Gary Rowett says that his Birmingham City side will not encounter a much tougher game this season than their meeting with Derby County this afternoon.
The Rams face the Blues at the iPro Stadium looking to record their first league victory of 2016, kick-off: 3pm.
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Rowett, whose side are unbeaten in their last three Championship outings, says his troops are going to have to be ‘at their best and very aggressive’ if they are to return to St Andrew’s with a positive result.
He told the media: “They’re a very good side and again they’re a side that’s evolved over the season.
“They’ve played different ways and they’ve got lots of different options. They’re bedding two or three new players into the team at the moment.”
“It doesn’t come much tougher than Derby away in the Championship. Regardless of their recent form or recent performances it’s going to be tough game and we’re going to have to be at our best and be very aggressive in the way we play whether that’s defensively or attacking.”
Following a 1-1 draw away at Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night, Rowett has also indicated that he could utilise a different way of playing himself.
He added: “I felt at times against Forest the way we played we just left a little bit too much space to get up to support Clayton Donaldson and that’s sometimes the issue when you try and have three midfielders.
“I just felt against Forest we needed those three to block certain spaces. That might potentially be something we need to do or we might go down a different route.
“It will be a tough game and I’m looking forward to it.”
The last time Derby and Birmingham met at the iPro Stadium, back in March last year, the Blues scored two late goals to steal a share of the spoils.
Clayton Donaldson, the Blues’ joint top goalscorer, says he and his team mates will have to be fully disciplined off the ball if they are to get a result.
The 31-year-old Jamaica international said: “We will be going there again and trying to do the same again - although play a bit better, and try and get a result.
“The equaliser was probably the scrappiest goal I scored all season too, it rolled off my nose on to my shoulder, on to my knee.
“We didn’t play the best that day but going away from home it’s not about how well you play, it’s about the result and we did it that day.
“We’ve got to try and do it on Saturday too. Everyone knows Derby, they are a good side, they have most of the possession but if we can keep our shape and do the things we have worked on in training we can cause them problems, catch them on the break and hopefully get a result there.”