Lampard Calls For Mental Focus From His Players

Manager Frank Lampard has called for focus ahead of Sunday’s crucial Sky Bet Championship clash against West Bromwich Albion.

A place in the play-offs await the Rams should they pick up the three points on Sunday, however, they face a tough West Bromwich Albion side who have already secured their place amongst the end of season lottery.

With Middlesbrough and Bristol City still in contention for sixth-position, the Rams’ task is to secure victory.

“That is all we are focused on,” admitted Lampard, who was speaking to RamsTV. “We know there are different permutations but that is the one we are focused on.

“We have to try and do that. We have to train and prepare right for it, be focused mentally about the game for 90 minutes against a very good team who will be pushing.

“They are not a team who are relegated or promoted and it is done, they are a team who are wanting to stay on top for the play-off game they will have the following week.

“We have got very tough opposition but we know what we have got to do. As humans we know the situation, but my job and the players’ job is to put that to the side to focus on the game.

“The beauty of it is that if we win the game then we are good, so we don’t have to take our eyes off the prize too much.

“It is can we perform? Can we win the game? If that is difficult then there are other ways we need to look at it. Going in to it, as it is every week, purely to win the match.”

Derby have already beaten their visitors this season. It was one of the Rams’ best performances at the season at the Hawthorns in October as they ran out 4-1 winners.

However, the manager admits that result doesn’t mean anything going into Sunday’s game.

“It was a very good performance and when we talk about this season, changing the way we play, which we have done a lot, that was one of those days where we really saw it at a relatively early point of the season,” he said.

“It is good because it gives the players confidence that they can do that against a top team that West Brom are in this league. This is a totally different game, but I just hope that we can perform around those levels.”