3/1 To Win
Assistant Manager Liam Rosenior believes Derby County have plenty to be positive about with the side unbeaten in their last four Sky Bet Championship outings.
Derby have picked up one win and three draws during that time, but their performances have warranted more.
A 1-0 win over Reading, secured thanks to Craig Forsyth’s header, has since be followed by three successive draws.
The back-to-back 0-0 draws at home to Swansea City and at Preston North End either side of the international break was backed up by a thrilling 2-2 draw against Luton Town at Pride Park Stadium in midweek.
Despite being unbeaten since the late 1-0 reverse at Sheffield United in late September, there’s a feeling of what might have been in the Rams’ dressing room given their level of performance.
While Derby sit bottom of the table because of being deducted 12 points, their results would have them comfortably in mid-table and pushing for a top half berth.
Rosenior admits that it’s good to be frustrated whilst on an unbeaten run as it highlights the desire to strive for more as the Rams look to claw their way back up the league table.
They will head to top-six occupants Coventry City on Saturday (3pm kick-off), with over 3,000 Rams fans making the journey across the Midlands, as they look to extend their unbeaten run to five matches.
“It’s always better to be frustrated when you’re still unbeaten,” Rosenior told RamsTV. “I think goes to show and all credit to the players because I think the performances have warranted more than the points we’ve picked up.
“We know our performance levels are right up there in terms of this league, but we just need to convert our chances and keep the back door shut.
“It’s a huge game on Saturday for the momentum of the season. If we win then we keep that unbeaten run going.
“Then those points become fantastic points because we get three points on Saturday and that’s what we’ll be looking to do - win the game.”
Coventry sit fourth in the table with seven wins from their opening 13 league matches this term.
The Sky Blues, who are now back playing at the Coventry Building Society Arena, are unbeaten on home turf in the league so far and Rosenior has been impressed with their rise in recent years under Mark Robins.
“They are back playing in Coventry and that is great for them,” he said. “That football club has a lot of traditions and it’s great to see a fan base that seem revitalise for all the hard times that they have had.
“I think Mark Robins has done an outstanding job but they’ve got outstanding individuals.
“They have got real attacking threats throughout the side, and saying that, they have a really strong back five who will be very difficult to break down but we know we can.
“We know we are in for a tough game. We do our analysis on every team and I think Mark Robins has got them playing some really good football.”
Rosenior believes that while the Rams have a reasonably small squad to call upon in terms of numbers, there’s plenty of energy and togetherness within the group.
Everyone connected with the club have shown a close bond throughout the campaign whilst facing up to off-the-field adversity and Rosenior has praised the squad for how they have conducted themselves.
“The group is feeling good and everyone is happy,” he said. “I can’t stand the international break; it drives me crazy and all I want to do is get to the games.
“Our numbers are low in terms of our squad, but what makes up for it sometimes is that if you’re on a good run of form and playing well, it gives you that energy.
“What we have been delighted with in terms of the players is their application in training and the work we did in pre-season is now why we are still fit enough to do three games in a week.
“We have got a really honest group of professionals in the dressing room that we know that we can rely on. It doesn’t matter how tired they are, they will still give us absolutely everything.”
