Pre-Match Thoughts: 'It's Down To The Players' - Hourihane

Captain Conor Hourihane believes 'it's down to the players' to give Derby County's supporters something to cheer about at Pride Park Stadium on Tuesday evening.

The Rams take on Exeter City under the lights in Sky Bet League One and are looking to bounce back from Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Shrewsbury Town, which was their first defeat in all competitions since early September.

Skipper Hourihane spoke to RamsTV on Monday to preview the return to home turf.

On how he's feeling after Saturday's loss...

We were very disappointed first and foremost because we obviously wanted to get the three points and the win and that didn't happen. We felt we had a really good week heading into the game and we had big ambitions to get the three points, which didn't happen. I think we created loads of chances but ultimately we were beaten, which is a big frustration.

On performance levels...

I think if we weren't creating chances there would be big question marks but I think anyone watching the game in a positive way would see the amount of chances we're creating. It's just the fine lines in matches that aren't going our way so we need to change that for sure but the positives are that the chances we are creating means that we aren't too far away.

On getting the first goal...

With the size of the club and the players we have, if we give teams a goal to hang on to then it becomes way more difficult. If we get the first goal then the performance becomes a little easier because they have to come out which suits us. Goals are massive and they change the game, they change the momentum home and away. Not conceding the first goal, in any match, makes it more challenging and especially when you're a big club in the league like Derby County.

On whether anything was said in the dressing room after Saturday...

A lot got said after the game, there was a lot of frustration but that stays in house. For me, lads saying their piece in and around the dressing room is brilliant, it builds character. It gets said in the dressing room and then gets moved on and we move on as a stronger group. A lot got said in the dressing room at the weekend and hopefully that can put us in a better place moving forward.

On Tuesday night against Exeter and the home form...

We need to change it by putting in a better performance but trying to be on the front foot and try and get that first goal. I think we need to keep creating the chances we are doing and get that first goal to get the fans behind us because it makes it a more difficult night for the opposition then.

On giving the fans something to cheer...

It's down to the players, the performances and the results. If you want to be successful we need to put in good performances and results to get the fans on board because that's ultimately how it works.