"It’s Important We Remain Very Focused"

Manager Frank Lampard has called for focus from his Derby County players as the final stages of the Sky Bet Championship season close in.

The Rams moved back into the play-off positions last weekend following a convincing 6-1 home victory over Rotherham United, but results midweek meant Lampard’s side dropped to seventh spot.

However with a game in hand on most teams around them, Derby's fate is in its own hands and the manager wants his players to remain concentrated on the task in hand.

“We have to be a squad,” Lampard told RamsTV. “Everyone is in it together. There must be a complete focus as a group with the month that we have ahead.

“The games will come thick and fast from Saturday onwards and it’s pivotal. It’s the business end now and we’ve given ourselves a chance, so we have to take these games with a good mindset and the physical side is going to be huge for us.”

Following last weekend’s game, the manager allowed his players a chance to rest up.

However, work quickly began on the training field in preparation for Saturday’s game against Brentford.

The Bees sit 13th in the division and have struggled for form in recent weeks. They have only picked up one point from their last four games and Lampard’s Rams have beaten their opponents earlier in the season, 3-1 at Pride Park in September, but he knows that counts for nothing.

“They are a very good team and have a great squad but it’s a very different prospect now under a different manager,” the boss said.

“They have been playing a different formation of late. They had a very good run of games and then not so much recently but that makes no odds.

“I’ve watched them and I know the qualities they have and we have to be aware of that. It’s a balance of understanding them and what they can do.

“They are a very dangerous team but it’s also about understanding what we can do if we are at our best. We need to concentrate on both sides and hopefully bring our game this weekend.

“We have worked a lot this week and we have to make sure that we don’t think that winning one game 6-1 is the be all and end all because it’s not so we have to start again.

“We have to take the positives, take the feeling of confidence but this is a completely different game. It’s away from home, it’ll probably be a different formation, different team, different challenges so it’s important we remain very focused.

“It’s nice to have had the week to work tactically and physically for the players so we will be ready.”

A win on Saturday could move the Rams back into the play-off places.

However, trying to predict results at the weekend is impossible according to the manager.

“Not many people would have believed Bristol City would have got two results away from home on the bounce so it’s pointless predicting,” Lampard commented.

“Whether you are playing a team in the top six, fighting relegation or trying to climb up the league and finish the season well, every team in the Championship gives you difficulties so it is a battle.

“We all look at the other games that are playing but you can’t control them. You can only control yourselves.”