Mark previews clash with the Rams
Mark Robins believes his side are heading the right direction following Town’s three wins and a draw in their last six games.
The clean sheet retained against Brighton was the first any team has kept at the Amex this season.
“Our performance last Saturday was different from our previous five games,” said Mark. “We are learning more and more about that side of the game – and we have had to pretty quickly because we have played some tough teams of late.
“We are moving in the right direction, but it would have been nice to have nicked a win,” he added. “The lads went about their jobs brilliantly in really tough conditions. Both sets of players did well to still try and get the ball down and play football. We did as well as we could have hoped to have done, without scoring a goal.”
Town’s opponents on Boxing Day have won seven on the bounce in the Championship and under Steve McClaren look like serious promotion contenders.
“Derby are the in-form team in the division, without a doubt,” said Mark. “My neighbour is Jamie Ward, so the games will begin tonight with all the alarms going off!
“He is a key component within their team and he is partnered up top by the in-form Chris Martin and Simon Dawkins, who is on loan from Tottenham. The midfield battle will be important; they have good players in there with Will Hughes, Craig Bryson and John Eustace, but it will be interesting to see if they bring in Jeff Hendrick. It will be a really good game, one that I am looking forward to.
“It will be tough for us, but tough for them.”
The Terriers will train on Christmas Day ahead of the clash, meaning a different protocol for Mark and his family over the festive period.
“We are going to have Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve so that it is out of the way,” he said. “You fit things in and around your job and I am lucky that I have got a very understanding family. My priority is my job, it will always be. I wouldn’t want my life to be any other way.”
