Derby County manager Wayne Rooney has admitted that the club will continue to fight as they try to overhaul a significant points deficit in the Championship in the coming months.

The Rams were deducted 12 points for entering administration earlier this year and were then docked a further nine points for breaching the EFL's Profitability and Sustainability rules.

Despite these setbacks, Derby have managed to produce some fantastic performances in the second-tier this season as the club's current crop of players have stepped up to the mark.

The Rams beat league leaders AFC Bournemouth last month and recently secured victories over Blackpool and West Bromwich Albion at Pride Park.

Set to face Stoke City tomorrow, Derby will be determined to produce another eye-catching display in this particular fixture.

Ahead of the Rams' trip to the bet365 Stadium, Rooney has suggested that building some momentum at this stage of the season could be huge for the club as they look to achieve a miraculous survival in 2022.

Speaking to RamsTV (as cited by Derby's official website), Rooney said: "We will be ready to play and battle again and it's an important time of the season for everyone.

"If you can build some momentum now, it will be huge for us.

 

 

"We will keep fighting, keep putting in performances and trying to pick up points.

"Once we get to around mid-February we will have a better idea of whether we have a realistic chance of staying up or whether we are in League One - but we will keep going until the end."

The Verdict

It would be a sensational achievement by Derby if they somehow avoid the drop this season as they are currently 14 points adrift of safety.

In order to put the sides who are close to them under a significant amount of pressure in the coming weeks, the Rams will need to pick up points on a regular basis.

Set to face a Stoke side tomorrow who have won four of their last seven league games, Derby know that they will need to be at their very best if they are to seal a positive result on their travels.

By using the momentum that they gained from their victory over West Brom to their advantage on Thursday, Rooney's side could potentially produce another promising display in the Championship.