3/1 To Win
Head Coach Paul Warne challenged his Derby County side to maintain their high standards when they continue the busy festive fixture schedule at Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship on New Year’s Day (3pm kick-off).
Back-to-back home games saw the Rams pick up maximum points in a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Boxing Day and suffer a narrow 1-0 loss over league leaders Leeds United on Sunday.
Warne’s side will be looking to get more points on the board when they head to Hillsborough for their first fixture of 2025.
Derby were beaten 2-1 by a late winner when they played the Owls at Pride Park in early December, and will be hoping to turn the tables when they head to Hillsborough.
Warne spoke to RamsTV to reflect on the festive fixtures so far and look forward to their first match of the new year.
On preparations for the New Year's Day clash ...
We went through some processes after the Leeds game with the lads. Those who played a large part will have some time off their feet. The other lads will train and then we'll formulate a plan. We already know how we want to go into the match against Sheffield Wednesday, but it's not just about picking the best players to win, you've also got to think about freshness as well to a certain extent. Sometimes, you have to shake the pack up.
On the home fixture against the Owls in early December...
They scored a goal more than us, that I can't complain about. They scored a screamer, but I thought we were really good for 70-odd minutes against them. In every home game, I can't really be that critical of our performances. I feel we've been really good. We've lost three or four at home now, but the lads give everything. It's Sheffield Wednesday, then Bristol City and then it feels like you can breathe.
I watched Sheffield Wednesday’s last game as they lost away at Preston North End and they'll also be desperate to avenge that result. It'll be two good teams going for it and hopefully we can come out on top.
On hopes moving into 2025...
Derby County is a brilliant football club with really good people who work here. It makes me really proud and it's an honour to be a part of. I just hope that the team can keep performing to their maximum and that is all I can ask. I would love them to win every match, whatever the case may be. But mostly I just want them to perform at their best and I want them to enjoy their lives. If they do that, then as a management team, we've done our job and I'll be hugely proud of that.
