Pre-Match Thoughts: Warne Previews Visit Of In-Form Bristol Rovers

Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne is under no illusion about the tough task that awaits his side when Bristol Rovers visit Pride Park Stadium on Saturday in their latest Sky Bet League One outing (3pm kick-off).

The Gas are in fine form and are unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions, including an impressive 1-1 draw at Sheffield Wednesday last time out.

Speaking to RamsTV ahead of Saturday's match, Warne discussed the task ahead, the current injury situation and plenty more.

On what to expect from Bristol Rovers…

They were really good against Sheffield Wednesday the other night. They don't have what some people would regard as 'out-and-out superstars'; they were just a really hardworking team.

They stopped Sheffield Wednesday on numerous occasions and made it difficult for what are one hell of a home side.

I think they are in the best form in the league apart from the top two. They have won three and drawn three from the last six, which is promotion form, and their last two games have been against Plymouth Argyle and Sheffield Wednesday, drawing them both, so they come in to this with a real buzz of confidence.

On James Chester’s injury…

It is not good news on him; the prognosis with him is disastrous. I was told on Tuesday night he could potentially be out for two months.

That wasn’t final, so I may get told in 10 minutes that it wasn’t as bad as we first thought. I don’t know the full extent, but I will find that out today.

On how difficult the injuries are making things…

It is a concern that four of our 'stars' are now out of the team and we’ve got a pretty small squad anyway. Every day that goes by, as long as we don’t lose any more, we are closer to getting some back. It’s always the way that when players are injured that they seem better than what they were when they were available. Whoever is in the injury room, it’s always the case.

We missed James Collins’ presence the other night in the 0-0 draw with Exeter City. We could have done with Knighty’s energy and Curtis Davies, the skipper, for his organisation. Every club has injuries but it just seems more prevalent to us because of what we’re trying to achieve.

We just have to get the lads ready for Saturday and hopefully perform at a level that gives us a chance to win and that’s all we can do at the moment.

On the quick turnaround…

I would prefer more days on the training pitch and more days for the lads to recover. In fairness, though, I think every league is chaotic. I don’t think this league is a lot worse I just think the difference with this one is the tempo and the aggression and the out of possession stuff is a lot greater.

You watch the strikers at Bristol Rovers and if you play across the back-line they are coming for you all the time. It’s not so much the amount of games, it’s the intensity in the games that is the problem.