Lee Croft has urged his Derby County team-mates not to dwell on the recent home defeats to Sheffield United and Barnsley.

The Rams play their third Coca-Cola Championship match in the space of a week at Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon.

The previous two games have both, perhaps harshly, ended in defeat for Derby despite encouraging performances.

Wideman Croft believes the Rams squad cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves.

"We were very disappointed and we were down on Tuesday night (after Barnsley defeat)," Croft told dcfc.co.uk.

"We can't be downbeat though, we have to pick ourselves up and be ready for Crystal Palace.

"We've lost two games in a row at home which has been massively disappointing and the only thing we can do now is prepare for Palace and try to get a good result down there.

"Palace were beaten 4-0 at home last weekend (by Scunthorpe United) so, like ourselves, they will be looking to put things right."

Croft believes the Rams are not far away from hitting a good run of form.

"On our day, I don't think there are many teams in this League that can live with us," he said.

"But we need to do that more often and for a full 90 minutes - not just in spells like we have been doing.

"We need to be solid as a full eleven and going forwards we know we can score goals, and I'm sure we will get it right sooner rather than later."