Pre-Match Thoughts: Warne Looking To Create Momentum In Hectic November Schedule

Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne is looking for his side to create some positive momentum as they enter a hectic November fixture list.

The Rams picked up their first home win under Warne's management in the 4-2 victory over Bristol Rovers on Saturday in Sky Bet League One and he is eager for his players to build on that when they travel to Morecambe on Tuesday evening (7:45pm kick-off).

Speaking to RamsTV prior to the clash he discussed Saturday's win, the importance of building momentum and provided a team news update ahead of the trip to Lancashire.

On getting his message across after Saturday’s win…

There’s nothing more reinforcing than when they feel it themselves.

Conor Hourihane was telling me it’s the best he’s felt in a game. He was getting more touches and he felt more comfortable, but that could be down to numerous things. It could be down to the shape, the way we set-up, their attitude and being a bit braver - or it might be down to being a bit more conditioned to the way we want to play.

Before we left the training ground on Saturday, we had a bit of a meeting with the senior professionals and I told them we needed them and to help the younger lads - and they did that. Today, when we do the debrief, if they can see the benefits of the press then it’s a much better way to reinforce after the win.

On James Collins’ goal…

I like Collo scoring all the time because he’s grumpy, so it cheers him up! I’m pleased for him because centre-forwards do so much work away from goal and sometimes they don’t get the credit unless they score. James and Didzy started our press at the weekend, so the fact they both scored gave us massive satisfaction as well.

It’s always nice, especially that it came from a set-piece, because I want the lads to realise the importance of a set-piece. You can play rubbish in a game but you still have the chance to win if you score from a set-piece.

On keeping momentum going…

The lads get it from their performances but it’s just about trying to reinforce the good things and trying to put the same level of performance on tomorrow night.

At the moment our position of seventh is alright, I suppose, but the teams at the top get wins even when they don’t play well and it just becomes second-nature. I want the lads to be leaving the dressing room feeling that this is a game they are going to win. Not winning is easy, I could still play if I didn’t want to win but winning is hard and the lads are coming to terms with that I think.

If we can go and win against Morecambe, it takes us into a month of away fixtures where we can pick up points and come back home and have a good December. We just need to try and average two points a game, that’s how I see it. If you average that over the season you are right up there. At the moment we are short of that for a few different reasons but hopefully we can start to perform at a level where we see that.

On team news…

Conor Hourihane is out suspended so I’ve got a couple of options there. We might need to check on Nathaniel Mendez-Laing today from the weekend but it’s the way we want to play, you’ve got to gas out and that’s where you need your strength in depth and multiple players in each position. If I could I’d probably swap Nat for Tom [Barkhuizen] tomorrow and not take any unnecessary risks but we’ll see how they all are when they come in.

On November’s schedule…

I still need to give the players time with their families, still need to give them as much time in their own beds as I can and I need to keep them psychologically as happy as possible because happy people work better.

Eating times, sleep patterns affects your training schedule and it is difficult.

If ever you need a good 20 fit this is when you need it. Knighty seems to be getting closer, Tom says he’s close so hopefully we can trickle them in through the month and it will make it easier for everyone.