This league is madder than ever but we will stay in race
He previously coached at Unterhaching, Aalen and Ingolstadt. Southampton chairman Ralph Krueger said: “The urgency to find a path back to our potential and to the results that we expect cannot be underestimated.
“For that reason, we are extremely pleased that Ralph Hasenhuttl has agreed to become our new manager and do all he can to help guide us back on that path.” Derby have drawn Southampton at home in the third round of the FA Cup next month. Hasenhuttl will be supported at Southampton by existing first-team assistant coach Kelvin Davis, head of goalkeeping Dave Watson and head of sports science Alek Gross. TOM Lawrence says Derby County will keep battling to stay in touch with the promotion race in this season’s “crazy” Championship.
The Rams are currently seventh in the table after 20 matches, only outside the play-off zone on goal difference.
Frank Lampard’s men are one of four teams on 34 points and they are only one point off third place.
They are five points off an automatic promotion spot and six behind leaders Norwich City.
It looks like being a typically unpredictable season in the topsyturvy world of the Championship.
“We need to try to get a run going and push up the league even more, because we know how tight it is this year,” said Lawrence.
“It’s a mad league - I don’t think people realise how crazy it is but I like playing in it, so it’s good.
“I think it’s even stranger this season. No-one is really running away with it, so there are going to be ups and down but we’ll keep digging deep.”
Derby are battling to regain some consistency - their record over the last six matches in all competitions reads: LWLWLW.
The Rams got back to winning ways after their disappointing defeat away to 10-man Stoke City, courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Swansea City at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday.
“We’ve done it a couple of times already this season, where we’ve lost a game and bounced back, so it shows the mentality is right in the group,” said Lawrence.
“It’s good to be able to bounce back straight away and now we just need a few wins in a row.
“We put the work in on the training pitch. The gaffer demands a lot out of us and everyone works hard. Whoever is in the starting 11 will do a job for the team.
“I don’t think it really matter who comes into the team. The quality we’ve got on the bench and in the squad, we’re all quality players, so it’s good to play with each other.”
Swansea’s late consolation goal denied Derby a first clean sheet since the 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers on September 18.
It means the Rams have now conceded at least once in their past 14 matches.
“It’s not the best but if we keep winning, I’ll take that,” said Lawrence.
“If we keep winning, I’ll take that all day but it would be nice to keep a clean sheet.”
Winger Lawrence finished the Swansea game up front after David Nugent was replaced by Florian Jozefzoon in the closing stages.
“It’s good,” said the Wales international. “I don’t mind any position I play in. I’ve played there a few times in the last 10 minutes of games this season.
“So wherever the manager wants me to play, I’ll play and put a shift in.” Rams forward Tom Lawrence
It’s a mad league - I don’t think people realise how crazy it is but I like playing in it
MASON Mount has seen enough in Derby County’s 20 Championship matches to be confident of the Rams being in the promotion shake-up this season.
Derby are seventh going into Saturday’s clash away to Wigan Athletic.
They have 34 points and find themselves outside the top six on goal difference.
Five wins in their last eight League games have kept the Rams in the mix.
Asked for his views on the season so far, Mount said: “I think it has been good.
“Obviously, there have been ups and downs. We’ve got things to work on but we are in and around the play-offs, so I think we can be happy with where we are at at the moment.
“We definitely know we’ve got more. We can produce more on the pitch and that’s an exciting thing.
“From the beginning of the season, we said with the team we had, we could definitely be in and around the top.
“If we take our chances and keep playing the way we have been play-