Pre-Match Thoughts: "The Difference Between Winning And Losing Is Marginal" - Warne

Head Coach Paul Warne believes Derby County are currently falling on the wrong side of the finest margins when it comes to winning and losing games in Sky Bet League One.

The Rams have started the 2023/24 season with one win and two losses in Sky Bet League One and go in search of their first victory on home soil this term when they take on Fleetwood Town on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Speaking to RamsTV ahead of the contest, Warne spoke about the fine margins in winning and losing, gave an injury update following the 2-1 home loss to Oxford United on Tuesday evening and more.

On the squad fitness...

We're still awaiting on full feedback on a few players really before I say something that isn't true. It's not ideal to say the least but hopefully we'll get positive news and it won't hold us back.

On having a small squad...

We've got less decisions to make because we've got a smaller group to pick from but I really like the group we've got, we just need to add to it and have more strength in depth. We are just trying to improve the squad.

With a game every three or four days and picking a couple of injuries up, it just reinforces the fact we need more bodies and we still have time to do that. It's been a really busy week trying to recruit and not having a midweek game next week is a bonus so we can get some work into the lads too.

On the current transfer market...

You can always sign players, it's just a case of trying to get the right mix. As the days are going by, different people start materialising. Those higher up in the pyramid having nine players on the bench has definitely impacted the market this year and I think most managers would agree with that. There are more names coming available and if a team is losing there's pressure on the manager to change it and that makes things happen so that's why we hope to see things moving now.

On being a 'nearly' team...

I don't know if that comes across as harsh. I don't think we've had games where we're getting cut open, we're sort of causing our own mistakes. We're nearly scoring off set-pieces, nearly getting blocks in. The lads aren't nearly trying, they are trying. Unfortunately for us what could go wrong at home has for us.

Hopefully in six or eight weeks time we'll be third in the table or something like that and playing really well and full of confidence and this will be a distant memory. The first goal is crucial all the time and even more so at home.

There's things we need to improve on but there are things that are really good. The difference between winning and losing is marginal.

On whether there's challenges of playing at home...

It's a two-way relationship. We all win or we all lose. The lads have a responsibility to put a show on that the fans enjoy and then they get behind the team and then the lads feel great and it's a never ending cycle.

I think the following at Pride Park and the following away from home has been excellent and generally it's really positive. If we have a great performance tomorrow and a win, get an early goal, then all of a sudden you leave the stadium on Saturday feeling a million dollars.