Pride Park form will be crucial from now on, says Matt

DERBY County defender Matt Clarke says his side need to continue their good run of form at Pride Park.

While the 3-2 defeat to Bristol City on Wednesday was the club’s 10th on the road in all competitions this season and the seventh time they have conceded three goals away. the Rams’ home form has been good, with the last five games at Pride Park all won.

That is something that Clarke

FORTUNES can change quickly in football. It is important when a door opens to step through and grab the opportunity with both hands.

Max Bird has done just that from around the turn of the year and it would be a surprise not to see his name on Derby County’s team sheet on current form.

The 19-year-old only made his first League start of the season in the final game of 2019, the 2-1 home victory over Charlton Athletic, and he has started seven of Derby’s last eight Championship matches, filling a deep-lying controlling role in midfield from where he has displayed impressive composure.

There have been injuries to Krystian Bielik, Tom Huddlestone and George Evans, all players who have filled the role, but injuries and suspension are all part of the changing face of football.

There are examples of this in each season. In 2014, George Thorne stepped in for the influential John Eustace, who picked up a two-match ban for reaching 10 yellow cards. It was an unlucky break for Eustace, a lucky one for Thorne and he stayed wants his team-mates to use when Huddersfield come to town.

“It’s something that we want to maintain and feed off,” he told RamsTV.

“If we can keep that run going, then that’s what we need to do.

“If we stick to our game plan and do the things we do well, get the details right, then we think we can come out on top.

“You can only take it game by in the side that marched to the playoff final.

Bird has grabbed his opportunity and he is in the team on merit.

The change in him since he was substituted at half-time in the Carabao Cup tie away against Scunthorpe United in August is clear and is great credit to him and a reward for his hard work.

Being hooked after only 45 minutes by a new manager who is just weeks into the job is not ideal for any player, never mind a young player, but Bird has recovered from the disappointment.

He knows the hard work must continue and that there are areas of his game that need to develop, as there are with all young players. Greater variation in his passing is one area but it is his passing and his ability to make angles to receive the ball that is key to Derby’s football.

Cocu knows all about playing midfield, having done so with great distinction at the highest level. “Max is very important in the rhythm of passing in the team, he is able to use both feet, his awareness has improved a lot and he needs less touches to find the solution forward,” said Cocu.

“His feeling with Wayne Rooney game and if you keep on picking up three points then you never know where it can take you but we can’t look too far ahead and can only concentrate on this game.”

Derby showed fighting spirit to battle back at Bristol as goals from Martyn Waghorn and Chris Martin gave them hope of rescuing a draw.

“Even though it was a defeat, the pleasing thing was the character that we showed and if we had five more and Duane Holmes, the understanding, is also very good.

“He puts a lot of energy in the game and has become more aggressive in his defensive play.”

Bird was the pick of Derby’s players in the 3-2 defeat by Bristol City on Wednesday night and Cocu is pleased with the player’s form.

“Sometimes a player gets an minutes, maybe we could have pushed on and got the equaliser,” said Clarke.

“It’s nice to show the character but we can’t get ourselves in that position. It was frustrating because for large periods of the game we played well and looked like the team that was going to go on to win the game.

“We spoke about it and you can’t concede the amount of goals that we are and expect to win football opportunity and takes it. He is one of the examples. He is in excellent form and, hopefully, he will continue,” said Cocu.

“I am very happy with his development, not only Max but all the young guys.”

Bird is expected to line up against Huddersfield Town at Pride Park Stadium today (3pm). matches.

“It’s little moments and details that are vitally important in football so it’s something we have to put right moving forward.

“You can’t get too low and feel sorry for yourselves because you’ve got to go again in the matter of days. We have to learn from it, put it behind us and move on to the Huddersfield match and, hopefully, get a positive result.”