3/1 To Win
Head Coach Paul Warne has praised his ‘resilient’ Derby County squad.
The Rams will return to Pride Park Stadium, where they have won three times from four games in the Sky Bet Championship so far this term, to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Derby fell to a 2-0 defeat in the North East against Sunderland on Tuesday night with Jobe Bellingham’s long-range effort before the half-time whistle and Wilson Isidor’s strike in the second period giving the hosts all three points.
After a battling performance from the Rams, with a late effort from Curtis Nelson and a double-chance for Eiran Cashin and Craig Forsyth coming close, they couldn’t mount a turnaround on Wearside.
Warne caught up with RamsTV before training on Thursday morning to look ahead to Derby’s final match before the October international break.
On the performance against Sunderland…
I was proud of a lot of it. I was proud of the fact that the players were resilient, they kept going to the end and they didn't give up. That's the massive positive of our team. We started well and just needed to take a chance when we got one.
At times we were just a bit messy with the ball. I thought in the second half we were a bit better, but I didn't feel we were controlled enough in the first half. You have to give respect to the opposition. They made it as hard as they could for us and we played well in parts.
In all the games we’ve lost so far, we're talking about the smallest of margins. Sunderland scored a 30-yarder. It's not bad defending as such, but us giving the ball away doesn't help. We were good in parts. We don't give up, which I love about the team. In the second half, once we made the changes especially, it seemed we were going to be the next team that was going to score. Unfortunately, it didn't come. The old classic, goals change games, rings true and we need to find more ways to score.
On making changes and knowing the quality in the squad…
I know what my best team looks like, but each week is a different question. Ssome weeks we think it would suit having a 'number ten', sometimes we think it would be better having 'two eights' and sometimes we think it would be better to start with a back three. I've only used a back three once so far from the off but we can do it.
We now have a pretty good understanding of what all the players can do. I appreciate some of the lads when they came in hadn't played for a bit and were a little ring-rusty. I always appreciate that. It doesn't matter how hard they train. We've got a pretty good idea of everyone's contribution and how we see it.
On staying strong at Pride Park…
Long may it continue. We have been good at home - but we’ve also been good away from home but not got the points. Like I said, it’s the smallest of margins that makes the difference in many of the matches.
Pride Park is a great place for the lads to perform at and they enjoy playing at home. Hopefully, we can perform again on Saturday because it's crucial that we can take the three points when we are at home.
On Saturday’s opponents Queens Park Rangers…
They have a different threat to other teams in the league. They're top on pressing and actions once they lose the ball. So, if they lose it, they're coming after you straight away - we have to be prepared for that.
They have had, similar to us, some games where they've played really well and were fortunate not to take more points. It's going to be another tough match, and everybody knows about our good home record, so that will increase their intensity possibly coming into Saturday.
