Rams going back to basics for Cats clash

Sunderland will return to their Championship survival scrap with a visit to Derby County next Friday.

The Rams have not won any of their last seven matches to see their automatic promotion hopes blown away, but they remain confident of a play-off place – if results pick up again.

Bottom club Sunderland are next in the firing line for Gary Rowett’s side, and defender Andre Wisdom believes that a ‘back to basics’ attitude can help turn their fortunes around.

“The manager has spoken to us about going back to basics,” ex-Liverpool full-bacvk Wisdom told Rams TV.

“That means, as defenders, we do our jobs by, first and foremost, defending. We saw that for the vast majority of the Queens Park Rangers game (1-1 draw) and then obviously at Forest, where we kept a clean sheet.

“I think it’s good from a defensive point of view and I hope we can keep it going. We know what we are capable of and everyone has been on it in training recently.

“We’re still in a good position and have the chance to make it a really good season.

“I think it’s important we go out with a positive mindset and make sure we do everything in our power to get back to winning again.

“We haven’t been at our best lately, obviously, but we’ve not been losing games too often.

“We’re probably not getting the breaks that we were a couple of months ago.

“It’s unfortunate timing, but it probably does even itself out over the course of the season. We know the importance of sticking together as a group and giving our all.”