INTERVIEW: Clarke Keen To Replicate Bristol City Performance In Ipswich Battle

Derby County defender Matt Clarke says the Rams are determined to emulate their emphatic display in last week’s 5-0 win over Bristol City when they host Ipswich Town on Saturday lunchtime (12:31pm kick-off).

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s contest at Pride Park Stadium, the 29-year-old told RamsTV: “we want to go and put on as dominant a performance as Friday”.

Clarke returned to the backline alongside Dion Sanderson and goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell, as Derby earned their seventh Sky Bet Championship clean sheet of the season amidst a goal glut at the other end.

Now targeting another shutdown and a further three points on their return to home soil, Clarke gave his pre-match thoughts to RamsTV.

On Last Week’s Win At Ashton Gate

I think it was the complete performance. At times this season we've looked really dangerous going forward and then give away sloppy goals, but Friday night it all came together which was really pleasing.

In the Championship, the first goal is so important. To get that and then stay on the front foot and by getting the second and the third so quickly, it was pleasing and something we need to do more of.

We have taken the positives but there's still things we want to get better at and we want to control the whole game.

On Returning To The Side After Suspension

I think, however well you are playing, whether you're a defender or a striker, ultimately, if you're not playing, you give the chance to someone else to come in.

If they come in and set the world on fire, you put your hands up, but it's something you're always cautious about. I was happy to get straight back in and be playing.

On Coming Through The Ranks At Ipswich

It's a bit of a strange. Fans of Ipswich won't really know much; they hadn’t seen me play as I'd never broke into the first team, but it's a club that I spent a lot of my childhood at, even to the point of signing full-time as a scholar.

I have fond memories of course and they played a big part in my development as a footballer, but at the time I wasn't ready to go into the first team setup there. I wasn't at that level, so I needed to go out and play.

On Loving His Permanent Deal At Derby

It’s been a really positive year. It was a decision that I made, it came around quite quickly and it's not one that I've regretted for a single second. Me, my partner and my daughter, we've loved every minute since being back.

The football feels like we're in a much better position sitting here today than we were when I signed a year ago, so I’m happy on all fronts.

On His Desire To Replicate Last Friday’s Display

This is just a game that we want to go and win. I think it's a point of the season where the finishing line isn't quite in sight, but the games are going to slowly get more and more important.

We need to pick up points, because you don't want to fall behind on the goals you set. Yes, we're not going to win every game from now to the end of the season, but we're desperate to not give up anything either.

Ipswich will be a big game for us, and one that we want to go and put on as dominant a performance as Friday. We want to play like that at home as well.