Derby County boss Frank Lampard insists his side must match Birmingham City’s physicality at St Andrew’s, the Derby Telegraph report.
The Rams head into their clash with the Blues having failed to win a league game on the road in 2019. It’s stark contrast to earlier in the campaign when victories at West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City set the tone.
The injury to key player Mason Mount in January hasn’t helped. In his 10-game absence, the Rams managed just two wins and suffered demoralising defeats at Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.
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But even with Mount’s return, Derby only managed a draw at Brentford before another disappointing defeat at Blackburn Rovers. When quizzed by reporters, Lampard suggests his side have lacked a presence on the road recently and demands they physically match upcoming opponents Birmingham first and foremost.
There is no absolute answer, there’s no magic wand that gets you an away result. It takes a mixture of things. But we certainly have to be in it for the fight. If you’re going to go to Birmingham and get a result, the first thing you need to do is match them – physically, with the aggression, with the desire to get the three points. That’s something we need to take and then, hopefully, our quality can help us get results.
How Derby County face a fight for a top six spot:
Derby’s poor away form in 2019 has seen Lampard’s men drop out of the top six. Their home form has kept them in contention for a playoff spot, but time is running out.
The Rams find themselves two points adrift of Bristol City with the two teams yet to meet at Ashton Gate. If Derby are to seal a playoff spot, then they may have to go there and pick up all three points.
Three of Derby’s final five games of the season are away from home. Swansea City are the other, and the Welsh side are unbeaten in the league at the Liberty Stadium this year, winning their last five in succession.
(Photo by Rachel Holborn – BRFC/Getty Images)
It’s an uphill task for Derby to reach the playoffs. However, they have shown they are more than capable of finishing the season strongly and there are still plenty of twists and turns to come.
Also see: Derby County should move for Jake Hastie after Frank Lampard’s transfer admission.