Derby County midfielder Tom Ince has admitted that he has not been happy with the quality of his performances recently.

The 23-year-old bagged his first Championship goal of the season to help the Rams beat Reading 1-0 at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday evening.

"I felt I needed it, to be honest," he told the Derby Telegraph. "I don't think my last few performances haven't been good enough for my standard - I'm the first to realise that.

"Even at Reading, I don't feel I got anywhere near where I should be - but sometimes, you don't play well and you get a goal.

"You have to take the positives. It was nice to get off the mark and, hopefully, now I can put a run together."

Ince cost Derby £4.75m when they signed him from Hull City during the summer.