3/1 To Win
The Derby County squad have been reunited after the international break sent several Rams across Europe and Bradley Johnson is eager to race back out into league action.
With Derby winning their last four games heading into the break, the midfielder said he would have preferred to keep the momentum going.
However, the work hasn’t stopped over the past two weeks whether that has been at the Training Centre or further afield. Six first-team players represented their respective nations and represented well.
Now, Johnson is pleased for everyone to be back together, so the Rams can pick up where they left off.
“The two results against Hull were good for us.” Johnson told RamsTV.
“The league game wasn’t our best performance, but we got the win and last-minute goals are always good.
“It’s time for us now to regroup, refresh and go again. Everyone is back together now, we trained today, train tomorrow and get ready for Saturday. We are looking forward to it.”
The offered Frank Lampard’s side an opportunity to get some down time before the relentless pattern of Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday matches carries them through to the next international break.
With a brief glance ahead, Johnson said the team is confident that Derby can continue their winning ways. That all starts on Saturday against Rotherham United at the New York Stadium, a game that the 31-year-old said has the squad’s full attention.
“That’s the Championship, we know the games will come thick and fast,” Johnson continued.
“When you get on a good run you have to put those results together to take you up the table. We look at the next games coming up and we feel like we can get some good results out of them.
“Starting with Saturday, we can’t look too far ahead, we have prepared right for this weekend and hopefully we can get three points there.”
Two games at Pride Park follow and Johnson hopes they can build on the last back-to-back home wins to create a reputation of a difficult environment for teams to visit.
Part of that, he believes, is having the backing of supporters to help lift the squad.
“It’s always nice to play at home. We want to make this place a fortress, we don’t want it to be easy for teams to come here and get results,” he said.
“We know we let Leeds come here and beat us, but then we put that right against Ipswich and Preston.
“We have got two home games and we want to get six points from them. The home support and the away support have been terrific this season. I’m sure they will be there in their numbers again on Saturday and helping us get over that line.”
To get the three points game-after-game, it requires most importantly, a strong side whether that is the players who are in every game or those that aren’t picked for the matchday squad.
Johnson, who has appeared in all but one match so far this season, highlighted the importance of every member of the team.
“The manager has always said it isn’t just about the first eleven, it’s about the lads on the bench and the ones that aren’t as well, they are all going to play a part of the season.
“As you’ve seen, Mason has come on against Reading then again against Hull and set up two winning goals for us. It is a squad game, it’s a long season and everyone is going to be needed.”
