Derby County return to home comforts this weekend as they host Hull City at Pride Park.
Derby have collected two 1-1 draws in away trips to Millwall and Oxford United, with Nathaniel Mendez-Laing netting the equaliser on Tuesday night.
The Rams now have their focus set on their clash against Hull, who themselves secured a solid point at home to Burnley on Wednesday evening.
While there are plenty of things to be positive about at the moment, especially at Pride Park, Paul Warne did confirm the devastating blow to David Ozoh.
Although the 19-year-old was set to return this month, Ozoh is now sidelined till after the international break and that is a bitter pill to swallow.
Paul Warne praise for Hull City before Derby County clash
Heading into this weekend’s fixture, only a point and three places separate Derby in 12th to Hull in 15th.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 9 |  WatfordWatford | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 15 | 19 | -4 | 16 |
| 10 |  Bristol CityBristol City | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 16 | -2 | 15 |
| 11 |  Oxford UnitedOxford United | 11 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 13 | 2 | 14 |
| 12 |  DerbyDerby | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 13 |  MillwallMillwall | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 13 |
| 14 |  SwanseaSwansea | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 13 |
| 15 |  Hull CityHull City | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 15 | -2 | 13 |
The Tigers have won two of their last three away games, securing 3-1 wins over Stoke City and QPR, whilst the Rams’ most notable strength is at home, clinching victories in four of their five matches.
Warne has spoken highly about Hull in his pre-match press conference, explaining how he thinks they’re a ‘top six team’ and when everything comes together, they look ‘unstoppable.
“I really like them [Hull] and I know every single team in the Champ [Championship] I’m gonna tell you they’re a good team, course they are, no one’s in the Champ by default, everyone has amazing players, they’ve spent 20-odd million [pounds] again in the summer,” Warne told the Rams Daily Podcast.
“I honestly think they’ll be a top-six team. They had a bit of a shaky start, which can always happen when you bring in a lot of new players, I get that. I’ve seen them play live three times this season. I’ve seen them play against Sheff U [Sheffield United], against Bristol City and I’ve seen them last night against Blackburn [sic, Burnley].
“Fortunately their fixtures have always fallen, enabling me to go, so perfect timing… What I’ve made of them is that they’re brave and they’re athletic and they’re aggressive. So they’ve probably got the perfect mix and when everything works, they look unstoppable.”
- READ MORE: Paul Warne must unleash ‘exceptional’ Derby County talent who can exploit key Hull City weakness
Paul Warne discusses Hull City style of play
Whilst Warne was full of praise for the Yorkshire outfit, there are some areas of their game he’s targeted as ‘vulnerable’ and will aim to exploit this weekend.
Under the style of the aggressive German, Tim Walter, Hull are a team that focuses on building play from defence, using their centre-backs as a source of creativity from deep.
When they can pull it off, as Warne said, they look brilliant but more often than not, overplaying in defence and failing to clear their lines leads to vulnerability.
“With every team when you see them at their worst moments,” Warne adds. “They look really vulnerable and I think a bit like our team, the best thing about them is their worst things and vice versa.
“They try and play out, I say they try when they’re very good at it, they have a system like a 4-1-5 and they have a real aggressive frontline. However, by playing that way, it gives them a lot and also by playing that way, they’re vulnerable a lot.”
If Derby can execute their press effectively, starting with Jerry Yates and Mendez-Laing, the Rams can catch the visitors out when they try to overplay.
The introduction of Marcus Harness can also be the catalyst for exploiting Hull’s weakness, and he deserves to start on Saturday.