Steve McClaren believes Derby County are capable of rediscovering the consistency which saw them soar up the Sky Bet Championship table towards the end of 2016.
Derby rounded off the calendar year with a remarkable run of one defeat in 13 games and also embarked on a ten-game unbeaten run, which yielded a return of eight wins and two draws.That fine form took the Rams from the lower reaches of the table and into the top six within the space of three months.
McClaren feels Derby have been ‘up and down’ in recent weeks in terms of their league form and currently find themselves on the cusp of the play-off spots, five points off sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday.
Sixteen games remain of the campaign and the Rams boss is convinced his side have what it takes to show their consistency once more.
The players certainly showed they were up for the fight at the weekend, storming back from 3-0 down at half-time against Bristol City to claim a point.
Speaking ahead of tonight’s game at home to Cardiff City, McClaren told RamsTV: “You can’t be below your maximum level in any game and that’s the message really; we need the consistency.
“We’ve had it before, from October through to early January, where we were consistent and also on a good unbeaten run.
“Over the last few weeks, we’ve perhaps been a little bit up and down.
“At Newcastle, we were disappointing in the first half, yet fantastic in the second half. We were good over two hours against Leicester and then there was Saturday against Bristol City too.
“We are capable of beating anyone on our day and consistency is what we need. We’re capable of finding it and I hope we can do find it between now and the end of the season.”
He added: “The division is so tough because of the inconsistencies of everybody. Anybody, on their day, can beat their opponent.
“The teams that go up provide that consistency the most. They’re not going to win every game, you’re going to get that, so it’s important not to panic and feel it’s coming apart when you don’t win.
“It’s important to be level, stable and calm as well as being ready to get back on the horse and go again.”
With a top six berth very much up for grabs, McClaren says the message is clear to his squad – to give everything they have got between now and the end of the season.
The Rams have finished in the top six in two of the last three season and the 55-year-old feels his side every chance of having another crack at the play-offs.
He said: “There’s nothing wrong here, we just have to be consistent for the rest of the season if we want to achieve what we want to achieve.
“The play-offs are within our reach so why not go for it? We are saying that to everyone, let’s go for it and find ways to win.”
Cardiff will arrive at Pride Park Stadium tonight looking to maintain their own impressive rise up the table.
In the relegation zone in early October, the experienced Neil Warnock has overseen their rise into mid-table to ease fears of a fall into League 1.
Impressively, they visited high-flying Leeds United on Saturday and returned home with a 2-0 victory to their name.
Speaking about this evening’s opponents, McClaren has been impressed with their form under the Warnock.
He said: “They won 2-0 at Leeds on Saturday and that’s the Championship, it’s full of surprises.
“We know what this game will be, very difficult and a tough proposition, and we have to be ready for it.
“Neil Warnock has done very, very well. Since he went in, look at the points they’ve picked up. He has improved them and that was evident at the weekend, going to Elland Road and winning.
“Neil knows how to win football matches and that’s his strength and you have to give him credit for that. He has had a fantastic career and he knows the Championship better than anybody; he has the experience which really counts.”
McClaren will check on the fitness of midfielders Bradley Johnson, Craig Bryson and Will Hughes ahead of tonight’s match.
The trio was named in the starting line-up against Bristol City on Saturday, although Johnson and Bryson were replaced in the first-half as McClaren opted to shuffle his pack after a disappointing start to the fixture.
Johnson, Bryson and Hughes have all been nursing injuries and knocks of late so, as a result, will be monitored closely.
He said: “We’ve got a few knocks.
“Bradley Johnson, Craig Bryson and Will Hughes, the midfield really, and a few other people too.
“We have the players going through brick walls for us in terms of playing with injuries and knocks.”
