3/1 To Win
Derby County midfielder Conor Hourihane is enjoying the more attacking role that he has taken up in recent weeks.
The 31-year-old has found the net twice in the last three matches and he puts a lot of that down to the re-emergence of fellow Irishman Jason Knight to the side after injury.
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of Saturday's clash with Bolton Wanderers at Pride Park Stadium, Hourihane spoke about getting forward more in recent weeks, the team's fine run of form and much more.
On his recent goalscoring form...
Everyone has been performing well and it makes your own job that little bit easier when the people around you are doing amazingly well too. Everyone is high on confidence and long may it continue.
We're on a great run so hopefully that will continue into this weekend's game against Bolton, it's going to be an exciting one.
On finally getting 'that' mug from Paul Warne...
It's been a running joke for a little bit that I'd scored a few for the previous manager and since Paul WArne had come in I hadn't got on the scoresheet for him. Before that game he had mentioned to be about getting forward a little bit more and with Jason Knight in there it gives me a bit more licence to get forward, so that has worked well over the last couple of games. I've probably taken a bit of advantage of that which is nice.
On getting forward more...
I've wanted to get forward that little bit more. Max Bird has been getting forward a little more recently too. Knighty has probably got more of that midfield mentality which balances off nicely with us. Previously before we were playing with David McGoldrick and James Collins up there and it might have held me and Birdy back that little bit more so to have that extra midfielder in there I think it has, selfishly, helped me.
On playing with Jason Knight...
We know what Knighty gives. He gives that pressing, he gives that energy and he's an intelligent player as well. Just as an overall compliment to what me and Birdy already have - he fits the bill really nicely. On top of that, we're winning a lot games and that breeds confidence so we're in a good place.
On the 17-game unbeaten run...
When the gaffer first came in we were drawing a few too many games and we've slowly but surely taken the information on and turned those draws into wins more regularly. We're now trying to push on even further and there's a long way to go so let's see where it takes us but it feels like we're going from strength to strength which is important.
On the key to turning the draws into wins...
I think it's been a bit of everything really. The lads at the back have been terrific - Joe Wildsmith and the back four are settled which always helps. There hasn't been too much chopping and changing elsewhere, there's probably been eight or nine consistent players out there over the last six weeks.
We seem to be clicking at the right time. The lads on the wing whether it be Tom Barkhuizen, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing or Lewis Dobbin - they are all chipping in with goals. It feels like the goals are coming from all areas and to mix that with a lot of clean-sheets is usually a good recipe. Everyone is playing their part and hopefully everyone that will continue.
On new signing Tony Springett...
He's only been training a couple of days but he looks sharp. He's a left-footed winger and can play left-back. He looks like he's got a lot of energy and can get up and down the pitch so no doubt he'll be a good addition to the squad and play his part towards the back end of the season.
On closing the gap on the top two...
We wanted to cement ourselves in the play-offs first and foremost and we feel like we're doing that, but nothing is assured. Hopefully we can now go on some sort of run where we can close that gap. We're hoping that the top two or three have a little bit of a slide as well which will maybe ease our run a little bit but we can only look after ourselves and game by game we have to take care of our performances.
On Bolton Wanderers this weekend...
They are a good side. They are bang in the mix themselves. They will probably have the same ambitions of us where they want to cement a play-off spot and see where it takes them after that. It was a very tight game over Christmas where each team could have nicked it 1-0, but it ended up in a 0-0 draw. I expect another tight game again but hopefully we can come out on top this time and create that little bit of quality that can win the game.
