Derby County are winless in five games, including a shootout defeat to Leyton Orient in the FA Cup, but Regis Le Bris is still taking it game-by-game and insists we need to take them seriously. With three of Sunderland's four defeats this season coming against Stoke, Watford and Plymouth it is obvious that these are the kinds of games which could prove to be a banana skin...
FLEXIBLE FORMATIONS
“We know that we can play with two strikers and I think for that (Burnley) game especially, it changed the dynamic. We started with a 4-4-2 out of possession but 4-3-3 in possession, and with Eli (Mayenda) we have this opportunity to use a different shape and probably provoke different situations. With two threats in behind, two strong and powerful players like Wilson and Eli, I think the references for our game and our opponents as well are really different. It could be useful for us.”
DERBY'S FORM
“Sure, it will be another tough game against another opponent. We have to be very respectful about all the teams in this league because even if they have some difficult periods, they are still able to beat every other team. They can play different options in open play and counter-attack situations they are doing very well so it will be another tough game. If we don’t play at our best level it will be tough so our main focus and concern is to be really focused on the way we want to play that game."
FINISH OUR CHANCES
"Especially in our finishing zone because I think we can create many chances but if we score the game is solved, and if we don’t score it is still open. It was open at Stoke and maybe two or three, or four, situations like that in the last ten or twelve away games.”
MOTIVATION
“I am not sure we have to motivate the players because they are in a good place and they want to win every game. The mindset of the team was very balanced at the end because we felt we were very competitive in that game. Burnley is a tough place, they are third in the league, and during the whole game we progressively dominated that opponent so we were proud of it. For confidence I think that was good. On the opposite side we were frustrated because we had many chances to win the game. So, the mindset was balanced. The league is very long. At the end, we were more confident than disappointed.”
PUT THINGS RIGHT, PACKED SCHEDULE
“It is a good opportunity (to move on). The problem we could have is that it is difficult to work between games. We can analyse the game but we don’t have time on the pitch to develop different areas of our game. It is quick, but at the same time I think the players like that.”
