Cocu Highlights Importance Of Derby Hitting The Ground Running

Phillip Cocu believes Derby County need to hit the ground running if they are to mount a late charge to gatecrash the Sky Bet Championship’s top-six.

Derby, and the rest of the Championship, will return to competitive action this weekend and a trip to Millwall awaits for the Rams this afternoon (1pm kick-off) following a three-month suspension of the campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matches must be played behind-closed-doors and clubs will also have to ensure they meet the EFL’s strict protocols for all first-team fixtures to ensure they meet the UK Government’s guidelines.

Derby went into the unexpected break in the season in a good run of form and impressive back-to-back victories against Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers had propelled them into the top half of the table.

The Rams find themselves five points off the top six ahead of the restart and seven of their nine remaining matches are against sides sitting above them in the standings.

Cocu is of the opinion that his side need to get themselves off a good start when they return to action if they are to remain in the hunt for a play-off spot for the third time in as many seasons.

Speaking to RamsTV ahead of today’s game, Cocu said: “I think it is important - if you look at the first three games we have to play (Millwall, Reading and Preston North End) - we have to get off to a good start to be able to close the gap.

“The first game is the most important one, but we know the three matches coming up are ones we need to start well in.

“Five points seems like a small gap, but if you fail to win one game and the others do then the mission becomes much more complicated.”

Cocu knows it remains a big challenge for Derby to finish in the top six, but it is one he’s relishing.

His side produced a more consistent run of results and performances from the end of December onwards, after an inconsistent start to the campaign, and Cocu wants to see his side carry on where they left off.

He said: “We are aware that we have a big challenge in front of us.

“We always intend to win every game we play and before the break in the season we were playing good football and getting good results.

“We want to pick up where we left off.”

Don’t forget you can see Derby County return to action at Millwall LIVE on RamsTV from 12:30pm on Saturday afternoon. Sign up to RamsTV and purchase your streaming pass here: dcfc.co.uk/page/ramstv.