3/1 To Win
Curtis Davies has urged his team-mates to ‘fight for their place’ in order to keep Derby County pushing forward after the Rams’ 4-1 pre-season win against Notts County.
The trip to Meadow Lane offered Derby their first chance to put Frank Lampard’s philosophy to the test as he took to the dugout for the first time.
Two separate squads were fielded each half as every player had the chance to build their pre-season resume, and it was the youngsters that boosted theirs the most.
After just two minutes, Jayden Bogle supplied Luke Thomas with a great ball that the latter then launched into the top corner.
It was Thomas who was there to put the Rams up two leading into the break and the young duo returned to the bench with their heads held high.
“Unfortunately, we missed his second goal as the second half team were getting dressed.” Said Davies on the young winger.
“We heard the roar and hoped it was for us and he took scoring his second goal really well. He is a very technical player, running at people, beating people and he looks like he took his chance today.
“It is a new manager and places up for grabs. If he keeps doing that through pre-season then there is no reason why he can’t be in the team at the start of the season.”
Another academy graduate, Mason Bennett, got the opening goal of the second half while Tom Huddlestone made it four.
Though it was the younger players fighting their way to get noticed by the coaches today, Davies believes the older more established players must still do the same.
The harder the competition for places within the team can only be a positive as every player continues to push each other.
Fighting for retain his place is what Davies, who appeared in every Sky Bet Championship match for Derby last season, vows to do.
“Whether it was still the old manager here, everybody has to fight for their place again, it’s not a given,” the 33-year-old defender said.
“You can’t come in and rest on what happened last year, thinking ‘I played all the games last season, I’ll be alright.’
“No, you need to be at it for your team, for yourself and that’s the only way we are going to move places.
“The manager doesn’t care about reputations, he has come here and he will be looking to pick the best team for that Reading game.”
Performances and regaining fitness may take centre stage in the pre-season campaign, but Davies is always happy to get a win.
Whether the side is two leagues below or a league above, he explains a positive result in the pre-season will help build confidence by August.
“It does feel good to get a win. You need to go out there with a bit of confidence,” he added.
“If we were to go out and get battered every single pre-season game 3 or 4-0 then go into the season then I don’t think our mindset would be fully right.
“We would be questioning each other and questioning if this is the right way to do things, so the fact that the manager has only been in a short while, we have adapted to the way the manager wants to play and I think we have done that quite well.
“It is a League Two side, with all due respect, but everyone needs to be out there to be beaten. We won today and we need to continue that.”
