3/1 To Win
Richard Keogh hopes a week of gruelling training and home truths proves to be beneficial when Derby County take on Birmingham City this afternoon.
The Rams return to Sky Bet Championship action looking to show a reaction from the 4-1 defeat at Bristol City when they face the Blues at Pride Park Stadium today, kick-off: 3pm.
That aforementioned defeat came a week ago and Keogh, the Republic of Ireland international, revealed to RamsTV that plenty of discussions have taken place to review that and the club’s away record as a whole.
The club captain also said that the players had been put through double sessions earlier in the week by Rowett as the Rams look to discover some consistency in their performances, whether they are at home or away.
“Our away form is something that we need to rectify,” Keogh told RamsTV. “It’s been said a few times already, but it’s not good enough.
“We know that as a group and we have spoken about it a lot this week. We have gone over the things that, perhaps, we are doing differently to what we are doing at home, so in that respect it has been a good week.
“The manager has made it clear what he thinks and the lads have agreed with everything that’s been said.
“We’ve worked incredibly hard on that. As a team, we know if we want to get to where we want to, we need to improve that away form. It’s been a positive week on that front.”
He added: “Regardless of the double sessions that we have done, it is about using our sessions to put things right and if we have to doubles to do that then that’s what we will do.
“There was a lot of home truths said about certain things and now it is about maintaining a standard that we know we are capable of because we have proven that we can play well.”
Next up are a Birmingham team under new management after Lee Carsley, the former Ram and former team mate of Keogh’s at Coventry City, was named as caretaker boss last weekend.
That came after Harry Redknapp departed the club following a run of six straight defeats in all competitions.
Following Carsley’s appointment, Keogh accepts that there is an ‘element of unknown’ hanging over Birmingham this weekend.
That said, Keogh is only concerned with Derby’s performance and ensuring that they replicate a similar type of showing that was produced against Hull City in their last home fixture.
He said: “I know Lee (Carsley) and Paul (Williams) quite well from playing with both of them and they are both really good coaches.
“They had a spell at Brentford and, again, did really well. I know what kind of qualities they will bring to the table.
“They are both very highly thought of as coaches, they’re great guys as well, but with them taking over I also think there is going to be an element of unknown this weekend.
“We’re at home, though, and our only aim has to be to replicate a similar type of performance to the one that we put in against Hull.
“That’s what this tough week has all been about. We’ve got to make sure we turn up, play to our strengths and, importantly, show a response.”
