3/1 To Win
Derby County kick-start the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship campaign in a week and Bradley Johnson is eager to carry out the new manager’s ‘message’ on the pitch.
The Rams have brought excitement to fans in the build-up to the season, with Frank Lampard’s flare bursting through his players out on the pitch leading to three out of four pre-season victories.
Johnson grabbed a goal on Wednesday night with a powerful header handing Derby a 1-0 victory over Coventry City.
The latest outing again showed the Rams’ revamped, energetic and attacking style under the new manager. A style that the 31-year-old midfielder believes suits the squad well and one he loves to play in.
“He has come in with his staff and they have ticked all the right boxes for myself and I think everyone else here at the club too,” Johnson told RamsTV.
“We know we have got to work hard in every game we go into, training has been hard and intense.
“We’ve got into a rhythm now where we know how the manager wants us to play and I think you can really see in the pre-season games that we have put his message across that he wants us to press from the front and play football out from the back and press high.
“I think that’s what the fans want, we have the lads in the team who can do it and we are enjoying it.
“We are looking forward to the first day of the season and it’s going to be exciting this year.”
Johnson is one of five Derby players to score in the first four pre-season games as Lampard’s high-intensity, high-possession football has highlighted a tight-knit squad that is firing together.
Just after the half an hour mark on Wednesday night, Johnson powered in a header after Andre Wisdom chased down a pass in the box to launch over the cross. It was perfect placement for Johnson to do the damage.
“I think ‘Dre’ did well to keep it in and I fancy myself when the ball comes in the air in the box.
“Fortunately, it was just there for me to head and everyone said I headed it in quite hard.”
There is one last pre-season test for the Rams on Saturday against Premier League new boys, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
It will be another chance for Derby smooth over the new methods and Johnson, who is entering his fourth season at Pride Park, is looking for a win to carry through to next Friday night to open the season at Reading.
“It’s still pre-season but we want to win pre-season games,” he said. “We have got another hard game against Wolves on Saturday.
“We want to again put the messages across about what the manager wants us to do and then we can start preparing for Reading on Friday night. I’m sure it’s going to be an intense week leading up to that.”
As well as matches, Rams fans had the opportunity to watch their team in training at Pride Park Stadium on Thursday.
Lampard and his staff put the players through their paces on the hot and humid afternoon before supporters got a chance to take a selfie and get their favourite players’ signatures.
There was also one special supporter in attendance to watch Johnson.
“It was good coming out here and playing in front of the fans. They came in their numbers and I know the kids are off school, my little boy was here as well,” said Johnson.
“It’s good for the kids to come here, watch us play then take some photos with them and sign some stuff for them after.”
