Pre-Match Thoughts: Wildsmith Feeling In A Good Place Ahead Of Cheltenham

Derby County goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith feels both he and the team are in a good place after moving into the second half of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Rams' number one has already surpassed his total amount of appearances in a single season so far in this campaign, following his move from Sheffield Wednesday last summer, and is keen for them to keep piling up.

Speaking to RamsTV ahead of the trip to Cheltenham Town on Saturday in Sky Bet League One (3pm kick-off), Wildsmith opened up about the confidence in the group, being a number one for the first time and much more.

On surpassing his most appearances in a single season...

It's a milestone that I was aware of but I haven't been focusing on it. It's a great achievement for me personally to get that many games under my belt so far, especially so early in the season. The form at the minute, for myself and the team, has been decent too so long may that continue.

On being the 'undisputed' number one...

I don't think it was the expectation for me to be number one. The club signed me with the understanding that someone else would come into the goalkeepering department and it would be a battle for the place, but for me to then take that and put the work in and make it my own was down to me as an individual.

It's pleasing for me now to be playing those games and be involved and be that number one. I know the hard work has to continue to keep that and everyone is pushing each other among the group.

On Paul Warne...

He piles confidence into us - that's the best praise I can give to him. Since he walked through the door all he has given me is confidence.

He wants me to come for crosses, he wants me to make decisions that are going to benefit the team and if I get them wrong, there's no problem as long as I come for the next one.

He wants me to be a bold goalkeeper that doesn't shy away from things and I've tried to take that and put it into my game. I've felt good, I've felt confident and I've felt as though it's working for me with that attitude towards it. I've really enjoyed it since he's come in.

On the clean-sheet wall at Moor Farm...

It's hard to miss! It's great and it's good to see new faces get on there now. Korey Smith is on there now and even Louie Sibley is up there. The mentality around the team has everyone fighting for the clean-sheet because if we get the clean sheet first and foremost, we don't lose. Over the festive period and the New Year, we've really shown that if we have a solid base at the back then it sort of frees everyone else up to go forward.

On the confidence in the group...

It's a really good atmosphere around the place. Everyone is buzzing, everyone is having a laugh at the right times and everyone is pushing each other in the right way. We're going into each match thinking: we've got a real good chance of winning, we've got a real good chance of keeping a clean sheet. We're just taking it game by game.

The gaffer's mentality is that he wants to win every single mathc and that is rubbing off on everyone now. We're aware that we are a scalp for people but if we've got the attitude to take it to them then we want to put that fear factor back the other way. If they want to come to Derby County and win, then it's not going to be easy.