Paul Warne praises opponents ahead of tough Barnsley match-up

Derby County return to Pride Park on Saturday with a tough League One matchup with fifth placed Barnsley.

The Tykes are three points ahead of the Rams as things stand and are the top scoring team in the league.

Paul Warne's side come off the back of a 4-1 win against Wolves' U21s in midweek making them three games unbeaten in all competitions.

Last time the Rams played Barnsley, they lost 4-1 at Oakwell last season and Derby boss Paul Warne will be hoping for an improvement as they look to earn three points and move into the playoff spots.

Following their midweek win, the Derby boss knows how tough Saturday's game could prove to be. Speaking to Rams TV, he said: "I’ve seen them play twice live this year and in fairness to Barnsley they are the perennial playoff, promotion team.

"Anyone that wants to be successful in League One will have to look at their model and their way of collecting points.

"We have a rough understanding of how they play, we know what we have to try and do and they know what they have to try and do to stop us. I think it’ll be two good teams."

Barnsley boast the best scoring record in the league which is partly down to striker Devante Cole who currently is the top scorer in the league on 11 goals. Warne added: "Devante (Cole) up top is a real threat in behind with pace so he’s able to stretch the play; if you press and play a high line, there’s always that risk.

"They’ve got goals throughout the team, a good blueprint for a really good League One side." 

The Rams come off the back of an EFL Trophy win on Wednesday where Warne had the opportunity to give some of Derby's young academy players the chance to play some first team football.

The youngsters impressed the Derby boss, he said: "I thought they’d all done well, I knew they would do well, they’ve trained with us quite a bit.

"I always knew that Tony (Weston) would be good because he’s the epitome of a packet of crisps on a windy day. I think an energy and desire to get around the pitch goes a long way. 

"Fapetu in midfield was really good too. Any kid who wants to shoot from 40 yards out on his debut is pretty impressive.

"All in all really pleased. We want a group who is athletic and brave on the ball, the lads who played last night showed both of them."

The performance also produced a hat trick from striker James Collins who has been struggling to get game time as of late with Conor Washington in a good vein of form. Paul Warne said that it could give the Irishman a boost going forward:

"Collo has scored over 200 goals so he’s used to scoring. I joked in the dressing room after that it was his first hat trick, I was obviously being sarcastic.

"Its good for him to score those goals, even if I was to put a drill out now in training and he was to score goals it gives you a boost so its obviously great." 

The Rams host Barnsley on Saturday kicking off at 3pm.