Pre-Match Thoughts: 'We're Excited For The Challenge' - Elder

Derby County defender Callum Elder says the team are 'excited for the challenge' ahead on Saturday when they take on Stevenage at Pride Park Stadium (3pm kick-off).

The Rams fell to a 3-1 defeat in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, but are looking to be on the right side of the result this time around on home turf.

Speaking to RamsTV ahead of the match, Elder spoke about his recent run of games in the side, reflected on Tuesday's 3-0 win at Exeter City and looked ahead to Saturday's game.

On his recent run of games...

It's great. To put a run of games together for any player is important, but to do it at such a crucial moment of the season for us is great. We're going into the last 14 games, we know what's on the line and everyone is working towards what we've set out to achieve. I thought we were excellent on Tuesday at Exeter, it was a great performance away from home. We don't look too far ahead, we take each game as it comes and we know we've got another big one on Saturday against Stevenage.

On Tuesday evening's win at Exeter...

It was good. The fans came down in numbers, which is a credit to them. We knew that Exeter would have long spells with the ball, but we knew if we got our shape out of possession correctly that we would have moments in transition that we could hurt them and we showed that. We were able to move the ball quickly and got it to our attacking players very fast in attacking areas. We were able to pose a big threat on the night and showed that with three excellent goals.

On what he's learned from his previous promotions at Wigan and Hull...

Consistency at the right times is key. With 14 games to go, it's about creating a rhythm within the group of players every day in training and every week in the games because they are so important, every point is valuable. A common theme I've seen in the three promotion challenges I've had in my career is having a group of players that is galvanised at the right time to achieve success and I feel that in this dressing room. We're excited with what we've got in there that we can produce what we want to achieve at the end of the season.

On improving the form at Pride Park...

There's no getting away from the fact that we've dropped a couple of points and had moments in key games that have seen us either lose or lose two points right at the end of the game. It's important but at this stage of the season whether we're at home or away, we go into every match looking to win and Saturday will be no different and we're excited for the challenge we'll face on Saturday.