3/1 To Win
Darren Wassall has stressed the need to maintain a positive mentality as Derby County prepare for a ‘big week’ of action.
Saturday’s game at Brentford kicks off a run of three games inside eight days in the Sky Bet Championship for Derby.
The Rams will also face Blackburn Rovers at the iPro Stadium on Wednesday before making the journey across the Midlands to Wolverhampton Wanderers next Saturday.
Derby will head south to Griffin Park looking to address a run of eight games without a win in the league, of which four have been draws.
Wassall, who was placed charge of first-team affairs until the end of the season last week, has insisted that everyone has adopted a positive mindframe as the side look to return to winning ways.
He told Rams Player HD: “It’s a big week for us, which begins on Saturday against Brentford. We also play on Wednesday against Blackburn at the iPro Stadium and then Wolves, which is the TV game at Molineux.
“We are all really excited about the week ahead; it’s a great opportunity to get back on track. It is going to be tough, we know that, but we’d like to start the week off with a very positive result on Saturday.
“Now is about sticking together, remaining positive and working hard against the opposition. Usually, when you out-work the opposition week in, week out, the luckier you get and with the ability that we have, that can only be positive.
“Nobody at this football club is negative about the next 15 games. We are all really positive, players and staff alike, that we can turn this run of form around.”
Wassall has also stated the importance of Derby’s players maintaining their self-belief.
He says the Rams’ squad proved what it is capable of earlier in the season - and has the ability to embark on another positive run of results.
He said: “The players have to keep believing and they have to have that self-belief that when they go over that white line on a Saturday that they’re better than the opposition.
“If their training over the last week is anything to go by, all the players really are raring to go on Saturday.
“Everyone here really wants to be successful. You see it every day in training and around the training ground.
“This squad has already shown that it’s capable of being one of the best in this league. This squad also got to the top of the league just before Christmas. Everyone knows ability wise what we are capable of and you don’t become bad players overnight - we just need to get that confidence and momentum back.”
Wassall has also confirmed that midfielder George Thorne will again not be involved this weekend.
Thorne has missed the last two games with a calf problem.
Although he isn’t too far away from a return to action, Wassall says he will not be rushed.
He said: “George won’t be involved this weekend, however he hope that he will re-join training next week and may be in contention for the Wolves game.
“We don’t want to put any pressure on his rehabilitation; we want him to be ready.”
