Derby County defender Eiran Cashin believes that the Rams can build on their recent improvement by continuing to keep clean sheets ahead of what is set to be a busy week.
The East Midlands side conceded five goals in three games prior to a 2-0 victory over Lincoln City in the EFL Trophy and followed that with an identical result away at Carlisle United last weekend.
It’s been a stop-start beginning to the campaign for one of the pre-season promotion favourites, although the win over the Blues at Brunton Park lifted Paul Warne’s side up to ninth in the table, three points behind Exeter City in the final play-off place.
Derby will look to build on that this afternoon when they host Cambridge United before two consecutive away games against Blackpool and Cheltenham Town in what could prove to be a crucial week in their push for promotion. Ahead of the triple header, Rams centre-back Cashin has targeted more clean sheets in order to help his side move up the table. Speaking to Rams TV, via DerbyshireLive, the 21-year-old said;
“We’re delighted, really. I think they are the building blocks and we need to push on. Clean-sheets are always important and to get two in a row now is massive.
“Hopefully we can build on that and get a run going. There are things we can get better at but good teams sometimes might not play the best and still get results and keep clean-sheets. Fingers crossed we can build on that and start performing really well. When you get a run together, everything is possible.
“In the game last Tuesday (against Lincoln) I was a lot more in possession whereas on Saturday I was a lot more out of possession and defending. There are still things that I can get better at but hopefully I can build on that into Saturday’s game against Cambridge and the ones after that. Hopefully the momentum will take care of itself.”
Cashin has been an ever-present for Derby this season and was the subject from Premier League outfit Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer.
Writer’s View
Derby’s start to the season was always going to be scrutinised due because they were one of the favourites to secure automatic promotion. However, it’s a long campaign and early talk of a change of manager was always premature, although it never really on the cards.
They will still be disappointed to be out of the promotion places, but Cashin is correct in his assessment that now is the right time to hit a run of form as the games start to come thick and fast. Unusually, they have struggled at Pride Park this season and three points against Cambridge this afternoon is a must.
