3/1 To Win
A sequence of four home games for Derby County kicked off with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday night against Wigan Athletic and another tough test awaits Frank Lampard’s side this weekend.
The Rams face Sheffield Wednesday, who have enjoyed a resurgence under new manager Steve Bruce in recent weeks.
The 58-year-old is highly-experienced and is yet to lose a game in charge of the Owls after taking up his post at the start of February.
He has won three and drawn four of his seven games heading into Saturday’s game against Derby.
That makes Bruce's side tough opposition and Lampard knows his side will need to be at their best if they are to record another three points on Saturday.
“It is going to be a very difficult game against a team that are in good form,” Lampard told RamsTV. “Steve Bruce has seen an upturn in their performance.
“I watched them against Sheffield United in their local derby on Monday and they competed really well in a tough match and they have moved up the table.
“They made some very astute signings on deadline day and added to their squad. We have a strong team coming here and a well-supported team.
“Make no mistake, even though we are pleased with the game against Wigan and the three points, it is a completely different challenge on Saturday and we will have to be ready.
“I don’t take 2-1 win at Hillsborugh in November into consideration ahead of this one. It was a previous manager, a previous style and a different period for the club. They were in a difficult moment and we played ok there and won.
“This is going to be a different challenge against a team that is on very good form, playing a slightly different way with a definite boost from their manager.
“We will have to focus solely on the job in hand and if we perform and bring what we did against Wigan in terms of passion and urgency in our game then we have a good chance.”
Lampard was full of praise for Bruce and has huge respect for the 58-year-old.
“He is a very experienced manager,” he commented.
“He has been promoted from this league, been in the Premier League, managed in the Championship and knows how to get the best out of his players.
“He has a great personality and intelligent with a football brain. He has got the lot. That is what’s given them the uplift.”
The victory against Wigan on Tuesday night moved the Rams level on points with the play-off positions but the manager does not want his side to become too complacent.
“I don’t want us to rest on our laurels that we got three points and turned the corner,” he said. “
That’s the last thing we can do. We need to learn why we got the result the other night and learn what we need to do to keep getting results.
“Then things will happen naturally. If we perform and can bring what we brought then the table will look after itself because I believe in the squad that we have got here and we will win games.”
Injuries have hit and affected Derby recently and the manager gave an update from the treatment room ahead of Saturday’s game.
“We are struggling a bit on the injury from,” he explained.
“It has definitely been part of the story of our recent form, but we have to get on without it.
“Tom Lawrence is close, maybe around for the weekend or maybe fit for Stoke. The rest of them will have to wait until after the international break, so that comes at a relatively good time for that.”
