Vydra Targets Career-Best Return After Hitting 20

Matej Vydra says he’s fired up to beat his career-best goals return in single season.

The forward hit his 20th goal of the campaign in Derby’s 3-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers at Pride Park Stadium this afternoon.

Alex Pearce headed the Rams in front after just five minutes before Vydra added a second before the break.

Welshman Tom Lawrence then rounded off the scoring with a stunning long-range strike early in the second half to ensure Gary Rowett’s side retained fifth place in the Sky Bet Championship table.

Vydra’s goal, which was a simple tap-in from close-range after David Nugent saw his shot saved, was his 19th in the league this term.

The 25-year-old, who was named in the Championship’s Team of the Season earlier this week, is determined to surpass the impressive 22 goals he scored for Watford back in 2012/13.

The total remains the most he has scored in a single campaign so far during his career - and he wants that to change between now and May.

He told RamsTV after the game: “I am hungry to score goals.

“This season I have scored quite a few and at times I have had a bit of luck. I have 20 in all competitions and that is very nice for me.

“I want to beat my record, which is 22, so I need to score a few more between now and the summer.”

On his goal, he added: “I think this goal was the easiest one of my career! I never scored a rebound before. I wanted David Nugent to score today and that is why I passed to him early on but he missed.

“He had the shot which came to me for my goal. I was just in the right position to score in front of an empty goal.”

The victory over the Trotters helped Derby record back-to-back league successes for the first time in 2018.

The Rams recently endured a challenging run of eight matches without a win but remain very much in the promotion race as the season nears its conclusion.

Vydra believes there’s a firm focus across the squad to make sure Derby finish in the top six and have a shot at promotion.

He said: “Before the Preston game (1-0 win on Bank Holiday Monday) we had a very bad period and we couldn’t get out of that.

“Second place fell away from us and maybe we came under some pressure. We have won two games in a row now and we have real focus to finish in the top six and get into the play-offs.

“We have six games left and we will do all we can to win them all.”

Derby’s next fixture is on Wednesday evening at Championship leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

The West Midlands outfit are on the cusp of returning to the Premier League and Vydra says the Rams are relishing the opportunity to test themselves against them.

He said: “To go to the leaders is a big game for us.

“We can test how we are right now against the top team at their home ground.

“We will focus on ourselves and try to win.”