Nine To Go; Embrace The Challenge!

Senior Communications Officer Tom Loakes (@TomLoakes) looks ahead to the final nine games of Derby County's 2017/18 season and assesses why the there's plenty of reasons to relish the run-in.

The run-in is here.

Nine games of the regular league campaign remain for Derby County in their quest to finish in the Sky Bet Championship’s top six.

It’s challenge that manager Gary Rowett has said he wants his players to enjoy and embrace.

He also stated his pre-match interview with RamsTV ahead of Friday’s game with Sunderland he wants to see his team seize the opportunity that is before them with both hands.

For me; that’s the best way of putting it.

Maybe there’s a chance to prove a few points too. There’s been plenty of talk externally recently about current form - and it’s down to the Rams to disprove a few theories on the pitch.

Remarkably it’s almost three weeks since the Rams last played, owing to the postponed clash against Cardiff City and the international break.

It has felt like forever, too! You get the feeling that everyone can’t wait for the action to start again.

The squad have had a breather, rightly so, but plenty of hard work has still taken place on the training pitch and behind the scenes to get set for the big push.

In my opinion what’s gone before, to a degree, counts for very little now.

It’s all about the next nine games and tackling the challenge head on as the Rams look to maintain their promotion charge.

Of course, lessons can be learned from the previous 37 matches in the league campaign but the feeling around the Training Centre is one of positivity and excitement about what’s to come.

There’s a real element of focus, too.

Speaking to a few of the players over the last week or so, I get the sense that everyone is ready to get back on the pitch and see the side return to winning form.

There’s a united feel around the place. Almost an air of calm. That has been transmitted by Rowett and his backroom team who all have absolute faith and belief in the squad.

They aren’t sleepwalking their way to the end of the season in mid-table, far from it, and the talent and experience is within the ranks to go and achieve something in the weeks ahead.

I referenced in my opinion piece a few weeks ago assessing Rowett’s first year as Derby’s manager that the current campaign began with the lowest expectation levels, certainly externally, for a number of seasons.

Changes were made to the squad during the summer and some shrew signings were made. After a steady start, Derby hit their stride in the Autumn.

Understandably, as Derby rose up the league and established themselves as a promotion contender, the expectancy followed suit.

The fact remains that a top-six finish wasn’t predicted by many, but it can still be achieved. If you’d had offered me to current standings back in September, I’d have snapped your hand off.

Automatic promotion, by Rowett’s own admission, is probably out of reach now. Never say never in football; but it would rely on others dropping points at a rapid rate.

A place in the top six remains very much in Derby’s hands. That alone provides a very good reason to go into the final nine matches in a bullish mood.

They have a game in hand as well, against Cardiff at Pride Park Stadium next month, and some tasty clashes are on the horizon too.

Sitting fifth ahead of the Good Friday clash against Sunderland, the Rams still have a brilliant opportunity to end this season with the prize of a place in the Premier League.

Yes, Derby haven’t won enough games recently and Rowett has not hidden away from that fact.

However, the side are yet to lose back-to-back league games this term and have only tasted defeat seven times.

The Rams have been consistent for the majority of the campaign and they’ve unfortunately been experiencing the fine lines between winning games and not in this notoriously tough division.

They aren’t a million miles away from getting back to winning form.

Every game in the next month or so has something riding on it; which I think is a good thing.

Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers, Burton Albion and Barnsley are all battling to stay in the division while Preston North End, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Middlesbrough, Cardiff and Aston Villa have promotion aspirations of their own.

Each fixture will carry importance for both sides and that will make for some mouth-watering matches.

With that, there’s a really opportunity for the Derby faithful to play their part as well.

It’s something Rowett referenced earlier this week when he appeared as a guest on BBC Radio Derby’s Sportscene Talk-In.

Yes, the players have to inspire the supporters with what they do on the pitch to get behind them and provide something cheer about. That goes without saying.

In turn, though, there will be times in the next few weeks when the fans can lift the players too.

It’s a two-way thing and Rowett highlighted the need for everyone to be pulling in the same direction.

Make no mistake about it; the players appreciate the brilliant support this club has and recognise the big difference that they can make.

Those big game atmospheres when Pride Park is rocking are special and could have a huge impact between now and May.

Just think of the Forest game back in October, for example. The atmosphere was spine-tingling before kick-off and the Rams flew out of the blocks.

Rowett has said it himself; the Derby fans were a key reason behind the blistering start which saw Matej Vydra score inside 24 seconds in the 2-0 victory.

That’s how important the backing the players receive can play a part in what happens on the pitch.

So, buckle up and get yourselves ready. The run-in is here!