3/1 To Win
Phillip Cocu says Derby County are ready to tackle another ‘big week’ of Sky Bet Championship action head on.
Derby returned to action following the October international break with a 1-0 defeat at home to Watford on Friday, which kicked off a relentless schedule between now and early November.
Cocu’s side face back-to-back away games this week, starting with a trip to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday before making the short journey across the East Midlands to Nottingham Forest on Friday.
They also have matches against Cardiff City, AFC Bournemouth, Queens Park Rangers and Barnsley before the November international break comes into play.
Cocu has admitted the Rams’ start to the 2020/21 campaign has been slow, picking up one win from their opening five games, but he is confident a positive run of results isn’t too far away.
Improved performances in Derby’s last two outings, in the 1-0 win at Norwich City and the narrow loss against Watford, and key players returning from injury have provided Cocu with good reason to be optimistic for the future.
“It’s a very important situation we are in now,” Cocu told RamsTV. “We need some good results; everyone knows and is aware of it.
“We know that it is a big week with Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest coming up, but we take it one game at a time.
“Slowly the team will get together, the injured players will come back and then we will have more quality and be stronger. It’s something the team are aware of.
“There are still some positives from the game against Watford that we can take into the game on Tuesday at Huddersfield.
“We know the result wasn’t good but the way we played, that’s the way we have to continue so that is the main thing we focus on.”
He added: “In the Championship you never get a guaranteed result, but I’m sure if we continue playing like we did against Watford then results will come our way.”
Cocu’s first game in charge of Derby, in August 2019, came in a 2-1 victory at Huddersfield.
Tom Lawrence scored two fine goals to get the Dutchman off to a flying start as the Rams’ boss.
The 49-year-old would love a repeat showing this time around.
Reflecting on that particular match, Cocu said: “Tom scored two great goals, so he will have a good memory of that game.
“It is a different situation now and it’s a new game, but we had a good result there last season so hopefully we can do it again.”
