EFL Trophy Post-Match Verdict: 'We're Looking For Consistency' - Barkhuizen - Blog

Derby County forward Tom Barkhuizen believes the team 'just need to fine tune a few things' to take their game up another level.

The Rams were able to see off Sky Bet League Two leaders Notts County 2-1 in their second EFL Trophy group game on Tuesday evening at Meadow Lane but the winger knows the result should have looked more comfortable than that with the chances the side created.

Speaking to RamsTV after the match, Barkhuizen reflected on the performance, the side's seven-match unbeaten run and spoke about what the international break will look like for him and the team.

On the performance...

I thought at times we were really good and at times not so good. I think that's something we need to be a little bit more consistent on for the whole 90 minutes. At times we looked really good and threatening and at other times we were a little bit open and exposed and it's just about fine tuning a few things.

On the chances created...

The two draws we've had recently against Cambridge and Cheltenham sum up how important taking your chances is. We've created so many chances over the last four or five games. At Blackpool last week we were really ruthless and took all the chances that came our way and then the other two draws I've just mentioned, and tonight, we left ourselves with more work than we needed to have.

On seeing it through at the end...

It was tough because we had a few players out there who have been injured lately and naturally you become fatigued. The way Nogtts County play is so expansive and the gaps just opened up a little bit in the last 20 minutes, which they tried to expose, but on the whole I think we defended really well and they didn't really create any chances where you thought they were going to score. Josh Vickers didn't have a save to make so we were pretty good - but we need to be better.

On his own fitness...

That's my first Saturday-Tuesday for a long time so I will be sore tomorrow. Form wise I feel really good and I think I've been really positive and got myself in a mindset of doing what I'm good at and I think I'm doing that. Chances wise, I'm creating a lot for the team and that can only help us.

On the seven-match unbeaten run...

We've drawn two needless games in the last week or so. Richie Barker always says that winning is a habit and unfortunately we've let ourselves down over those two games recently where we haven't won, so it's important to get another win when we return after the international break.

On what the international break will look like...

We naturally get a few days off and have a chance to rest and be with our families. The gaffer is big on that and wants us to spend time with our families and that's what most of us will do. It's just about getting ready for next Monday when we return for training because we've got a big period coming up. We're seven unbeaten, but we haven't won seven in a row. The table would look much better if we had. Naturally I think the league is the one the fans want us to pick up points in so our priority probably has to shift to picking up as many points as we can in the league and make the table look a little better for ourselves.