"We need to put it right": Derby County boss keen on bounce back against Lincoln City

Derby County look to bounce back tonight as they face Lincoln City in a game that could put them as high as third place with a win.

The Rams come off the back of a disappointing 1-1 draw with Wycombe Wanderers last weekend, but are also unbeaten in six games.

They face a ninth-placed Lincoln side who are five points behind Derby and will be hoping to close the gap during their trip to Pride Park.

Ahead of the game, Derby boss Paul Warne says that he's looking for his players to bounce back from Saturday's result.

Warne told Rams TV: "We made all the changes we could to win the game and we thought we'd done enough but, all in all, I was hugely disappointed and we need to put it right on Thursday night."

Tonight's game was brought forward from Saturday meaning the Rams will play islolated to the teams around them, something that the Derby boss is pleased with.

They next play on Boxing day and so tonight will be their last game before Christmas. The Derby boss added: "It's a bit random, but having Thursday to Boxing Day is good and we get a little bit more recovery. It also gives us an opportunity to go and watch games in person on Saturday.

"It will be great going into work on Friday if we've won on Thursday knowing we can just look at the fixtures and watch the opposition, but it does give our lads extra rest and over this period that's a good thing.

"The back-to-back games come thick and fast and the league table can change quite quickly. We need to try and keep the group healthy, happy and fit. I like games coming thick and fast though, I think it really suits us."

The players will get Christmas day off work and the manager is keen for them to keep a solid work-life balance. Warne says he trusts that his players will be prepared for Boxing day's clash at Wigan: "It's difficult, at times. The players aren't robots, if they are a professional footballer at 27 years old then they are still entitled to see their kids.

"I base how we work on trust to a certain extent. I've never had my teams in on Christmas Day but I do expect the players to do something and send a video message to the group showing they've done something like a run.

"It's based on trust and I expect a really good performance on Boxing Day."

The Rams kick off against Lincoln City at 7.45pm at Pride Park this evening.