Mini-slump means that Leeds will be more dangerous

FRANK Lampard believes Leeds United’s run of three successive defeats makes them more dangerous opponents for Derby County tonight (7.45pm).

Derby travel to Elland Road to take on the Championship leaders in a televised clash.

Leeds won seven games on the spin before they lost 2-0 at home to Hull City and then 4-2 against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

They also lost 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup last weekend.

Lampard was asked if this is a good time to play Leeds.

“Good question. Probably not, because good teams react and having had a couple of results as they have had, they are going to want a reaction - and they will have their home fans behind them,” he said.

“This league will do it to all of us they are not the only team.

“It’s probably credit to Leeds that this is the first time they have had to think in this way - that they have lost two games in a row, or three including the FA Cup.

“So we just have to focus on ourselves. We know their attributes, we know how well they play and what a good team they are.

“We are not thinking necessarily on form, we’re thinking about what we’re going to come up against but first of all, what we are going to bring to the table.

“If we bring our best game, we can give anyone in this league a good game.”

Lampard believes the Rams are in a much better position to challenge Leeds this time than they were in the teams’ first meeting this season.

Derby won their opening fixture of the campaign at Reading but lost their first home game 4-1 to Leeds. Mateusz Klich gave Leeds a fifthminute lead before Tom Lawrence equalised from a free kick. Kemar Roofe headed Leeds back in front midway through the first half and the visitors scored twice around the hour mark through Roofe and Ezgjan Alioskis to take the three points.

“That was a tough game for us because they came here a very fancied side, a very settled side and very good players, albeit with a new manager,” said Lampard.

“We were very transitional at that point. We had a lot of changes, without making excuses. Since then we have had a lot of time to work. I would like to think we will give them a better challenge in this game than we did in that one.

“I feel like we’ve improved since then but they played very well and have continued to do so. The table doesn’t lie. They and Norwich have been really strong in the first half of the season.” Asked what effect the result had on him so early in his managerial career, Lampard said: “I am a young boss but I am an old player.

“I got beaten 4-1 before myself and I’ve realised it is not the be-all and end-all, it is football.

“Let’s get it right, it could happen again on Friday, or next week against anybody.

“I had a bit more perspective than that. It was a tough day and sometimes those make you a little bit stronger, for sure.

“It was a defeat and a good reminder at that point for all of us of the battles we had to come to try and get to where we want to be.”

Derby sit sixth in the Championship and eight points behind leaders Leeds, who boast the best home record in the division, having won eight and drawn three of their 13 League games at Elland Road.

On the test facing his team, Lampard said: “It is a great atmosphere (at Elland Road), always has been.

“They are top, they are pushing to get back to the Premier League and it is a club that has history and a fan base that deserves to be there.

“It will be difficult for the players but we have to use it as a positive. We have to enjoy the atmosphere, try to negate it, try to change it and try to play our football. That is the only way to go into a place that is quite hot, in terms of atmosphere. That is up to us.

“It is going to be a tough game, hard-fought, hopefully fought in the right way in terms of on the pitch and respect off the pitch. We will see who comes out on top.

“I’m looking forward to it and the players need to look forward to it. We need to understand it is a tough test but also believe in ourselves.

“In terms of our promotion hopes, there is a long way to go after this game but it’s a nice test for ourselves and, of course, if we can claw back some points on the likes of Leeds, then great.”

Good teams react and having had a couple of results as they have had, they are going to want a reaction Frank Lampard