HEAD coach Steve McClaren said Derby County's game plan to catch Wigan Athletic by surprise worked a treat in yesterday's 3-1 victory.
The Rams set off at a furious pace in the Championship clash at the DW Stadium and built a three-goal lead in the first half thanks to strikes from Craig Bryson, Simon Dawkins and Chris Martin.
Wigan, beaten at home in the Europa League on Thursday, were shell-shocked.
They rallied in the second half with the help of Nick Powell's header five minutes after the restart but Derby left with the three points.
Victory has lifted the Rams to fifth. They have won their last three and lost only once in eight.
McClaren has experienced the demands of midweek European football when manager at Middlesbrough and he knew a high-tempo start by his Derby team could catch Wigan cold.
"Sunday games after playing in Europe on Thursday are so hard. Normally you play the first half to get to the second half, as we call it," said McClaren.
"We said we have to play high tempo, squeeze and press, and the team did that and really took Wigan by surprise.
"Our goals were terrific, the football was terrific and we controlled the first half from start to finish.
"We went in 3-0 up and it could have been more."
McClaren warned his players of a possible Wigan response in the second half.
"I said at half-time that no two halves are ever the same and that Wigan will change," said McClaren.
"They did. They went more direct.
"We did not play the first 10 minutes of the second half very well or the last 10 minutes very well.
"We lost our composure and gave too many fouls away which allowed Wigan to put the ball into the box.
"If 100 balls come into the box you cannot defend them all and we had to thank Lee Grant for two or three magnificent saves to get us three points."
Derby have collected 17 points from the last 24. They are one of the form teams in the division.
"This was a test coming here against a very good Wigan team and the players have took the opportunity," said McClaren.
"The team showed they can come away, play good football and be resilient.
"We are a threat when we do that."
