Derby County Head Coach Paul Warne says his team 'just need to keep picking up wins' as they look to retain their place at the top end of Sky Bet League One.
Monday evening's late 3-2 victory over Burton Albion at Pride Park Stadium was Derby's tenth win from their last 12 league outings, tasting defeat in just one of those.
Speaking to RamsTV ahead of Saturday's trip to Lincoln City (3pm kick-off), Warne reflected on Monday's victory, looked ahead to the clash with The Imps and gave an update on the current squad's fitness.
Looking back on the Burton win...
I thought we had good control of the game and our own decision making sort of caused our own problems. To win it, though, was great and winning it late on felt good. In fairness to Burton, they only had two good chances and took them both, so hats off to them for their finishing. I thought we edged it and it would have been a game where we left the stadium feeling like it was two points thrown away if we didn't manage to find a winner.
On the impressive recent run of form...
It's testament to the coaches and players that the lads really dig in and have a real belief. It's a real driving force that the lads believe they are going to win, because they never give up. The winning goal from Conor Hourihane pleased me in the way we just kept recycling the ball and we didn't let Burton out. Teams get tired and if you keep putting them under pressure, sooner or later they will crack. We try and change it as much as we can on the side of the pitch to help the lads but, fundamentally, it's down to them on the pitch. Conor's goal is some finish and we're fortunate that we have players in those moments that can take them.
On scoring so many late goals...
You can't give up. No matter what the scoreline is, you are not out of the game. The next goal always matters. When we conceded early on against Oxford a few weeks ago, there was still plenty of time left and I told the lads not to panic. I don't think they did panic the other night, either. To get late goals is good, it's probably more exciting for the neutral than the management team!
On reinforcing messages after wins...
When I bounce into the team meeting after a win, the players are more happy to see me than they are after a defeat. If you want to win and want to win the league, you've got to be excellent all the time. Hopefully we can tune in and just keep picking up these wins. We've won 10 out of 12 and should, really, have won 11 out of 12 at least. That is amazing, but we've not pulled away because everyone in the top eight keeps winning.
On what to expect from Lincoln City...
We played them quite recently after a manager change and they've had a couple of system changes as well. All I know is, they have always been a difficult team to play against. They are really well organised and difficult to break down, no matter what the system is. If we're going to win another match away from home then we have to be at our very best and only that will do. We will try and work out the best system with the best players and, as always, go on the front foot. We will go to Lincoln and try to win. We aren't going to sit behind the ball, we aren't going for a point, we are going there for the full lot and that's what we will prepare the lads for.
On the squad fitness...
A few of them played for the Under-21s this week in their 11-1 win against Notts County to top their minutes up. There are no new injury worries for us. Fozzy is out for a bit which is disappointing with his calf, Wash is on his way back from ankle surgery and Waggy has had a bit of a setback with his calf problem.
