First Team Coach Matt Hamshaw says Derby County are 'looking for consistency' now that a number of players are returning to fitness.
The Rams take on Lincoln City in their first EFL Trophy Northern Section - Group G fixture on Tuesday evening (7pm kick-off) and Hamshaw knows a good start in the competition could aid the side's form in Sky Bet League One.
He spoke to RamsTV on Monday afternoon to preview the return to Pride Park Stadium in midweek.
Verdict on Saturday's 1-1 draw with Portsmouth...
It felt like a defeat with conceding so late in added time. I thought we had some good openings in the first half, two or three good opportunities. Without being at our best, we probably could have scored a couple of goals.
We got the penalty late in the second half and I just think we needed to manage the game a little bit better to be brutally honest.
It still feels raw but that's part and parcel of football. There will be times where it will happen to us and times like Saturday. I think I speak for 30,000 people, minus the Portsmouth fans, who feel exactly like we do.
On the opening to the season as a whole...
We are disappointed with some things and pleased with others, however it's about winning games of football and we probably haven't done enough of that yet. I don't think we've been miles off but also don't think we've been at our scintillating best so it's probably somewhere inbetween that really.
I just think that everybody is still coming together a little bit. I know everybody wants to win every game and we're no different but I feel there are things starting to click a little bit together. There are periods where it doesn't look great but there are times where it does and we really look on the front foot.
We're looking for consistency now, it's an important time and we need to put ourselves in a good position.
On players returning from injury...
They are all good players and on any given Saturday they good all be in the starting eleven.
To have people like that back on the bench; Elliot Embleton, Louie Sibley, Kane Wilson and Tom Barkhuizen is always a positive.
Elliot suffered a bit of an injury last year at Sunderland so he's still finding his way back. Sibs has got to get a little bit more consistent with his goals and making sure he impacts games - he's done it quite a lot from the bench and I think this year is a big year for him.
On Conor Hourihane's injury...
It's still early at the minute. The doctors and medical team are looking over him and we'll analyse on that one. I don't think it's a short-term comeback one but I don't think it's going to be long-term either. Hopefully it is not so long as we need everyone.
On the EFL Trophy...
It's a good tournament and a good opportunity sometimes to see younger players, a good opportunity for players that haven't been playing and others to get back into form and, at the end of the day, there's a Trophy at the end of it. We want to win every game. Whatever side we put out, we've got full strength in our squad.
On seeing some rotation...
You might see some, you might not. It will be a strong team and it will be a game we're trying to win.
On Lincoln City...
They are a good team with a good manager and are well organised. They are struggling with injuries at the minute but have picked up some good results. They want to play the right way and they will be up for it as all teams are that come to play at Derby County. It's important we match that fire with our own fire and start off on the right foot.
