Phillip Cocu has stressed that everyone in the Derby County camp must maintain their belief that a positive run of form is just around the corner.
Derby have games coming thick and fast over the festive period as they aim to climb the Sky Bet Championship table.
Cocu’s side have recorded two draws and four defeats from their last six outings, which means they sit 17th at the halfway stage of the campaign.
There have been positives for the Rams to build on in recent months following Cocu’s appointment on a four-year deal in July.
A number of factors have resulted in a stop-start first half of the campaign for the Rams, particularly injuries which have bitten hard in recent weeks.
The dismissal of Scott Malone after five minutes, for a professional foul, at Reading on Saturday handed the Rams a mountain to climb and they went on to produce a battling display in an undeserved defeat.
Cocu says now is the time for everyone in the Rams’ squad to continue to remain positive and believe in each other as they look to return to winning ways.
They head to Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day, before taking on Charlton Athletic and Barnsley at Pride Park Stadium either side of the New Year.
Speaking to RamsTV, Cocu said: “We know that results are what football is all about.
“I have faced in my career a lot of positive periods when things go your way and you feel good you play good football.
“I have also had many difficult situations that you have to face on an individual level, such as personal injuries or being out of form.
“You always have to show a good character and be professional and believe in each other and the team.
“I liked the reaction that I saw from the whole team at Reading on Saturday after five minutes when we lost a player in Scott Malone to a red card and then going 1-0 down.”
He added: “How we played from that moment on is what I want to see from my team. If we can do it with one more on the pitch, then we always have a chance on the result. We have to keep believing and fighting for it.
“I was pleased to see the attitude but also the football, the bravery on the ball which is what we missed in the game before. That is what I will keep demanding from the team and we have to work for it and stick together.”
Cocu admits that the Rams must ‘work even harder’ as they look to pick up the results they need to move up the standings.
The Derby boss is also convinced his side are due a slice of luck and he has challenged his side to make sure they earn the rub of the green.
He said: “I think for everybody it is a tough time, but when things get tough you have to step up and work even harder.
“Like I always say, things never come easy not on the grass or in life. Everybody plays the game to win so this desire that we have, we have to have it even more in Wigan.”
He added: “I also always believe that things will go our way and that we will have a little bit more luck and not always hit the post or the crossbar. We have to find a way to find our luck at the moment.”
