FRANK LAMPARD WAS left with an “incredible feeling” as he started his managerial career at Derby County with a dramatic 2-1 win over Reading, thanks to Tom Lawrence’s stoppage-time header.

The visitors performed fitfully for the first hour of the Championship opener at the Madejski Stadium and fell behind to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson’s goal seven minutes into the second half.

On-loan Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount — a goalscoring midfielder in Lampard’s image — levelled matters with the help of an error from Vito Mannone in the 60th minute before Lawrence had the final word.

And former Chelsea midfielder Lampard was delighted with his first league game on the touchline, insisting they earned the decisive stroke of luck against a Reading side for whom Ireland midfielder David Meyler made his debut.

“This is football and this is why I came into management — the fans at the end of the game and those celebrations, we have to savour them because that’s what hard work can get you,” said Lampard, who has former Ireland stopper Shay Given working as goalkeeping coach on his backroom staff.

“What a finish. You can call it a stroke of luck, but those things are hard-earned. We want to celebrate together, it’s a squad game, with the staff and everybody involved and we feel it deeply.

“It’s a last-second winner, so it’s an incredible feeling. I would have taken a fantastic performance and a comfortable win, but football is about these moments, this is what we are here for.”

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