Defender Kane Wilson reiterated the importance of bouncing back and keeping positive momentum going after Derby County's first loss in five games at the weekend ahead of Tuesday night’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Burnley on home turf.
John Eustace’s side saw their impressive four-game winning run come to a close as they were narrowly defeated 1-0 by Swansea City away from home on Saturday.
They will look to bounce back with the visit of table-topping Burnley at Pride Park Stadium on Tuesday night in their quest to retain their Championship status (7:45pm kick-off).
Wilson spoke to RamsTV to reflect on Saturday’s loss and preview Tuesday night’s game under the lights against the Clarets.
On Saturday’s defeat to Swansea City…
It was a game that had good parts and bad parts. We were disappointed to lose. The dressing room was really flat after that, which is understandable. We'd won four in a row beforehand, so to make it five would have been amazing. To be narrowly defeated is always upsetting, but it's an opportunity now to go and put that right tomorrow night.
Their goal was disappointing from a defensive standpoint, for us. They got one chance, and it hurt us. We had quite a few, probably more clear-cut chances to score than Swansea did, but that’s just how football goes sometimes.
On holding onto the momentum accrued over the four-game winning streak…
Winning is a habit and it's something that once you do it once, you want to taste it again. It just keeps coming and coming. Four in a row is amazing in any division, never mind the Championship, where it's possibly one of the hardest to do. It’s a massive thing for us. To stay up and fight, we're going to have to put another similar kind of run together. It's important that we get straight back on the horse and keep going.
On the standard of the division as the season nears the business end…
It's crazy. It's relentless and there is no easy game. This year, the Championship has been the most [intense] I've ever experienced. Every game poses a different challenge. You have to live up to it. If you don't, you find yourself struggling. We have to be switched on and concentrated at all times to follow the gaffer's plan and execute it as best we can.
On Tuesday night’s opponents, Burnley…
I expect them to be good. They are obviously top of the league alongside Sheffield United and Leeds United, fighting for the automatic promotion places. They are all teams we have played before and they are formidable opponents. We are going to have to be on top of our game to get any kind of result and I think we will be. We have to go in with that mindset and try and perform. We know that if we are resilient and we bond together and put a performance in, then we have a chance to keep them quiet.
On the role the Pride Park atmosphere and home games play in the end-of-season run-in...
It goes without saying that Pride Park is to our advantage. The fans
have been relentless with the support they have given us this year,
which is amazing! As a player myself, I look forward to playing at home
more than anywhere else. Playing in front of the Derby fans, I know that
all the lads do as well. We must try and put a performance together for
them. They are going to be coming out and supporting the boys, and we
have to try and give back to them.