Derby County midfielder Tyrese Fornah says that the Rams need to start winning games if they are to achieve their objective of promotion from League One this season.
The 24-year-old arrived at Pride Park from bitter rivals Nottingham Forest in the summer and has started the last five games in all competitions. He spent last season on loan at Reading – then of the Championship – making 35 appearances before temporarily returning to the City Ground.
The East Midlands side were hotly tipped for promotion at the beginning of the campaign, but their form has been sketchy and they currently find themselves languishing in mid-table. Despite being unbeaten in their last three league outings, they have only mustered five points from nine and Saturday’s 0-0 home draw with Cambridge United will be seen as a missed opportunity to close the gap on those in the play-off places.
Things are slowly starting to improve though, with the clean sheet against the U’s their third successive shutout in all competitions, but Fornah knows that they need to start turning draws into wins, starting with tomorrow’s trip to Blackpool. Speaking to Rams TV, the former Plymouth Argyle loanee said;
“It’s always frustrating when you’re playing at home, creating a lot of chances, having a lot of the ball and don’t win. We just have to take it into the next game. Ultimately we have to win matches. To go and win promotion, it’s about winning. We don’t feel like draws are good enough.”
Reflecting on his own performances since his summer move across the A52, Fornah believes that he is starting to show what he can bring to the team;
“I don’t know really, I think it’s down to the boss and the staff. For me, I just try and give my all. Even if I have a bad game, they know I’m going to run for them.
“I feel like they are starting to see the best of me now. I just try and give my all, run for my team-mates and when someone makes a mistake, try and help them out and just try and be the ultimate team player I can be.”
Derby will follow tomorrow’s away clash at Bloomfield Road with another away day at rock-bottom Cheltenham Town.
Writer’s View
Derby will be disappointed with their start to the season, but it has not been a disaster and they have kept themselves in contention with those currently in the promotion places.
Although eight points off leaders Portsmouth, they still have 37 games left to play and nothing was ever decided in October. However, they do need to start finding their scoring boots.
Three successive clean sheets are a great return, but they need to start taking their chances before they begin to get cut adrift.
