Gary Rowett has demanded Derby County’s players continue to keep their feet on the ground ahead of Saturday’s home fixture against Millwall.
Derby will go into the Pride Park Stadium clash with the Lions (3pm kick-off) looking to maintain their impressive December form.
The Rams have won all three of their fixtures during the final month of the calendar year without conceding a goal to maintain their place in the Sky Bet Championship’s top six.
Derby saw off fellow play-off rivals Aston Villa last weekend with an impressive 2-0 home win, but the Rams’ boss is reluctant to label the victory as a ‘statement’.
Instead, he says all the focus is on trying to build on the victory over Steve Bruce’s men and making sure his side don’t lose sight of the qualities which have seen them force their way into the promotion race ahead of the halfway stage.
Rowett told RamsTV: “When we lost at Bristol City in September, it was about winning the next game to climb the table. When we were just outside the top six, it was about winning the next game to get in there. When you’re in the top six, it is about trying to maintain that.
“There’s never a time when you’ve made a ‘statement’ after a win because you can lose the next couple and that makes a ‘statement’ the other way. We have to make sure we follow up the win against Villa and make sure it doesn’t go to waste.
“Each game is about three points and the game this weekend is exactly the same. What you have to do is maintain equilibrium in the group and make sure we have the same sort of humility to put a similar sort of performance in when the next game comes around.
“I like the way we are building different performances but I will always look to areas where we can improve and get better. That’s the mentality we want to try and create, so we don’t get carried away and lose sight of what got us into this position in the first place.”
Millwall head to town without an away win so far this term following their promotion from League 1, but they will make the journey north in good form after picking up two wins and draw from their three matches so far this month.
Rowett feels the Lions have made good progress under Harris.
He said: “I know Neil Harris and Dave Livermore after I spent 18 months with them on my Pro Licence Course. They have done a tremendous job and after suffering defeat in the play-off final in 2015/16, they did brilliantly to bounce back and get promoted last season.
“It takes a lot of mental strength to do that and they’ve also done well this season. They’ve been good at home which you would expect from a Millwall team.
“They went to Aston Villa recently, drew 0-0 and had the better chances and more energy. They were unfortunate and unlucky not to get the win and we will be mindful of what they have got to offer.
“They are a physical and energetic side. We have found a good balance of finding different ways to win games and this will be another difficult test. I won’t be reading much into their away form at all.”