"We Must Be Consistent With Our Performances Now"

Manager Frank Lampard hopes his Derby County side can find some consistency at the most crucial point of the season heading into a busy Easter period.

The Rams face two games in quick succession as they head to St Andrew’s to take on Birmingham City on Good Friday, whilst three days later, they face Queens Park Rangers at Pride Park Stadium on Easter Monday.

It’s the business end of the Sky Bet Championship campaign as the Rams have five games to secure their place in the play-off positions.

Only two points separate Lampard’s side with Bristol City, who occupy sixth-position, and a trip to Ashton Gate is something which awaits his side next weekend.

The Rams boss knows that five victories will see his side reach those play-off positions and has challenged his players to find some consistency which they have fought for all season.

“We have not put that run of wins together but if we are able to then what perfect time it would be,” Lampard told RamsTV.

“We are showing signs of it. Blackburn was a bit of a surprise with the way that we have been playing recently so it was important against Bolton that we got back to a high level of performance and record a good win. We must be consistent with our performances now.”

The Rams have scored 13 goals in their last four games.

That has included back-to-back hat-tricks at Pride Park Stadium, one from Martyn Waghorn and the other from Mason Mount whilst Harry Wilson scored a brace on the road against Brentford.

“Individual performances have been good, team performance has been good but Birmingham away will be a different game completely to the last two home games,” Lampard said.

“They are a good team, a strong team, and would have been comfortably above mid-table without the points deduction.

“They are physical, aggressive, have good players and a good manager, it’s a hostile crowd so there are loads of things that add into the mix. It’s a different challenge for us so we will have to be ready for that.

“They have got good players. People can look at the Championship and forget that they have recruited some good players over the last few years.

“Che Adams have been linked with a number of moves and quite rightly so. He has been one of the best strikers in the league and they have other players who are very dangerous so it’s a hard game for us.”

In terms of team news for the game against the Blues on Friday, Lampard commented: “Scott Malone is going to train today so whether he is in contention for Friday we don’t know yet following his rib injury.

“It will depend on how he gets on with physical contact because it was a painful injury so we will see on that one. Duane Holmes is still training on his own and a bit further behind with a groin injry, but I’d love to get them both back involved come Queens Park Rangers onwards if we can.”