JAMIE Ward felt the "hiding" handed out to Fulham by Derby County had been coming.
The Rams thrashed the Cottagers 5-1 at the iPro Stadium on Saturday.
Steve McClaren's men got back to winning ways following a 3-2 defeat at Charlton and a goalless draw at Sheffield Wednesday.
"We're delighted," said Ward. "We had to bounce back from the defeat against Charlton and we've done it in style.
"We've been creating chances - we've just not been taken them. Against Fulham, we took our chances.
"We always said it was only a matter of time before someone got a good hiding from us - and that's what Fulham have had."
Ward opened the scoring with his third goal in two games after 23 minutes, ghosting in at the near post to meet Johnny Russell's cross from the right and guiding a volley past Fulham keeper Jesse Joronen.
"When Johnny picked the ball up, I just thought about the cross he played in against Carlisle (for Derby's second goal, scored by Chris Martin)," he said.
"So I tried to get into the middle of the goal or the near post and, luckily enough, it came to me.
"I watched it all the way onto my foot and just helped it into the net."
Former England international Scott Parker levelled for Fulham in the 54th minute but Derby hit back with quickfire strikes from Craig Bryson and Chris Martin.
Martin struck again late on and, straight from the restart, substitute Simon Dawkins completed the rout.
"I think we got too comfortable," said Ward.
"Then they equalised and we realised we need to go and get another goal.
"Luckily enough, we got two in a few minutes and it absolutely killed them.
"It was good to know we'd won the game so early, so we could relax and then we got another two."
