3/1 To Win
Full-back Scott Malone is still on a high from the weekend - but is focusing fully on Wednesday’s Sky Bet Championship clash against Swansea City and not looking too far ahead.
The 28-year-old made his return from a rib injury in the 2-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers on Easter Monday and again played a key part in Saturday’s 2-0 away win over Bristol City.
Derby have two games of their season remaining and know three points will all but seal their place in the play-off place, as they hold a superior goal difference over Middlesbrough in seventh place.
In his pre-match interview aheaf of Derby's trip to Swansea, the left-back started by reflecting on the weekend's win at Ashton Gate.
“It was backs to the wall for large periods and we knew before the game it was going to be tough,” he told RamsTV. “The first five or six minutes were tough; they were switching from side-to-side and we had to put our bodies on the line.
“Fikayo Tomori put his body on the line and had to come off with a bad blow to his leg. We played on the counter-attack for a lot of the game and I don’t think the quality was always there with the ball for us.
“It was really windy and with the ball in the air it was tough to judge. We went there needing to win and we won.
“We are four points ahead of Bristol City and level on points with Middlesbrough, but we have a game more than them to play.
“We go to Swansea, we are doing all the things right; getting massages, ice baths, in the pool and recovering right to go again on Wednesday.”
It is a huge game at the Liberty Stadium for the Rams.
Until the weekend, Swansea had a small glimmer of reaching the play-off positions themselves, however, their 2-2 draw at home to Hull City ensured they will remain in the division next season.
Despite this, Malone knows they will be up for the fight to try and win the game in front of their supporters in what will be their final home fixture of the season.
In comparison, the Rams need four points from their next two games to extend their season by a couple of weeks and is keen to focus ahead of the game.
“You can’t go into Wednesday with the mentality ‘it’s alright, this is a free hit we have another game at home’,” he said.
“We need three points on Wednesday to put ourselves three points clear. We have given ourselves an extra point almost with our goal difference being six better than Middlesbrough.
“I think it is good coming towards the end of the season that we have shown both sides that we can stick six past Rotherham then go to Bristol as well and grind it out and score two as well.”
The play-offs are something which Malone is used to, however, he was keen not to look too far ahead.
“I was in it with Fulham a few seasons ago,” he commented. “We went in playing the better football and as favourites that time and we lost to Reading over two legs.
“It is a lottery when you get in there, but the main thing is to get in there to be in the draw.”
