3/1 To Win
Jack Marriott is now well settled at Derby County and making his mark in front of goal - but he is eager for more and hoping a successful Christmas period will build momentum for the second half of the season.
Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Bristol City at Pride Park Stadium (3pm kick-off) will mark the halfway point of the season.
Derby sit fourth in the table after winning 11 out of their 22 league games, as well as an impressive run in the Carabao Cup.
The striker believes that finding consistency for the next half of the season is key.
“It seems like I signed yesterday, but it has gone so quick,” the 24-year-old said when speaking to RamsTV.
“It’s been good and we are in a decent position to really kick on after Christmas.
“I think if we can sustain an element of consistency I think we can really challenge.
"That is probably key for the second half of the season to really nail on that. Consistent clean sheets and consistency in winning games and try not to drop points.”
He added: “When you are bringing in quite a lot of players, especially towards the end or the window, myself included, then I think I takes a bit of time to gel and to adjust, get to know each other and how everyone plays.
“I think everyone knows that now and hopefully we can find a bit of form and really hit out stride.”
The Robins, who currently occupy 14th place, are the first up for the Rams to start the Christmas campaign.
Derby head into the meeting after collecting seven points out of a possible nine in the last three games having been unbeaten since the loss at Stoke City at the end of November.
“They have always been there or there about whenever I have kept up to date with the Championship,” Marriott said of this weekend's opponents.
“They have always been a good team, a solid team and we look forward to playing them at Pride Park. Hopefully we will get the win.”
There will be no days off for the Rams over Christmas, but that is something the forward is accustomed to by now.
Though he said spending time with family is important, he said this time is also vital for the team to go out and get the job done.
“It’s par for the course really,” he said. “
My missus knows that, my son is one so it’s the first Christmas where he sort of knows what is going on. When we get afternoons off, that is family time and when that takes over, but the job comes first.
“It is a busy period and as much time as you can spend with your family is great but you want to get the job done when you play.
“You are fighting for points on Boxing Day and that’s vital. You don’t want to drop any points over Christmas because that can really be a springboard into January and further on.”
