Mount Praises Squad's "Mental Strength" To Bounce Back

Mason Mount praised Derby County’s “mental strength” to be able to bounce back from defeat and is looking to do the same in an “important” game on Saturday.

The Rams fell to a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City on Wednesday night at the Bet365 Stadium and although the 19-year-old is disappointed not to come away with points he believes that the squad can take positives from the game.

In a match that gave the Rams 74 percent of possession and eight shots on target compared to the Potters four, Derby were in some ways unlucky to not find an equaliser or winner with chances Mount believes may have gone in on another day.

Speaking to RamsTV Mount said: “Fik had that chance and Jack hit the post as well.

“We had those chances and on another night they’d go in. We can take some positives from the game but there still some things we need to work on and we are going to do that in training.

“It is a massive game coming up now.”

With the Sky Bet Championship leaving no time to dwell, the Rams are looking to bounce back quickly and pick up positive result when they face Swansea City for the first game at Pride Park Stadium in three weeks.

So far this season, the Rams have always redeemed themselves following a defeat by picking up points and the young midfielder says that is down the players’ mind and physicality.

He understands it will be a tough task coming against a side that were in the Premier League last season and are now starting to find their form in this Championship campaign, but Mount insists Derby will focus on their own job, as always.

“Throughout the season we have always had that bounce back ability for the next game. I think we have that mental strength to be able to do it and we have got the players and technical ability to do it as well.

“We all know how important the next game is and we need to get that win, especially at home.

“They are a big team with some good players and some that are on form scoring goals for them. We have got to be weary of that, but we are at home and playing our game.

“We have got to get back to that exciting, attacking football that we know we can play.”

After Saturday’s game the Rams see longer weeks of training as matches fall Saturday to Saturday in the run-up to a busy Christmas period. Mount believes this gives the squad vital time together to work on certain aspects.

“We are used to that midweek madness, but having that bit longer break we have more time to prepare for the next game,” he added.

“We are definitely ready, but we need to improve in some parts of our game and we have that time to now work on it.”