Davies Relishing Forest Test Ahead Of International Break

Curtis Davies has labelled Derby County’s start to the 2021/22 season as satisfactory - but hopes there’s more to come.

Wayne Rooney’s side have picked up five points from their opening four league games of the season in the Sky Bet Championship.

Davies, who signed a one-year deal with the Rams earlier this month to move into his fifth season at Pride Park Stadium, has started all four fixtures at the heart of the defence.

The 36-year-old is in line to start once again as Derby welcome Nottingham Forest to town on Saturday in their final fixture before the international break (12:30pm kick-off).

“I’m feeling good and have been enjoying playing and being back out there,” Davies told RamsTV.

“I’m enjoying the way that the manager wants us to play so I’m looking forward to the game and hopefully we can get our first home victory of the season on Saturday.

“Take the last 10 minutes of the Peterborough game out of it, I think we can be satisfied and happy with the start to the season that we have had.”

Davies has made it clear that Derby’s form against their local rivals needs to improve.

The Rams haven’t beaten the Reds since the 2-0 success at Pride Park Stadium in October 2017.

Ironically, that was the experienced defender’s first taste of the rivalry and he’s keen to taste another positive result.

“That game in 2017 was my first one as well so the fact this is my fifth season is not good enough against your local rivals, if I’m bring honest,” Davies said.

“It’s not a good record. If the season was about two games against Forest, then you would worry but there is a bigger picture to the season.

“The way we are playing and the form we are starting to show, we would like to win the game.”

He added: “The atmosphere will be massive, both sides of it. We want to get that first home win and start climbing the table and put ourselves into a nice position.

“We can’t worry too much about the position they are in, but we need to strike when we feel someone is at that weak point.”