Derby County midfielder Conor Hourihane says that they are a ‘long way off’ talking about the Rams gaining promotion to the Championship.
The Rams have not had a poor start but are lower than expected, sat in eighth position after eleven games.
Derby were tipped for promotion before the season started, despite finishing seventh last season, missing out on the play-offs. They are currently ten points off league leaders Portsmouth.
Conor Hourihane on Derby promotion talk
But Irishman Hourihane insists that the players need to avoid being distracted by the pressure to finish near the top of the league.
“I think talking about top two and all that kind of stuff is a long way off,” Hourihane told BBC Radio Derby.
“Everyone is on about top two, play-offs and getting promoted and all that kind of stuff, but ultimately we are not in there.
“We have to take care of business in front of us, and be in the present as much as you can.”
Conor Hourihane sums up season as ‘frustrating’
Hourihane was asked to sum up the Rams’ start to the season so far, in which he said: “Frustrating, if I’m being honest.
“Everyone in the building wanted a better start for sure.
“I don’t think it’s been the worst start ever, we have been close in a lot of games – a 2-1 [defeat] against Wigan, 2-1 against Oxford, a late goal [in the draw] against Portsmouth, we couldn’t get the winner against Cambridge and same against Cheltenham.
“We are very close, it’s fine lines and all that. I feel like we are three or four points short of where we should be.”