Old Friends Become Enemies As Keogh Focuses On Immediate Response

Friendships will be put to one side this weekend, with Richard Keogh’s only concern being on ensuring that Derby County show an immediate response to their midweek setback.

The Rams take on Burton Albion looking for an immediate return to winning ways after they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Ipswich Town at Pride Park Stadium on Tuesday night.

“It was a disappointing result for us - it wasn’t for the fact that we didn’t try and get a result, I thought we did everything but score,” Keogh told RamsTV.

“It’s a game we shouldn’t have lost. We conceded the set play and it gave them something to hold on to.

“We couldn’t quite break them down, we had a lot of chances over the second half and it was just one of those nights.

“You’re going to get them in football. Ipswich defended well, but I didn’t think we played badly. If we had got that first goal I think it would have been a completely different game.”

In order to bounce back, the Rams will have the task of overcoming a Burton side that has lost just once in their last six outings on the road.

On top of that, Gary Rowett’s men will have to come out on top against a side containing a number of ex-Rams players and in Keogh’s case old team-mates and friends.

“It will be good to see a few familiar faces for sure,” he added. “There will be Bucko (Jake Buxton), Bray (John Brayford), Barks (Shaun Barker) and Warney (Stephen Warnock) and it will be nice to see them all. They were great with me and we all had a good relationship.”

Keogh also gave his thoughts on Burton’s achievements last year as they steered clear of relegation in their first year in the Sky Bet Championship.

Whilst the Brewers may find themselves in the relegation places ahead of this match, Derby’s skipper knows full well that they will be a tough nut to crack in his side’s mission to maintain their impressive recent form that has taken them into the division’s play-off places.

“All our focus is on making sure we show a response from Tuesday,” Keogh said.

“Burton had an amazing season last year. I don’t think you can underestimate how good a job Nigel, his coaching staff and his players did.

“It was a fantastic achievement for them to stop up – they were always going to be punching above their weight in this division, but they proved what can be achieved through togetherness and team work.

“We know, again, that it will be a tough match, but we are determined to win it and make sure we keep ourselves in the position that we are in.”