Rams are Ful of confidence in bid for late play-off push
PHILLIP Cocu believes Derby are now a different proposition to the side beaten 3-0 at Fulham in November.
The Rams have lost only twice since Christmas and look in good shape for a late run towards the play-offs.
Derby welcome the thirdplaced Cottagers to Pride Park tonight and boss Cocu believes a positive result would demonstrate they are moving in the right direction.
“It is an important game for us,” Cocu told Rams TV. “We lost when we played the away game against Fulham back in November and I think it was one of those games where we didn’t really give ourselves a chance to get a good result.
“Now we play at home at Pride Park and I think we are in a better place. We have a better shape and the confidence is better than when we played at Craven Cottage, so it is a test.
“If we can get a good result, we can confirm that we are on the right track. It will be difficult because Fulham are a strong team.
“They have quality players individually but also as a team. They keep the ball well, especially in their combination play. I am looking forward to this game.”
A win for Fulham would move them level on points with second-placed Leeds, for a few hours at least, but they need to bounce back from a shock 3-0 home defeat by Barnsley.
“We don’t dwell because we can’t afford to dwell,” manager Scott Parker told FFC TV.
“The most important thing when you are sitting where we are in the league is not to be knee-jerk. The message to the players is to think rationally. As a team we are sitting all right and we’ve got some big games to come.”
FRAIZER Campbell has been delighted for Harry Toffolo and believes the left-back can continue to make a big impact at Huddersfield Town.
The two became team-mates only last month when the 24-year-old Toffolo signed in a £500,000 deal from League One Lincoln City.
But 32-year-old striker Campbell has been impressed by both sides of the defender’s game and believes he adds all-round quality to the make-up of Danny Cowley’s side.
Toffolo, of course, netted his first goal for the Terriers when equalising late on in the 1-1 draw with Derby County at Pride Park on Saturday.
Campbell said: “I was really pleased for him to get his goal and to earn us a very good point. He is one of those rare defenders who can do a bit of both (defend and attack).
“He knows his job defensively, being solid and hard to get past – and covers his centre-back well – and then he is always on the overlap, causing the opposition a threat.”
Campbell says he is relaxed about prospects for the rest of this season despite the Terriers remaining just five points above the relegation zone as they head into another threegame week.
“I’m not feeling any pressure,” he said ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
“I know we have more than enough in our dressing room to be miles away from the situation we are in.
“If we continue to play and perform a little bit more consistently than we have been since the
Cowley brothers came in then we will be all right come the end of the season.
“We went to Derby, who are a very good team, off the back of a very poor result for ourselves, and it was a good point for us.
“There were a few good chances which, on another day, might have had us running away with it so, while it was good to take a point, we are a bit disappointed we didn’t take all three.
“We stick together, work hard and believe in what we have in the changing room so, against anyone, we fancy ourselves on our day.
“We played some good stuff away from home against a good side and showed we can be a good side too at times.
“So we were happy with the performance but just felt we could have got more from the game.”
I was really pleased for
him to get his goal and to earn us a very
good point