3/1 To Win
Tom Huddlestone is prepared for a busy Easter weekend as Derby County fight to ‘get over the line’ in their mission to cement their place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs.
Derby sit fifth in the Championship, but have not recorded a win since the beginning of February.
There is everything to play for in the final stretch of the season as Gary Rowett’s side looks to get back to their winning ways.
Huddlestone, 31, has his focus firmly set on bouncing back after a break and putting up a fight to make the play-offs.
Derby will have had almost three weeks to rest and prepare for the final nine games after the international break following the postponement of the clash against Cardiff City.
Huddlestone told dcfc.co.uk: “This is an important time. We put ourselves in a great position a couple of weeks ago, but the recent results haven’t been what we would have liked.
“There will be four or five teams behind us who think we are on a bad run and that they can catch us. We have got to be realistic, though, the results and the performances need to be better.
“We shouldn’t be thinking about the top two at this point – again if we are being realistic – and our focus has got to be on making sure we finish in those play-offs.”
He added: “Anything can happen between now and the end of the season. We have nine games, all against sides that are fighting for their lives whether it be to get promoted or avoid relegation.
“We know what we have got to do in the last nine games and at a minimum, we have got to win four of them. We’re in a decent position, now we have to get over the line.”
Good Friday will see relegation-threatened Sunderland at Pride Park, and despite being at opposite ends of the table Huddlestone admits it won’t be an easy ride.
Derby will be without Huddlestone who is suspended for one match following a red card at Nottingham Forest but he will be back in action Easter Monday at Preston North End.
The veteran midfielder insists the team is fully equipped to finish the season strong and, importantly, in the top-six.
He said: “Maybe we are being written off a little bit, but we have got the self-belief in the squad that we are more than capable of achieving what we want.”
“With the size of Sunderland as a club, you wouldn’t expect them to be where they are in the league. They are fighting for their lives and it’s going to be a tough game for sure.
“That said, we have then got Preston a few days after who are right on our coattails.
“Deepdale is a difficult place to go. In that respect, we have got two similar games in one aspect, but are completely different in the sense of what the three teams are needing the points for. It’s going to be an interesting Easter.”
