Ahead Of Schedule

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Derby manager Billy Davies accepts that his side are the bookies' favourites to make a swift return to the Coca-Cola Championship, but insists they are no strangers to upsetting the odds.


Davies' side were a surprise package last season, earning promotion to the Barclays Premier League ahead of a host of rivals considered by many to be better equipped for the challenge - including a West Brom side they eventually beat in the play-off final.





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The Rams boss freely admits the club are significantly ahead of the their own targets and, although they currently sit bottom of the table on a single point, he believes it would be foolish to write them off.

Although last season ended in celebration for County it did not begin that way, with just one victory from their first six league outings, and Davies insists a repeat performance is not impossible.

He said: "We are two years ahead of schedule without doubt and by being two years ahead of schedule we face what we face now.

"We don't need a siege mentality, not at all. We need to learn from the experience and accept in this division you can go a number of games without a victory.

"Ask me how I feel after 25 games. At the moment we're talking five games and two points (adrift).

"Last year promotion wasn't looking likely at this stage of the season. Promotion was 185-1 away.

"Derby were three points away from relegation, the club was on its knees and in deep trouble.

"We had a difficult start - a lot of moans and groans, a lot of complaining, a lot of criticism. It's par for the course."

He added: "I've said to the players this year's no different. Let them judge us at the end of the season and see where we are.

"This season is is all about consolidation and getting to that magic number of 42 points.

"At 185-1 we did it and we were delighted to put this club in a hugely financial position and now we have got the hard work to do in this division."

And although the former Preston manager is confident that his players' experiences last year will stand them in good stead he does acknowledge the step in class represented by the move to Premier League football.

"We now how difficult the Championship is. It is a very difficult league with 13 or 14 teams that have recently played Premier League football, but this is a different level," said Davies.

"You're talking £25million, £27million even £29-30million for one player. We're talking players who are world renowned for the quality they've got.

"But it's a great challenge."

Davies understands the club's slow start to the season will once again see negative predictions surround the team and even though he does not question the right of pundits to have their say, he relishes the prospect of proving them wrong.

"We still have to find that experience and see what we can do. We need to find our feet, but these are the facts and that is why I don't complain at all about the predictions or comments made about this club.

"They're right, we have a long way to go before we can be considered one of the big boys of this division.

"But we will work hard and try our best."