Goalkeeper Ryan Allsop believes Derby County need to approach the final five games of the 2021/22 season with a positive mindset as they prepare to take on league leaders Fulham on Good Friday (8pm kick-off).
The Rams have a handful of games remaining to turn around a nine-point deficit or face relegation from the Sky Bet Championship.
It’s a tough ask, especially having been deducted 21 points earlier in the season, but the Rams have performed admirably to still be in with a chance of avoiding the drop this deep into the campaign.
Victories are now crucial if Wayne Rooney’s side are to avoid the drop into Sky Bet League One but they face a tough task as the division’s leaders head to Pride Park Stadium.
The Cottagers have an outside chance of being promoted to the Premier League on Friday should results earlier in the day go in their favour, but with the Rams fighting for their lives, Allsop knows Derby will be going all out for all three points.
“We have to be positive and approach every game as though we are going to win,” he told RamsTV. “We know it’s going to be a tough game against Fulham, they are top of the league, but I think we can hurt anyone in this division with the way that we can play.
“If we set up right and play the way we want to then we are a dangerous team for anyone to face. We are going to approach it positively and go for the win.
“We can cause teams problems with the way we set up and the structure we play from. Some results have gone against us when we have been more in the game.
“We have conceded sloppy goals which we need to get better at but in terms of us being in matches and staying in them. We’ve been in every single one, bar a couple.
“We need to approach this one with a positive mindset and we have to win games at this stage. We are going to go for the win and you don’t know what’s going to happen in football.
“We have got to win every match we play and that’s what we are going to try and do.”
He added: “Fulham are a very good team. They have shown that throughout the season. They had a bad result the other day as they lost 3-1 to Coventry City but we know they are going to cause us problems and it’s how we deal with that and nullify them.
“We need to impose our game on to them and try our best to win. It’s not going to be easy but we know we are capable of doing it.”
The Rams are back at Pride Park Stadium, a place where they have enjoyed some memorable moments throughout the season.
Victories against Stoke City, AFC Bournemouth and Sheffield United, all of whom came to town on a good run, provide Derby with hope that they can earn a result against Marco Silva’s side.
And, for Allsop, the news of a preferred bidder being named by the club’s administrators could provide a boost to the Rams squad.
American businessman Chris Kirchner, who has been in Derby over the past couple of days, is hoping he can conclude a deal to buy the club and Allsop believes it is positive news for everyone attached to the football club.
“It’s a massive boost for everyone at the club in terms of it moving forward and getting a bit of clarity on the situation for the future,” he said. “I think it’s massive for everyone in the building, fans and everyone associated with the club.
“It’s a massive boost, a massive positive and we need to concentrate on what we do on the pitch and do our best and give our all.
“It has been a long season and we’ve had to face a lot in terms of stuff off the pitch. There have been stressful moments throughout the season with uncertainty but hopefully we are on the other side of that now and we can start to look forward and plan ahead.”
Despite all the off-field issues, on the field, Allsop has enjoyed his football with the Rams so far.
The shot-stopper cemented his place in the starting line up at the start of December and has been a consistent figure between the sticks, following his arrival as a free agent last summer, as the Rams have pushed to stay in the division.
“I absolutely love it here,” Allsop admitted. “I can’t express how much I have enjoyed this season in a weird way. I’ve enjoyed my football more than I’ve ever enjoyed it this season.
“It’s been difficult off the pitch but in terms of style of play and the way we approach things on a day to day basis, and the way we work, it’s been such an enjoyable time to play in this team.
“It does feel like home and I’ve loved every minute of it in terms of playing games and the way we play. Hopefully it will only be more enjoyable now that the situation is getting sorted off the pitch.”