3/1 To Win
Forward Tom Lawrence believes Derby County’s supporters can have a huge influence on the team as the Rams prepare to face Reading at Pride Park Stadium on Wednesday 29th September (7:45pm kick off).
The Rams’ faithful have been right behind the team throughout the season both on home turf and on the road.
They have been vocal throughout the campaign and last Saturday they sold out their allocation for the game against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.
In the last home fixture, against Stoke City 10 days ago, the roar at full time whistle was something not experienced in many years at Pride Park as the Rams ran out 2-1 winners.
The club was formally placed into administration earlier this month and Lawrence, who was named Derby’s captain at the start of the season by manager Wayne Rooney, knows what impact the fans can make to the team in a challenging period.
“I think the fans are massive, they were especially for the Forest game last month and then the game after that at Pride Park against Stoke, you can see they are a massive help to us,” he told RamsTV.
“You can’t put it into words how much they do help us because they literally spur you on.
“Sheffield United away, for example, if I had scored that last minute equaliser, that would have been for the fans.
“My message to them would be to keep supporting us and we will keep trying to do our job on the pitch. I do like a goal against Reading, so hopefully I can get one at Pride Park in front of the fans on Wednesday.”
When tough times arrive, you need a good dressing room in order to deal with the testing situation, and Lawrence admitted there is a strong togetherness between the players.
“I’ve said that from the start of pre-season, even when some of the lads weren’t signed, the camaraderie in there is brilliant and it’s a pleasure to be in a changing room which is that good,” he commented.
The Rams face the Royals under the Pride Park floodlights looking to move back into positive points following a 12-point deduction for entering administration last week.
Derby’s form so far this season has been heartening. Two victories and four draws has been a reasonable start for the Rams and, although a cliché, Lawrence knows the team just have to take one game at a time.
“We can’t do anything about what happens on the outside, we’ve got to focus on what happens on the pitch,” he said.
“I think our performances have been good. We should have more points than what we have picked up, even though we have got the minus 12, but our job is to get three points every week and we look forward to doing that tomorrow as well.”
Reading endured a tough start to their Sky Bet Championship season, but three wins in a row have seen them quickly climb the table.
Veljko Paunovic’s side have momentum on their side and Lawrence knows the Rams will need to be at their best to get something out of the contest.
“They have got some good players who have real quality so we have to be on our game, but hopefully we can get three points,” he explained.
