3/1 To Win
Jason Knight has signalled Derby County’s intent to make Pride Park Stadium a fortress this season.
Derby head into Saturday’s home game against Swansea City (3pm kick-off) looking to pick up a third successive win on home turf.
Wayne Rooney’s side are unbeaten in five Sky Bet Championship fixtures in front of their own fans this term after registering two wins and three draws.
Derby’s supporters have been right behind the side throughout the campaign to date and more so than ever after the club was deducted 12 points because of entering administration last month.
That deduction has taken the Rams from the cusp of the play-off places to bottom of the table but events off the field have formed an even closer bond between the squad and the supporters.
Knight, who set up Craig Forsyth’s winner in the 1-0 win over Reading on Wednesday, has stressed that having a strong home record will be vital as Derby look to claw their way back up the table.
Speaking to RamsTV, Knight said: “We managed to get a positive result on Wednesday and it was a great night all round too as I was back in the starting line-up.
“The fans were excellent as well, so it was nice to pick up another three points at Pride Park.
“It is important for us to make our home ground a fortress and that’s down to the players, and the fans well, to make that happen.”
He added: “It is important we focus on ourselves as a first-team squad and try to put results on the board despite everything that’s going on.
“We want to get good results for the fans and the club and that is what we will strive to do.”
Knight, 20, has made five appearances this season after recently returning to action from an ankle injury sustained in pre-season.
He is due to link up with the Republic of Ireland squad next week for their upcoming matches against Azerbaijan and Qatar but, before his focus turns to international commitments, he has his eyes on the Rams’ home fixture against Swansea.
Last season’s play-off finalists are 19th in the league table with two wins, four draws and four losses under new manager Russell Martin.
Looking ahead to the game, Knight said: “It will be tough test for us.
“They’ve got a new manager in this season, and a new style, and we know it’ll be a difficult game.
“We’re raring to go off the back of a good result in midweek.”
Knight, a graduate of Derby’s Academy, is now in his third season in the first-team squad and has racked up 85 games and nine goals since making his senior debut in August 2019.
