Positive vibes in ‘cut-throat business’ as K-R aims to show no mercy

STRIKER SAYS RAMS TEAM-MATES IN GOOD SPIRITS AHEAD OF TRIP TO EWOOD PARK

TOP scorer Colin Kazim-Richards says he and the Derby County players are in a positive frame of mind ahead of tonight’s crucial Championship clash against Blackburn Rovers (6pm).

The Rams take on Rovers at Ewood Park still needing survival points in the Championship relegation battle. They are 20th on 43 points with five games remaining.

“The boys are good and, to be honest, we always feel good,” he told RamsTV.

“Don’t get me wrong, some results needed to reflect the performances.

“When you are in this type of situation, you do need to look at certain positives and see how we can take that into the next game.

“I am 100 per cent positive all the time because I deal in reality, and the reality is we need to get out of this situation.

“I know I sound like a broken record, we have been saying it for a while, but I think the last three performances have shown we will win more than we lose, if we continue to go in that performance-based direction.

“Friday could also pull someone else right down there with us. In reality, that is what we need to do – it is a cut-throat business, and we need to pull and step on as many people we can.

“That is exactly what we need to do. Ultimately, we want to take away three points from the game because it doesn’t just help us in the table, but for the morale too, to come away with three points. That is what it can do.

“The game on Friday is a massive one and we are ready. There is not really much more talking we can do, it is down to the five games we have left.”

The Rams have won only once in their last 10 games and they have managed to score only six goals in those matches.

Tonight’s opponents Blackburn are 17th on 47 points, four more than Derby, but they have won only once in 15 games and are without a win in seven.

Tony Mowbray’s team has not won at Ewood Park since January and has failed to score in its last three home fixtures.

Both teams will look at the respective form and believe there are points to be gained.

Blackburn dismantled Derby 4-0 at Pride Park Stadium in September with a positive display.

Derby’s starting 11 in Saturday’s 1-0 home defeat by leaders Norwich City had a positive look to it, with starts for Patrick Roberts, Tom Lawrence, Kamil Jozwiak and KazimRichards.

Both Roberts and midfielder Max Bird were singled out for praise by manager Wayne Rooney after the Norwich game.

Nathan Byrne, who can play rightback or wing-back, is set to return in place of Kornell McDonald after missing the Norwich game through concussion but strikers Lee Gregory and Martyn Waghorn are still sidelined, while Matt Clarke is rated as 50-50.

Recalls for Jason Knight and Lee Buchanan are other options for Rooney.

If Clarke is absent, could this be the 11 to face Blackburn?

■■RAMS PREDICTED 11 (4-2-3-1): Marshall; Byrne, Wisdom, Mengi, Forsyth; Bird, Shinnie; Roberts, Lawrence, Jozwiak; KazimRichards.