Craig Forsyth believes Derby County will need to put in another patient performance on Saturday against Preston North End.
The Rams were controlled and persistent in their midweek clash against Ipswich Town, which paid off late in the game when Welsh duo Joe Ledley and Tom Lawrence fired Derby to a 2-0 victory.
Following that game, manager Frank Lampard praised his side’s patience as the Tractor Boys remained strong at the back for much of the match.
Forsyth is expecting Preston to be equally as hard to break down this weekend and said the Rams will need to again remain strong in their game plan at Pride Park Stadium.
“A lot of teams come here, and if you offered them a point before the game they would take it,” the 29-year-old said.
“Sometimes you feel that is what teams come here for. They sit in and defend deep but we have to be patient and wait for the opportunities to arise and when they do, take them.
“As we showed the other night, it might take until the 60th minute after wearing them down, going side-to-side, but we have to keep going and it will come in the end.”
The defender has had to also bide his time this season, making his first appearance of the campaign against Millwall last weekend when he came off the bench to replace Scott Malone who picked up a knock.
He proved himself worthy of a starting role after firing the ball through to David Nugent who struck home from the edge of the box in the 2-1 loss at The Den.
“It’s not my job to be scoring goals but setting them up I can certainly help with,” Forsyth said.
“It went through to David Nugent and was a great finish from him to try and get us back in the game. We just couldn’t get that equaliser late on.
“In the style we play now we are encouraged to get forward and help with the attacking play and that is something I enjoy doing. Hopefully there is more to come.”
A few days later, Forsyth started against Ipswich and was one of the standout performers for Lampard’s side.
In the first five games, the left-back position has seen Max Lowe, Malone and Forsyth all start there which shows the depth in the squad and tough competition that is apparent in every position.
Forsyth has had to work hard and be prepared and take his opportunity when it came following a spell out of action during pre-season with a chest problem.
“All over the pitch, there is competition for places and whoever steps in is more than capable of doing their job,” he said.
“It’s been slow in getting going for myself, but football is about set-backs. It’s how you deal with them and how you recover. You have got to come out on the right side of them.
“When you are out the team you are frustrated but you have just got to knuckle down, keep your head and you have got to make sure you are as fit as you can possibly be so if you are called upon you can go on and do the job.”
