"It Will Be Another Tough Game"

Scott Malone knows Derby County will need to be right at the top of their game if you are to get a result from tomorrow night’s Sky Bet Championship clash against Stoke City.

The full-back played the full 90 minutes on Saturday as his side beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 at Hillsborough.

Whilst he admitted the Rams were not at their best for spells at Hillsborough, Malone knows that his side need play at their maximum to get a positive result out of tomorrow’s game.

“In this league you have to be switched on,” he told RamsTV. “You’re not going to win at a canter every week and you’re not going to play an exciting brand of football every week because the league is so competitive.

“I think we showed another side to our game on Saturday. Even if we don’t play as well as we want to, it’s about grinding a result out and it was a good three points. We need to rest up as well as we can, and it will be another tough game.”

Derby’s recent form has been impressive. Four wins and one draw in their last six games is promotion form, however, the Rams still find themselves only in the play-off places.

“I think we have picked up the second most points in the last seven games and we still find ourselves in sixth,” he said.

“It’s really tight. There is only three points between second and seventh and then there is a gap, but it’s unheard of for it to be that tight.

“It’s usually always tight but if you lose two or three then you drop seven or eight places then if you win two or three then you find yourself up there so it’s tight.”

The Rams were backed by just under 3,000 supporters at Hillsborough on Saturday and another big following is expected at the bet365 Stadium on Wednesday night.

“The other day they were really loud, even though they were really high up at Hillsborough, you could still hear them for 90 minutes,” Malone commented.

“They have been really good to us and they have followed us. It’s getting really loud at home as well now which is nice. I’m sure we will take 3,000+ so I’m sure it will be loud and it’s exciting.”