3/1 To Win
First Team Development Coach Justin Walker believes there are hugely positive signs from Derby County’s opening four games of the season to build on as the Rams travel to Shropshire to take on Shrewsbury Town at the Montgomery Waters Meadow Stadium on Tuesday (7:45pm kick-off).
Liam Rosenior’s side have won three out of their four fixtures so far this season, winning twice in the league and progressing through to Round Two of the Carabao Cup following a 2-1 success at Mansfield Town last week.
But it’s not just been results on the pitch which have been impressive so far this campaign as the Rams’ clear identity and style of play have dazzled supporters in recent weeks.
There have been some lovely passages of play which has created numerous chances over the four competitive games so far, and Walker believes that the Rams can only improve, making it more exciting for everyone associated with the football club.
The 46-year-old spoke to RamsTV ahead of the game against Shrewsbury, first of all reflecting on Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Barnsley, the Rams’ style of play, the squad and what is expected from tomorrow’s game with the Shrews.
On Saturday’s Win Against Barnsley…
It was a massive three points. I think it’s really important to keep our record going at home. We have had a good time at home, particularly at the back end of last season, and to do it at the start of this season has been pleasing for the home fans.
We have to give Barnsley some credit as they made it difficult for us in the second half, but that’s the opportunity you have to see the other side of the team. I don’t think it was enjoyable at times, but I’m always intrigued by different personalities when you have got a bit of adversity and it shows what we are made of. I think we stuck to the test. People like Eiran Cashin, Richard Stearman and Joe Wildsmith enjoyed it in a kind of way. Clearly we would have liked more control in the match but I think to get over the line the way that we did shows that we’ve got two sides to our game.
On A Battling Performance…
League One is a challenging league. Difficult teams make you defend and see what you’re about and it’s nice for us to stand up to that and show people that we’ve not got a soft underbelly. We can play but we can also stand up to the stern test which we were given on Saturday. It builds confidence in the squad and when you see our striker, James Collins, heading balls out of our box at the end of the game, you can see what it means to the players and long may that continue.
On The Amount Of Chances Created In Recent Games…
It’s important for us to try and build that consistency in periods of games where we are playing and building the way we want to play. Our style of play is clear for people to see and it’s been really effective in the matches we’ve played. The problem comes when you aren’t creating chances so the players are getting used to each other and we’re building relationships. It’s been positive for us and we have created a number of chances that as we go into the season, when people start to build those relationships and it’s clear where the ball is going, we’ll get on the end of them. The work ethic is great and you earn your rewards from that.
On How Quickly Everything Has Knitted Together…
Liam spoke in pre-season about having to microwave the process. You can do that when you have got intelligent players in the group. We have experience in there and know-how, but also the players are so open-minded to understand the style of play and how we can improve. We are challenging and pushing each other all of the time and the evidence is there in the games so far. There is more to come, which is the most exciting thing, and we are working every day to try and improve.
On A Three-Game Week…
Every game is an opportunity to pick up points. I don’t think we have to put too much emphasis on whether we are at home or away, the way we play will be the way we play. We clearly need to improve the away record and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do, but we won away from home in the Carabao Cup at Mansfield Town last week and that was an important one for us. It was a good challenge and we prepared as well for the periods we faced on Saturday and we came through that. We are proving to each other all the time that we are heading in the right direction.
On Shrewsbury Town…
I think over the years, any Steve Cotterill team you are going to face a tough test and a challenge. You are going to be asked to defend and they’re very forward-thinking in what they do. It’s for us to stand up and deal with that and try to impose our game on them.
On The Squad…
Everyone is fit and healthy. We are in a good place and it’s important that we use the depth that is available to us. We are in that period now where things come thick and fast so I think other than James Chester and Curtis Davies, who we missed on Saturday, I think everyone else is fine.
On The Options In The Squad…
It’s massively important, especially in the league we are in. It proves also in the kind of professionals we’ve got in the building. Richard Stearman stepped in for Curtis Davies and that’s not a problem for us. Last season, in some situations, we were looking around and putting in some young and inexperienced lads but Richard Stearman has had a fantastic career and is the ultimate professional in terms of how he prepares daily on the training ground and that’s credit to him and the standards the lads are setting themselves. They are game ready when called upon. We want promotion and winning matters. That’s the drive and energy you need around any club and if you try and develop that culture then you should be successful.
