Boa Morte points the way forward

Luis Boa Morte is already thinking about Derby County away next Saturday after seeing hopes of a home win dashed at the death on Sunday.

In what was to prove a frustrating contest against Bolton Wanderers, the Portuguese forward played in an unfamiliar position wide right in support of lone striker Carlton Cole. After George McCartney's volleyed opener, it looked like another three points were in the bag until added time when a Bolton break led to Kevin Nolan earning the visitors a last-gasp 1-1 draw.

"Of course we are disappointed today because we worked so hard, only to concede a goal in the last couple of minutes," Boa Morte said. "We are not happy as we didn't win but we have to look forward. We are four games unbeaten but we should win these home games and wrap up the three points.

"OK we didn't lose and we got a point but we should have won. We go to Derby next week and on Monday we are going to start thinking about them already. We are going to go there and try to come away with the points. We know we are capable of doing it when we play away from home and we are going to be doing everything we can."

Boa Morte was only too happy to play wherever asked by manager Alan Curbishley, but admitted he found it a little tricky to find his rhythm in the early stages. "It got better the longer the game went on," he explained. "I stepped up my work-rate as hard as I could. I don't usually play on the right but we just have to dig in and work as hard as we can."

One player certainly doing that is McCartney, the left-back, who is the only player to have featured in every game the club has played this season in league and cup. Boa Morte is no stranger to spectacular goals and praised his team-mate for a fine first strike in claret and blue. "It was a great goal for George and I am glad for him," he said. "It was really good he scored but it is just a shame we couldn't win."