10 in 10: Mentality the key for Derby boss Steve McClaren
Saturday 10 December 2016 11:57, UK
Steve McClaren believes the right mentality will be key to Derby maintaining their momentum against rivals Nottingham Forest as he looks for a complete performance from his team.
The east midlands rivals clash at the iPro Stadium at Sunday lunchtime with both teams heading into the Sky Sports' 10 in 10 fixture in fine form.
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McClaren's men are on a five-match winning run which has seen him scoop the Championship Manager of the Month award for November, while Forest make the short trip along the A52 after toppling league leaders Newcastle to record a third straight victory.
The Derby boss has been pleased by his side's performances since returning as manager in October but feels they have played well in patches and wants his players to do it for an entire game.
"We have not really had a complete performance," McClaren told the club website. "We have had good halves, bad halves, we have to dig in and get results along the way, and we have had good fortune as well.
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"Confidence is growing but there is a lot more to come from the team in terms of controlling games and being a little bit more ruthless.
"We need to keep it going and it is important not to think ahead and think 'if we win we'll do this' or look back and say 'we've won five in a row and done this and that'.
"If our mentality isn't right, we will lose the game. It's all about mentality and the next game, no matter who it is against. The next game just so happens to be a big one, but it's still a game.
"Mentality and focus are a key part of our preparations because they are a good team and we will have to be at our best."
Such is the form of both sides, the game will also feature the Championship Player of the Month for November - Forest midfielder Henri Lansbury.
McClaren added: "Lansbury is a very good player, a big player for them. He scored a hat-trick from midfield in their recent win at Barnsley, he's influential for them."
For Forest boss Philippe Montanier, it will be his first experience of the east midlands derby but he knows what to expect.
"It's more than a normal game. It's often an irrational game. It's special, there's a lot of emotion," said the Frenchman at his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.
"It should be a really good game. They have won their last five games. It's a really tough opponent. A very good challenge for us but I think it's not impossible for us. We have confidence but we have to play better."
Darren Bent and Max Lowe are doubts for Derby. Striker Bent (hamstring) and left-back Lowe (groin) both missed last weekend's win at Wigan through injury and have yet to resume training but McClaren is hoping they will be available. Midfielder Ikechi Anya is back in contention after a bout of illness.
Britt Assombalonga is a doubt for Forest after injuring a hamstring in training on Friday and a decision will be made on the striker's fitness on Saturday.
Defender Hildeberto Pereira comes back into contention after serving a three-match suspension but Montanier remains without a handful of players through injury. Armand Traore (knee), Daniel Pinillos (knee), Chris Cohen (groin) and Matty Fryatt (Achilles) are still out.
