Pre-Match Thoughts: Mendez-Laing Expecting 'Physical' Stevenage Test

Winger Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is expecting a 'physical game' when Derby County take on Stevenage on Saturday afternoon in Sky Bet League One (3pm kick-off).

Mendez-Laing scored his first goal of the season in the midweek 2-0 win over Exeter City at Pride Park Stadium and he's hoping that can spark that of a good run for him personally and the team as a whole

Speaking to RamsTV ahead of the trip to Stevenage, the winger reflected on bagging his first goal of the campaign and previewed the test ahead.

On Tuesday's night win over Exeter...

I've been waiting for that goal for a while now. I would have liked it to have come sooner but it was a great result, a great win and hopefully this can be a bit of a turning point for us.

On the wait for a goal...

I think you start to put a bit more pressure on yourself and overthink situations, especially in the box but I'm happy it's come now. I should have had two on the night but I'll take the one and move forward.

On how he judges his performances...

I prefer to assist, that has always been my thing. I like to create chances and provide for the team. With the way we play too, it's very high and wide and reliant on me getting crosses in the box. Playing on the left I can cut inside a lot more and get shots off and I think it worked well. Hopefully I can contribute to a lot more goals but I'm definitely one that's more about assists.

On Stevenage...

It will be a very physical game and we know that. We'll do some clips on them but we expect a very physical game, a tough game, the same as Tuesday night against Exeter. Hopefully we've turned a bit of a corner and we can live off of that performance and take it into Saturday.

On Tuesday being a turning point...

I don't want to talk too soon because after the win at Blackpool we thought that was a turning point and that didn't turn out how we expected afterwards. The boys are on much more of a high now, not too high, but there's confidence throughout the team. Even the lads that didn't play or the ones who came on, we're all pulling in the same direction. We all want the same thing and hopefully we can put on another good performance.