3/1 To Win
Duane Holmes says everyone in the Derby County is under no illusions that results on the pitch need to improve.
Derby head into Saturday’s home fixture against Birmingham City looking to claim their first home win of the campaign.
In their four games so far this season at Pride Park Stadium, the Rams have recorded three draws and a defeat.
Derby have one win and five draws from their eight league fixtures so far and Holmes has stressed the importance of picking up the required results to climb the table.
Following the clash against Birmingham, Phillip Cocu’s have a trip to Barnsley next Wednesday and a home fixture against Luton Town before the latest international break comes in to play.
Speaking to RamsTV, he said: “We are under no illusions that we need to be better.
“I feel like we, at times, haven’t got the results that our play has deserved but there’s no better time than to get the win than at Pride Park on Saturday.
“We need to perform and be better in both boxes and I feel like the win is coming.
“We’ve got two home games coming up in the next week, three matches in total, before the international break so we want to try and go into that with as many points as possible.”
Derby will head into the clash against the Blues following back-to-back 1-1 draws against Cardiff City and Leeds United.
The point at Elland Road was secured in dramatic circumstances as Chris Martin came off the bench to equalise in added time.
Holmes admitted the Rams rode their luck against the Whites and took advantage of Mateusz Klich’s second-half penalty miss to gain a foothold in the game.
He said: “It was a tough game last week and they are a great team.
“We were up against it at times, but we stuck together, and Chris came off the bench to get the equaliser with a real striker’s finish.
“We perhaps rode our luck at times and once they missed their penalty in the second half, the mood changed.
“I think we did well after that and when we did get the goal, I think it was deserved.”
Holmes has started Derby’s last two matches after recovering from a niggling muscle injury which he sustained towards the end of last season.
He has put the frustration of being sidelined behind him and is enjoying being back on the pitch.
He said: “It was frustrating at the start of the season as every player wants to play football, but injuries are part of the game.
“I’m glad to be back out there but you’re obviously having to play catch-up with the lads that had a full pre-season.”
