Richard Keogh says it was a ‘great honour and privilege’ to have been named as Derby County’s Captain by Nigel Pearson.

Following a lot of debate on who would lead the Rams for their 2016/17 season opener against Brighton & Hove Albion, the Derby manager became the fourth out of the last five to hand the armband to the centre back.

Since joining Derby in 2012 from Coventry City, Keogh has been named Captain by Nigel Clough, Steve McClaren, Darren Wassall and now Pearson.

Speaking on the role following the 0-0 draw with Brighton last Saturday, the Republic of Ireland international told dcfc.co.uk: “I have said before that I love captaining this football club. It’s a great honour and privilege.





“When I look back on the history of captains of this club when I finish, I will be proud that my name is there. I feel like I have done a good job in the past and I am here to lead the club going forward too and help the manager.





“When the chips are down, the boys know that I will stand alongside them and fight for them.





“He must have liked what he saw in me as a footballer and character and I think he feels that I am right person to lead this group.





“I feel I have earned the respect of the group and have a strong relationship with a lot of people within the football club, including at the training ground, the stadium and the supporters too.





“I am under a manager that I feel can get the best out of me and I just want to keep progressing.”

After last Saturday’s fixture, Pearson, following the full time whistle, praised his side’s team defensive display to ensure they collected a point.

Looking back on the weekend’s goalless draw, Keogh believes Derby displayed the qualities they are going to need to be pushing for promotion to the Premier League for a fourth successive campaign.

Reflecting back, he said: “It was a very tough game on Saturday. Brighton are obviously a decent team and it was a very tight game.





“We started the better, but they got back into the game and on reflection a draw was a fair result.





“From our perspective, getting the clean sheet was very good and we know there are things that we can do better on.





“What we did see, though, is that when we have to dig in, we are more than capable of that. The clean sheet is always important.





“Brighton got the same points as Middlesbrough, who ended up going up. It shows how close they came to actually getting over the line last year.





“It was important for us not to lose the game and if we had scored those chances early doors, it would have been a different game.





“Apart from the blocks in the second half by Cyrus (Christie) and Shacks (Jason Shackell), I felt we were comfortable.”

Keogh added: “There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the football club and there should be.





“We have a great manager, a great coaching set-up and a great group of players and people.





“We want to try and win every game for sure, but with what we showed last Saturday, people know that we want to work hard for each other.





“We ground out when we needed to and that’s the most important thing you need in this division.





“When you are not playing at your best, you have to make sure you still you keep working hard, keep your shape and you protect your clean sheet.”





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