3/1 To Win
Gary Rowett wants Derby County to go into the first international break of the season in a positive frame of mind – and build on what he has described as a ‘reasonable’ start to the campaign.
Derby have picked up seven points from their first four games league games of the 2017/18 season.
After picking up a 1-1 draw at Sunderland on the opening day at the start of August, Derby were beaten 2-0 by Wolverhampton Wanderers in their first home league fixture of the Sky Bet Championship campaign.
Since then, the Rams have responded strongly – winning their last three games in all competitions against Preston North End (1-0), Bolton Wanderers (2-1) and Grimsby Town (1-0 in the Carabao Cup).
Derby will head north to take on Sheffield United, last season’s runaway League 1 champions, at Bramall Lane in their final fixture before the international break on Saturday afternoon.
Rowett feels the Rams have made a steady start to the season and he has seen lots of positives, as well as areas where improvement is required.
He told RamsTV: “I think we have made a reasonable start to the season; we’ve had quite a few away games as well which has been a challenge.
“We want to go into the international break on a positive note. We’ve got three wins on the spin in all competitions and have looked more solid as a team and from a shape perspective as well.
“We are getting better out of possession, which we want to keep improving on, and I have been pleased with some of our football too.
“There are lots of positives from these first few games and although we haven’t set the world alight in terms of the amount of goals that we have scored, we are creating chances and that’s the most important bit.”
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United have claimed two wins and two defeats from their four league fixtures so far.
Their two victories have been recorded on home turf against Brentford and Barnsley, as well as tasting defeat at Middlesbrough and Cardiff City.
Rowett is expecting a game with real intensity at Bramall Lane, with another big crowd expected.
Derby have sold out their allocation of 2,300 tickets and the 43-year-old is anticipating a tough test against the Blades.
“I expect a game with a bit more intensity; whenever I have seen Sheffield United the crowd at Bramall Lane has been furciferous,” he said.
“At Bolton last week, and perhaps that was down to our performance, it didn’t feel like the atmosphere was quite as aggressive as Sheffield United will be.
“I am very sure the atmosphere will be good on Saturday, it always is up there, and given we are taking a good following too it has the makings of a decent game.
“On top of that, the followings we have had in every game on the road have been fantastic and we have a sold-out allocation on Saturday.”
He added: “Chris Wilder has a done a fantastic job there and he is a really good guy. He’s had a fantastic run as a manager and in his last two jobs – at Northampton Town and then Sheffield United – he hasn’t stopped winning!
“They play a back five and did for most of the time last season. We’ve played Wolves, Preston and Bolton recently who have all played with a back five so it’s a similar test to what we’ve been up against recently.
“There will be certain things that will crop up which won’t be too dissimilar to the last couple of games. We will have to show the same qualities and resilience which we showed at Bolton.”
