Pre-Match Thoughts: Warne Previews Derby's Trip To Wycombe

Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne believes his team will have to be at their very best to be competitive against play-off chasing Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

The Rams go into the game on the back off six victories in a row in Sky Bet League One whilst the Chairboys are also in a rich vein of form, having won five of their last seven.

Warne spoke to RamsTV on Thursday morning to preview this weekend's trip to Buckinghamshire.

On what the team have been working on ahead of Wycombe...

We're just trying to reiterate the things that can improve because we always need to improve. The fundamentals for us; the restarts, the press and my bugbear, a little bit, is set-pieces.

On how he manages rivalry and competition within a squad...

It's difficult because it's a team sport but it isn't, in equal measure.

You are all self-employed, all fighting for your own families and careers so it is difficult because you have to find harmony within a group. That's why I find recruitment essential because it's not only what they do on the pitch but off the pitch too. You have to get the right people at a football club and you need to have a culture that it's about everybody.

In regards to who takes the penalties it's usually if you've taken the last one and scored you get to keep it so Collo was on them last week. For him to give the ball to Didzy, for me, was a bit of a highlight from last Saturday's win.

On his Manager of the Month nomination...

If you came to my house, there's not anything about football. I don't collect trophies or keep anything, I'm a mercenary in that respect as I just like to live in the moment. If we were fortunate to win it, and I know all managers say it, but it's not really my award, it's for the team's success. If we are fortunate to win it then it's one for everyone at the football club.

On the squad fitness...

We're looking very good. The lads are buzzing. Harvey White has come into the building and given the players a boost because they can see how good he is and how much he wants to play; which is great. Training has been really good, everyone has been in a good place.

The lads are good and they are going to have to be good to beat Wycombe side because they have been doing really well since Christmas. I've come up against Gareth Ainsworth many times in the past and they are always very difficult matches, so we are going to have to be at our very best to be competitive.