3/1 To Win
Phillip Cocu says Derby County need to build on their impressive home form at Pride Park Stadium and show an improvement on their travels.
Derby have won their last three matches on home soil, against Birmingham City, Luton Town and Wigan Athletic, to climb up the Sky Bet Championship table.
However, they are winless on the road since claiming all three points at Huddersfield Town in their opening home game of the campaign.
Since then, the Rams have picked up three draws and two defeats from five away fixtures.
Derby are back on the road this weekend with a trip to the KCOM Stadium to take on Hull City on Saturday afternoon (3pm kick-off).
Cocu says the next step for his side is showing that they are capable of recording positive results away from home.
He told RamsTV: “We started off well this season with an away win at Huddersfield Town and we struggled in the home games.
“I think now in the home games we are doing well with good results and our next step is that we have to get a good result in an away game.
“We were close at Barnsley, but there was the late equaliser and we had to settle for a draw.
“We need to make sure we get some good results both at Pride Park and away from home to try and climb a little bit higher up the table, which is our ambition.”
Derby are yet to keep a clean sheet away from home in the league this season.
Cocu says it’s important for his side to be more solid and resolute, particularly against a Hull side that will be in buoyant mood after an impressive 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.
He said: “Being a bit tighter and solid is something we definitely look at. It is different away from home and away, not completely different, but in details it is a little different.
“Sometimes we need to adjust to be sure we can get a clean sheet because we know in many games we will score a goal, so this will be an important part of the game on Saturday against Hull.”
On Hull, Cocu added: “They got a really good win at Forest on Wednesday so it will be a very difficult game.
“They will definitely feel good after that result, but we also had a boost by winning late on against Wigan. It is a big game on Saturday, and we will do everything to get a win and also to give the same performance and desire on the pitch.”
Ahead of the clash with the Tigers, Cocu has once again made it clear that everyone in his squad has a part to play.
Chris Martin and Jack Marriott both came off the bench to make an impact in the midweek 1-0 win over Wigan Athletic, while the likes of Graeme Shinnie and Curtis Davies have impressed in recent weeks after finding themselves out of the starting line-up earlier in the campaign.
The Derby boss is pleased with the way his players are progressing and says it’s vital to remember that the team, rather than individuals, is the most important thing.
He said: “I always say that we need every player in the squad. If you start or are on the bench, or even the players who are not in the squad, you are really important. The team needs you.
“Against Wigan, Jack Marriott came on, he worked very hard as a false winger, he did a lot of defensive work. Chris Martin came on too. He didn’t start but he was still positive before we came out to play to help Martyn Waghorn as a striker. When he came on, he was doing his job for the team and set up Graeme Shinnie’s goal.”
He added: “That is what team spirit and a team performance is about. It is not always easy to put your own ego and yourself below the team, but the team is the most important. I think we are heading in the right direction.”
