Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne say his players need to 'keep going and keep believing' as they prepare to enter the final five games of the 2022/23 Sky Bet League One campaign.
The Rams currently sit just outside the top six on goal difference and Warne believes there are now four teams playing for the final two spots in the play-offs.
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of Saturday's trip to Bristol Rovers (3pm kick-off), Warne reflected on Thursday's Open Training Session at Pride Park Stadium and looked ahead to the season's run-in.
On the Open Training Session at Pride Park...
It was good, it was like coaching at Disneyland because the music was on and all that! I enjoyed the interaction with the fans and it was an enjoyable day, all in all.
On giving back to the fans...
I can't speak for the players, but who doesn't like people shouting their name and asking them to sign things? It's quite empowering at times, you forget how popular you are as a player so it's really good for them and it's nice for me too, because I'm either the pantomime villain or hero! There's always fans waiting when we get to the ground on home matchdays and after the game so it was nice to meet more personally than I normally would.
On the 1-1 draw with MK Dons on Monday...
I was very down on Tuesday and then I watched the game back and clips with my staff. I was really proud of the lads and thought they were excellent but unfortunately you are judged on results and not performances, but I don't think we can play a lot better and not win.
We had around 30 proper attempts at goal and we were only unfortunate enough to take one, so I was hugely frustrated but then hugely proud. All we can do is try and drive performances and get the best out of the lads and sometimes it's just not to be. Unfortunately at home of late it hasn't happened for us. That is disappointing because our home form has been really good for most of the season.
I think everyone left the ground Monday frustrated. I wasn't angry, I was just frustrated. We're in a mini-league now really. It's us, Wycombe, Peterborough and Bolton playing for two spots.
On the run-in...
It was difficult after the game on Monday and my initial feeling was that I wanted to roar because I was beyond frustrated, but I also know I'd witnessed the lads give it everything.
I won't ever lie to the players. I think their performances have been really good but we just haven't been good enough in the boxes. Our box-to-box stuff is possibly one of the best in the league.
Our job as coaches is to reassure them and let them know if we play at this level then we've got a right chance. If we are fortunate enough to win the next five games and get in the play-offs then we'll have a right belief.
The message is to keep going, keep believing and unfortunately for us now we're looking at other results more - but we've got to be positive with it. I don't want to not enjoy the last few weeks of the season, I want to enjoy every minute and as long as the lads give their all then I can't criticise them.
I look forward to watching them over the next few games and I'll be there for them no matter what.
