got a really good, tight, group and a really good squad that is full of quality.
 
"We showed that in the second half where we outplayed one of the best teams in the league.
 
"For us to come here and do that it shows a lot about us and it's a really good point in the end."

Generic-Web-Banner-Home-22-23.jpg


Advertisement block

iFollow Next Match Tickets Account